The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-08-18
MAGUIREs ACCOUNTABILITY
He Could Have Killed the Railroad
Bill Easily.


He Could Have Killed the Railroad
Bill Easily.
(From the San Francisco Posf)
Congressman Barhaml has pricked the
Mcguire bubble. He has shown con-
clusively that Mcguire, as st. Paul said
to himself concerning the stoning Of
Stephen, stood by consenting." Mr..
Rarham quotes from the Congressional
Record to prove beyond question that
a single objection from any member on
the floor would have defeated what Mr..
Mcguire is pleased to term ''the fund
ing BILL Mr.. Barham says:
Mr.. Mcguire spoke against the bill
as it came from the Senate, but when
unanimous consent was asked to vote
upon the bill with my amendment,
there was no objection. Mr.. Mcguire
was present and might have offered the
objection. He, or any one else, could
have prevented the vote being taken
by simply saying Il object" Mr.. Ma
guire did not nor did any one else, use
these two words, which would have de-
feated my amendment, and this would
have resulted in defeating the BILL
The statement of Mr.. Barham is ire
fragable truth. Mr.. Mcguire had it in
his power to defeat the bill which he is
seeking to make the fundamental issue
of State campaign. Whatever is done
in the presence of any one without
protest has their consent. Mcguire con-
scented to the passage of the bill. This
statement simply clothes the fact. He
was as much responsible for its passage
as if he had voted for it.
Under these circumstances, curiosity
will be ON tip-toe to know how Mr.. Ma
guire answers the proposition. Put to
his wits end to explain his embarrass-
ment, Mr.. Mcguire says:
''It cannot reasonably be contended
that 1 should have objected to these
amendments and have taken a chance
that the bill might pass in its worst
form. If had objected to the
amendment, and the bill had passed
without it, I would justly have been
responsible for preventing its improve
ment.'
In all this, Mr.. Mcguire pleads guilty
to having failed to offer an objection
in a parliamentary proceeding where a
single objection would have defeated a
measure. But Mr. Barham's disclosures
go much farther than the mere en-
barrassment of Mr.. Mcguire. They
show that the amendment which Mr..
Mcguire claims to be "a funding bilP'
was introduced by Senator Morgan of
Alabama, the stalwart opponent of adj
the funding bills heretofore introduced
Mr.. Barham says:
1.-The Pacific railroad bill which was
passed at the last session of Congress
was offered by Senator Morgan Of Ala
bama as an amendment to the general
deficiency bill Congressional Record,
page Z, 249). 1 saw Senators Perkins
and White, and said that the bill must
be amended or I, with many other Re
publicans, would vote against it. While
they did not think my amendment nee
essary, yet they said the Senate would
accept the bill with my amendment"
Both Senators Perkins and White
were opposed to the funding bill, and
yet they voted for the RELOCATION of
the whole subject to a commission
under safe restrictions.
From all this it appears that the
measure passed by the last session Of
Congress was not a funding bill. 1t
was a provision whereby the terms Of
adjustment should be negotiated on the
part of the Government by a COM
mission. Mr.. Barhan's amendment
provided that unless the settlement
herein authorized be perfected within
one year after the passage Of this Act,
the President shall, at once proceed to
foreclose. all liens held by. the United
States, etc" 4,,s..,.~-
AS, now constructed, there is either to
be an adjustment and a full payment
to the GOVERNMENT of all moneys, both
principal and interest, which the Cen
trail Pacific Railroad. Company owes the
Government-and an agreement to this
effect must be perfected within one
year-or the President is required by
the terms of the Act to at once proceed
to foreclose all liens now held by the
United States.
1t is demonstrable by the record that
Mr. Mcguire by single personal OBJ
lection could have prevented the pass
age of this bill. His failure to do so
was the equivalent of an affirmative
vote. He admits the absence of an OBJ
lection at stage in a parliamentary
proceeding where an objection would
have defeated the measure.
Without doubt Mr.. Mcguire himself
believed that the passage of the bill
would settle the whole controversy re-
lating to the Pacific railroad debts. 1t
then occurred to him that such settle
ment would deprive him of his political
capital stock in trade; and so it has
come to pass that he is Stimulating an
issue on the subject of the adjustment
of the railroad debts after basis Of
adjustment has been finally reached
If there isl to be further legislation on
this subject by the Congress of the Uni
ted States, and if the adjustment of the
relations between the Government and
the Central Pacific Railroad Company
is matter of vital interest to the peo-
pie Of California, why does Mr. Ma
guire leave his seat in Congress?
All DUN DISCHARGED.