The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-02-05
THE EYES OF
THE SPEAKER.
Difficulties of Catching
Reeds Optics.
PACIFIC RAILROAD BID.
Matter Was Brought Up In the
House For Criticism.
PACIFIC RAILROAD BID.
LINDSAY ANSWERS ENEMIES

Washington. Feb. 5.-Friday was pri
Sate bill day i'm the house, but by sys-
tematic filibnstering the private calcn'
dar containing the bills reported by thu
committees on claims was not reached
the whole day being consumed in passinf
IS of the pension bills favorably actec
upon by the house at the session last
Friday night.
During the consideration Of one OF the
bills an intresting discussion OF the ap'
preaching sale OF the Kansas Pacific
road. set for Feb. II. was preciptatee
by Mr.. Fleming Dem., Ga), who, WITH
his Democratic colleagues. desired legis
lation To require the president to bid the
full amount of the debt. principal and
interest. Mr. Fleming said Senator
Harris. by the facts he had furnished
the government. had saved the treasury
1921 600 on the sale OF the Union Pa
cific. THE press of the country built
fire under the administration" said he
"and forced IL TO act" Mr.. Fleming had
appealed TO the speaker and TO Mr.. Pow
ers, the chairman Of the Pacific railroad
commission, to aid the consideration Of
the measure reported by the committee
They were both courteous. but failed
10 get the speaker to use his influence
with Mr.. Powers. or Mr.. Powers to use
his influence with the speaker. on
Thursday tried TO get recognition from
the speaker. i caught his natural eye.
but failed TO catch his official eye. Yes
terday. when j did get recognition IL
availed nothing because the chairman
of the committee, Mr.. Powers. said he
would object"
Mr.. Mcguire Dem, CALI said that the
law required that the government should
collect the full amount of the debt. OF
take the road and he believed the law
phould be obeyed
I'm other words you want government
ownership OF railroads" interposed Mr.
IDalzell.
II want TO collect the government
debt" replied Mr.. Mcguire.
I'VE had better have government
ownership than railroad ownership oi
government" cried Mr.. Terry (Dem
Ark).
Mr.. Powers CRep., VIZ, chairman o:
the Pacific railroad committee denied
that he had stated earlier in the day
that the administration desired no fur.
ther legislation. He alleged that the
whole purpose OF those who were OPP
posing the sale was the government
ownership and operations OF railroads
THE gentleman has heard me 10 little
purpose for the past five years" inter.
rrpted Mr.. Mcguire. 'if he imagines |
desire government operation OF rail-
roads, ! am i'm favor of the government
owning the highways of commerce. but
not of operating trains any more than
wagons"
II am glad the gentleman has made his
proposition more ridiculous than
could" observed Mr.. Powers
Mr.. Bailey (Dem., Tex) objected TO
Mr.. Powers statement OF the position
OF the Democrats. He said il was not
question OF sacrificing the govern
ment's debt or government ownership
and operation of railroads. "On this
side" said he. I'VE believe the govern
nent can collect every dollar"
Mr.. Powers said that he did not be-
lieve the administration should be re.
lquired to bid the fun amount Of the
debt. principal and interest. The Off
GERS Of the government had full knowl-
edge, and he was willing to trust the
matter to the officials who had obtained
every dollar due from the Union Pacific.
During the debate. Mr.. Smpkins OF
Massachusetts called the attention OF
the house TO the vexatious delays and
excessive penalties imposed on Ameri-
can fishing vessels by Canadian authori-
ties" He cited the case OF the Carrie
T. Phillips. which last December was
put 10 n loss OF over $1,000 and fined 5000
FOR technical violation OF Canadian
law. He ccntrasted this treatment with
the liberal course of the United States
in imposing only nominal and exemplary
penalties on British vessels for similar
offenses. and expressed the hope that
the gov ernipent would both obtain
redress for this particular act of i'm
Justice and protest against the general
practice ot Canada in harrassing Ameri-
can vessels.
purinT the evening session 10 pension
bills were favorably acted on including
ohe granting 600 per month to the widow
of Major General Mortimer D. Leggett.
The evening was enlivcned by tilt be-
tween Mr.. Norton OF Ohio and Mr. Ray
OF New York. The formers criticism
Of the pension bureau was replied 10 by
Mr. Ray IN such mcnner rs 10 draw
from Mr. Norton heated reply At
10. 90 tho hoil.e nd fourned until tpdnv