Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-02-16
KANSAS PACIFIC.
The Harris Resolution Adopted
in the Senate.
Attorney General Griggs Promptly Replies
Explaining the Governments Position
The House Has Busy Day.

Washington, Feb. 15.-A resolution Of
inquiry offered yesterday by Mr.. Harris
Of Kansas, preeipitated a spirited dis
cussion on the Union Pacific Railroad
question, in the senate, today. The
resolution called upon the attorney gem
eral for the reasons which induced him
to abandon his plan of redeeming the
first mortgage bonds of the Kansas
Pacific branch of the Union Pacific, and
having the road operated by a receiver
Mr.. Harris denounced the present plan
to sell the road at the bid of the reor-
ganization committee, as defrauding the
government of something more than
S6,O0O,OOO. Mr. Foraker of Ohio ex-
planned the view taken of the matter by
the administration, showing that the
president was convinced the reorganiza-
ton committee proposed to pay for the
road all that 1t was worth. The resolu-
ton was finally passed in amended
form.
The senate passed a bill making Rock
lana, Me-, a SUPPORT of entry.
MR.. GRIGGS' REPLY.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 15.-Attorney-G Cen
eral Griggs replied today to the Harris
resolution which passed the senate. The
attorney-general says that the govern
ment already has complied with the de-
cree of the court emitting It to become a
bidder. If the sale were allowed to pro-
ceed upon the adjourning day with no
| assurance of bid equal to the amount
OF the principal of the government debt,
1t would be incumbent upon him to bid
in the property for the government
Ihis would be attended with difficulties.
the chief of which would be that the
government is not authorized to operate
the railroad in its own name or through
| us agencies, and serious doubt exists as
to whether the court would, after the
sale, appoint and continue receivers for
the mere purpose of operating the road
on behalf OF the government He then
| refers to what took place in st Louis
when the reorganization committee Of
tered to bid the amount of the principal
| OF the government debt. In conclusion
| he says:
! Answering specifically the question
contained in the resolution of the sen
ate, would say that 1 did not authorize
any agreement by which the property
! is to be sold for the face value of the
| subsidiary bonds, nor has the govern
ment agreed not to be a bidder at the
sale. The only agreement made was to
| discontinue the motion for postpone
ment, redemption, and the appointment
| OF receiver, upon the guarantee that
| the minimum bid by the reorganization
committee should be the point of the
government debt. The property VIII be
sold at public sale in open competition
| to such party as may offer the highest
| bid, subject only to the stipulation OBJ
| tained in open court on Saturday last,
| that the minimum bid will be Sc, 303, 900,
! instead of $2,500,O00, as formerly fixed
by the court
IN THE HOUSE.
| Washington, Feb. 15.-The house put
in busy day The time was devoted to
the consideration of bills and joint reso-
lutions presented under the call of COM
mittees and sixteen of more or less pub
lie importance were passed. An order
was also entered, by unanimous con-
sent, for the consideration of the bill re-
lating to second-class mail matter
March /, 2 and 3, and the order for the
consideration of the bankruptcy bill
which begins tomorrow, was modified so
that the final vote shall be taken Sat
urday instead of Monday as arranged
last week
Among the bills passed today were the
following: Senate bill to amend the
navigation laws relating to the coast
wise trade; to amend the laws relating
to official fees; to better control and
promote the safety of national banks
by inhibiting loans to officers, directors
or employees without the approval of a
majority of the directors, and to amend
the law relating to the licensing Of
mates on ocean and river steamers.