The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-02-16
The SENATE AND HOUSE.
Harris Resolution on the Kansas Pa
cific Sale Passed.
SIX MILLION DOLLARS INVOLVED.
Thc Reorganization Committee Sup
posed Ii BE Trying To Evadc the
Intcrcst--liousc Proceedings.


tKan.) precipitated a spirited discussion OF
the Pacific railroad question today The
| resolution called upon the attorney general
for the reasons inducing him TO abandon
his plan of redeeming the first mortgage
bonds OF the Kansas branch of the Union
Pacific and having the road operated by
q receiver. Mr.. Harris denounced the
present plan to sell the road at the Did
of the reorganization committee as de-
frauding the government OF something more
than S6,00e,00O. MIR. Foraker tOhio) ex-
paainod the view taken Of the matter by
the administration showing the president
was convinced the reorganization commit
tee proposed to pay for the road all that
it was worth. The resolution was dnally
passed in amended form.
Washington, February 15.--Mr. Pettus
tAla) at once offered and secured the pas
sage of Il resolution requesting the presi-
dent II compatible with the public inrer-
est, to inform the senate what action has
Segundo N. Lopez, a citizen OF the United
States, on the nth of April, 1896, in the
district Of San Diego del villa, Magueralla
Cuba. by armed soldiers OF Spain, COM
manded by Colonel 1strucha,
The resolution introduced yesterday by
Mr.. Harris tkan.) directing the attorney
general 10 furnish the senate Information
as 10 the agree ment reached by the gov
eminent win the reorganzng commttae
OF the Union Pacific railway concerning
hnfn ha
senate.
Mr. Chandler said he had no objection
to the resolution, but did not approve Of
the preamble, which included a press dis
patch.
Mr.. Harris replied that he might not In
sist upon the preamble after he had made
u statement, The Union Pacific, he said
for long time had attempted TO influance
congress and officials Of The admlnistrq-
ton to scale down the debt of that com
pany 10 the government at least 80 per
cent. Until a year ago last June the com
pany had been unsuccessful. AT that tune
they made an arrangement with Mr.. Cleve-
lands administration by which the road
was to be disposed of with a loss to the
government of about S2so0O,0OO. Mr.. Har-
ris then outlined the reasons why that
agreement was not carried into effect
Public sentiment was aroused from Maine
TO California, the demand of the people he
said, being that they should not be swindled
out Of The enormous sum mentioned.
When the new administration came into
power the question was grappled with. and
the government finally obtained every cent
due from the Union Pacific ON the maip
line.
we are all very glad" raid Mr..
Harris, that the government received its
just due, and nobody has more cordially
congratulated the present administration
than upon the successful negotiations o!
the transaction"
IT was also to be htSDad he said that
the government would Get the fun value Of
the debt due from The Kansas Pacific
branch. In ease the reorganization commit
tee should Decline 10 pay the full amount
due--about $l3,O0o,0o0it was the under
standing that the Sovernment would re-
deem the first mortgage bonds and have
the road operated by IL receiver A COM
potent railway expert would show the value
pt the property, which Mr.. Harris believed
vas quite s3n,000,000. The reorganization
committee, said MIR Harrls had evidently
In obtaining from The attarney
general such concessions as had been out
lined in the Associated Press dispatches.
md the government is to stand idly by and
see the enormous SUM of So, 900 of inter
'st sacrificed The value of the property,
Mr.. Harris thought, was an important
consideration. BY the reorganization COM
nittee and by the Union Pacific officials an
fort has been made to minimize the value
# the road
at is particularly significant. said Mr.. |
larris, that statements of the reorgauiza-
ion committee and the officials Of the
lnion Pacific regarding the value of the
main lines have been proved by SUBSEQUENT |
vents to be untrue
As was once said by the senator from
iissouri tVssD when they sneak " ey lie.
nd when they are silent they steal"
MIR. Harris then discussed the value OF I
he Kansas Pacific road aud said that hav- |
ng been civil engineer on this line his |
Information WIS that Of an expert He said I
hat during the last eleven wears he line
lad earned an amount equal 10 rer cent
n SSo,0oD,0O0 He further said ttat on tho
th instant the attorney general han |
greed TO redeem the first MORTGAGE bonds
nj 10 have the road operated hy 4 receiver.
his arrangement. Mr.. Harris said was
erfecuy satisfactory for these for whom
q spoke, but The intention NJ the attorney
enoral TO abandon that plan and 10 lei
ne road 20 with loss 10 the government
{ nearly SIoO0.o Vo was not only 4 surprise
D him and others. but absolu. lily unsatis-
actory
Mr.. Harris maintained That the Kansas
acific road was worth Tie last cent Of the
oyernment claim, and II ought 10 be de-
handed by the attorney general
Mr. Morgan. referring to the effort IN
ass bill in the senate giving powers IN
be administration to become a bidder of
he Kansas Pacific road said he thonpbt
be senate ought to take the measure nm
nd pass II. Whether Il would pass M
ongestion which sometimes takes place IN
be other branch OF congress lie could NOT
~.
II would be possible, however. rhns tn
whether there vas a uower H.
he house OF representatives which woul1
Iand IN the way OF proposed measures in
spded 10 save the people Of the country
early $1,000 600 ''
Political ariies VIII sometimes permit
ohbeIies, They VIII swallow The fo,Eas
nences OF those robberics without stra,o
ut the people wllsnot allow thernselyes 10
9 juggled," concluded Mr. Morgan
Mr., Foraker t0hiol discussed The s,tu.-
On es II had been viewed By the nrsst
emit, The president hid asked csncress H. ,
I've him authority 10 enter the sale OF ~, ,
arcas Pacific as bidder. but 90 Ser ~
rs taken no action. The final offer naa,, ,
the reorgani2ation committee The nrssi.
eni had evidently regarded az reaspnshly I,
satisfactory. Senators might differ fro,, |
no to he /