The record-union., 1898-02-16

t1on-Ihe Resolution Finally
Passed.
WASHINGTON. Feb. ia resolu
ton offered yesterday by Harris OF
Kansas precipitated a spirited discus
sion of the Pacific Railroad question in
the Senate to-day. The resolution
called upon the Attorney Genera tor
the reasons which induced him to aban-
don his plan of redeeming the first
mortgage bonds of the Kansas Pacific
branch of the Union Pacific. and hav-
ing the road operated by a receiver.
Harris denounced the present plan 70
sell the road at the bid of the Reor-
ganiZation Committee as defrauding the
Government out Of nearly SI,000,oto.
Foraker of Ohio explained the view TAX
en- of the matter by the Administra
ton, showing that the President was
convinced the Reorganization Com
mittee proposed to pay for the road all
that ii was worth The resolution was
finally passed in amended form.
When the Senate met Pettus of Ala
bama offered and secured the passage
of a resolution requesting the Presi-
dent, if not incompatible with the
public interest, to inform the Senate
what action had been taken in refer
ence to the murder of Segundo \. Lo-
peg, citizen of the United States, on
the 18th of April 1896 in the district Of
San Diego del Valla Magueralla. Cuba,
by soldiers of Spain commanded by
Colonel Estruch.
The resolution introduced yesterday
by Harris of Kansas, directing the At
torney- General TO furnish the Senate
information as to the agreement
reached by the Government with the
Reorganization Committee of the
Union Pacific Railroad concerning the
Kansas Pacific branch. was laid before
the Senate
Chandler said he had no objection to
the resolution, but did not approve of
the preamble which included a press
dispatch
Harris replied that he might not in
sist upon the preamble after he had
made a statement The Union Pa
cite, he said, for long time had at
tempted to influence Congress and Off
Gals of the Administration to scale
down the debt Of that company to the
Government about 80 per cent Until
had been unsuccessful. At that time
they made arrangements with the
Cleveland administration by which the
road was to be disposed of with loss
to the Government of about 5000, :
coo.
Harris then outlined the reasons why
that arrangement was not carried into
effect. Public sentiment was aroused
from Maine to California, the demand
of the people, he said, being that the5.
should not be swindled out OF the
enormous sum mentioned. When the
present Administration came into
power the question was grappled with,
and the Government finally obtained
every cent due from the Union Pacific
on the main line.
I'VE We're all very glad" said Har-
ris. that the Government received its
just due, and nobody more sincerely
congratulated the Administration upon
the successful negotiation of the
transaction. 1t was also hoped that the
Government would get the full amount
of the debt due from the Kansas
branch. If the Reorganization Com
mittee should decline to pay the full
amount due-about $4,000. 0O0-it was
the understanding that the Govern
ment would redeem the first mortgage
bonds, and have the road operated by
a receiver. A competent receiver would
show the value of the property, which
Harris believed was quite $4,000 $50.
The Reorganization. Committee. Har-
ris said, had evidently succeeded in
obtaining from the Attorney General
such concessions as had been out
lined in the Associated Press dis
patches, and the Government is to
stand idly by and see the enormous
sum of $6.1C0,000 of interest sacri-
feed. The value of the property.
Harris thought, was a most important
consideration. BY the Reorganization
Committee and by the Union Pacific
officials an effort had been made to
minimize the value of the road
1T is particularly significant" said
Harris. that the statements OF Inc
Reorganization Committee and the off
Gals Of the Union Pacific regarding the
'galue of the main line have been proved
by subsequent events to be untrue. As
was said once by the Senator from Mis-
souri, (VeSt, When they speak they
lie: and when they are silent they
steal
Harris then discussed the value of
the Kansas Pacific Road. and said that
having been a civil engineer on the
line. his information was that OF an
expert He said. that during the last
eleven years the line had earned an
amount equal to 4 per cent. CD $50
000,G00. He further said that on the
9TH inst, the Attorney had
agreed to redeem the first mortgage
bonds, and TO have the road operated
by a receiver. This arrangement, Har
rs said was perfectly satisfactory TO
those for whom he spoke, but the IN
tention of the Attorney General to him
der that plan, and TO let the road go
with loss to the Government of near
~ $1,000, eco, was not a surprise to
him and others, but absolutely unsas-
isfactofy.
Harris maintained that the Kansas
Pacific Road was worth the last cent
of the Governments claim, and it
ought to be demanded by the Attor-
ney- General.
Morgan. referring to the effort to
pass a bill in the Senate giving powers