The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1898-02-08
THE KANSAS PACIFIC DEBT.
AN INTERESTING DEBATE
IN THE HOUSE.
SENATOR HARRIS FIGURES
pugned Democrats Would Compel
the President to Bid the Fun
Amount OF Debt. Principal
aud Interest -- Govern
ment OwnershIp.


yesterday an interesting discussion OF
the approaching sale of the Kansas
Pacific road, set for February t., was
precipitafed by Mr. Fleming, Demo
crat, of Georgia, who, with his Demo
cratic colleagues, desire legislation Is
Re uire the president to bid the full
a ount of the debt, principal and in
terest.
Mr.. Fleming, Democrat, Of Georgia,
during the consideration Of one Of
the pension bills, took advantage of
the latitude allowed for debate, to
discuss the question of protecting the
governments interest at the approach
ing sale of tho Kansas Pacific road.
The claim of the government, he said,
was over $4,000 600, and, while it was
claimed that the road could be par
alleled for 81 900, 600, he said that the
engineer who built the road, senator
Harris, of Kansas. estimated its value
at from S?j, 600, 600 To- $50 600. 900. The
average earnings Of the road for the
past ten years, sl,255,G7j, were per
cent interest on $50 600, 600.
Mr.. Shattuck, Republican, of Ohio
said that, while senator Harris might
be very competent civil engineer, he
knew no more about computing the
earnings or value of 4 railroad than
the portrait alongside of the Speakers
chair.
Did you hear his speech on the
Pacific roads, asked Mr. Shafroth,
silver Republican, of Colorado.
81 read 1t, replied Mr.. Shattucll,
"and there is nothing in it, 1t was
wind, nothing more,
Mr. Fleming said Senator Harris by
the facts he had furnished the govern
nent, had saved the treasury S27, 900, %
600 on the sale Of the Union Pacific
The press Of the country built fire
under the administration, said he,
land forced it to act
Mr.. Fleming s.il he had appealed
to the speaker and to Mr.. Powers, the
chairman of tho Pacific railroad com
mittee To aid the consideration of the
measure reported 10y the committee
! "They were both courteous" said Mr.
! Fleming, "but | failed to get the
| speaker 10 use his influence with Mr.
fuenco with The speaker. Yesterday
| tried To get recognition from the
speaker. To-day when did get rec
oguition IL availed nothing, because
the chairman Of the committee, Mr..
Powers. said he would object
Continuing, Mr.. Fleming said he
did not consldcratc it commensurate
with the dignity Of the house to waive
aside indiifcrcntly the millions in
volvod II the sale took place and the
government bid the principal Of the
debt, the responsibility, he said, lay
In the press II could force the AL.
ministration as it did in the case ot
the Union Pacific
Mr. Powers, Repu blican, of Yer
mont chairman of the Pacific rail
roads committee, denied that he had
stated earlier in the day that the ad
ministration desired no further legis
lation Ie alleged that the whole
purpose of those who were opposing
tho sale was the government owner
ship and operation Of railroads.
Mr. Bailey, Democrat, of Texas, Oh.
iccted 10 Mr. Powers statement of tn,
position of the Democrats He said il
was not n question of sacrificing the
governments debt or government
ownership and operation Of railroads
"On this side, said he, 1--WE believ,
the government can collect the debt
and as prudent creditor that /
should collect every dollar of it.
Goa ugtinuing Mr. Powers said he di,
not be,ie,, the administration shoul,
be required to bid the full amount o
the debt, principal and interest. Tn,
officers Of the rovernmeht had ful
knowledge. and he was willing I,
trust the matter to the officials whS
had obtained every dollar due iron
the Union Pacific.