People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1898-03-03
The Pacific Steal.

We publish large portion of the
congressional record today in which
the shameful duplicity of the govern
ment in the Pacific road steal is de-
lineated by Senator Harris and
others, We do not like the word
"steal;" it has rasping sound in
editorial writing but we know of no
other name under the sun to apply
to this deal. If there ever was a
steal this is one. While honest
representatives of the people were
resting quietly in the belief thai
government officials would do their
duty under the law-having relin-
guished their efforts to secure COM
pulsory enactment upon the promise
Of the executive department to pro-
tect the governments interest-the
Shiny servants of the commercial buc,
canneers betrayed the trust reposed
in them and carried out the scheme OF
plumber when too late to be hindered
by congress. The people are Ger
tainly entitled to know all about
such rascality. We advise every
reader to scrutinize this record and
ask himself and his neighbors if it
be good policy to maintain a party
in power that will permit and defend
such robbery. Is government safe in
such hands?
In this connection note of warn
ing for the future is in place. The
following is private letter, but We
feel sure that We betray no trust in
giving it to the public. 1t needs no
comment; it is simply a forwarding
of what may be expected in the fu-
ture unless thwarted by monster
awakening Of public sentiment:
WASHINGTON, D. c., Feb. 26, '9S.
Lyman Naugle, Esq, Wellington, Kansas.
My dear Naugle: l thank you very
much for your kind letter Of 22nd in
slant. l send you by tOday's mail a
copy Of the report of the debate in
the senate on The Kansas Pacific rail-
road sale. The senate stood by me
and passed the Iurpie resolution con-
demning the sale OF The road. Never
theleSs, the government law officers
paid no attention to it and the sale
has been duly confirmed.
OF course, 1t is bad enough for the
government to lose this large amount
of money(S6, 7OO.OO)but it is really only
aprelude to a greater and more serious
Soss, The debt of the Central Pacific
Is now 81, 055 OOOO of principal advanced
and balance of S32, 2Sl 900 for inter
est advanced by the government ow-
ing to the default of the con- pany.
This precedenG which has been estab.
lished will be used, of course, as a
strong argument in favor Of the gov
eminent relinquishing its claim of
1872, PSI 900 of interest which has been
advanced by the government owing
to the defaultO of the railroad company.
You will see in my speech that |
called attention to the misapprehen,
sion which exists i'm many quarters
as to this matter of interest. The
government has never received a cent
OF interest on this huge amount ad.
vanced. What is called interest in
the debates and in the government
account is money advanced by tie
government for interest on the bonds
which should have been paid by the
railroad company, and is just as much
a part of the principal debt due the
government as the principal of the
bonds.
l suppose that some time this sum.
mer the same steps will be taken by
the government relative to the Cen.
tral Pacific, which will probably lead
to the loss of this huge amount to the
people of the country. l hope that
public sentiment will wake up to the
subject and that they will make it so
serious matter that the administra-
tion will, as was the case in the set
Element of the debt on the main line
of the Union Pacific, not have the
courage TO 90 on with this iDfamy.
With best wishes, am
Very truly yours,
W. A. HARRIS.