The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-02-05
PRIVATE BILL DAY IN THE HOUSE.
Committee on Claims Given the
Right of Way.

l
Right of Way.
Washington, Feb AIN the House to-
day a bill was passed to amend the act of
Jan. 81 1895. granting rights of way
through the public domain for tramways,
canals and reservoirs so as to grant those
rights for cities and private corporations.
At present the rights of way are given
only for mining and irrigation purposes.
Mr.. Fleming, Dem, of Georgia asked
unanimous consent to set aside next Mon
day for the consideration of the bill re-
ported by the Pacific Railroad committee
to grant additional powers to the President
in the matter of the sale of the Kansas
Pacific Road.
The sale was to take place Feb. II, he
said, and it was important if anything
was to be done that it should be done at
once.
Mr.. Powers. Rep. of Vermont. chairman
OF the Pacific Railroad committee said
the consideration of the bill would be a
waste of time as it had already been DEM
! onstrated that the Senate would not pass
a similar measure.
You are chairman of the committee
that reported the BILL said Mr.. Fleming.
rs 1t not meritorious enough to receive
considerations"
ers, the President already has sufficient
power"
But he distinctly asked for additional
powers in his message" retorted Mr..
| Fleming.
Mr.. shattuck, Rep, of Ohio then OBJ
! Jected to Mr.. Fleming's request.
A conflict then occurred between the
appropriations committee and the commit
tee on claims. This was private bill to-
day under the rules but the appropria-
tons committee desired to proceed with
the Notifications appropriations bill and
contested the right of way with the claims
! committee. The appropriations committee
was defeated on a roll cGh by a vote of
| ia to 1873. and the House proceeded to the
/ consideration of private bills.
| The private pension bills favorably act
| ed upon at the session last Friday night
| were first considered
Mr.. Hopkins, Rep, of Illinois, demanded
the reading of the report on the first bill
and followed it with some desultory de-
| bate upon the measure. The democrats,
| led by Mr.. Richardson, Dem, of Tennes-
] see, who were anxious TO reach the private
! calendar, charged that it was the purpose
| of the majority to filibuster away the en-
tire day in passing the pension bills,
which, he said could be passed in five
minutes if the opposition were withdrawn.
Mr.. Ray, Rep, of New York, and other
Republicans denied any disposition to fill
ibuster, but they continued to prolong the
debate
MIR. Fleming, DEM, of Georgia, during
| the consideration of one of the pension
bills, took advantage of the latitude al
| lowed for debate to discuss the question
of protecting the governments interest
at the approaching sale of the Kansas
| Pacific road. The claim of the govern
ment,he said, was over $13 100000 and while
it was claimed that the road could be par
! alleled for 100000, he said that the en-
| gineer who built the road, Senator Har
ris of Kansas, estimated its value at
$25, 600 to $3OO00,000. The average earn
ings of the road for the past ten years.
! s., 255 675, were 4 per cent. interest on
! 800 100000.
Mr. Fleming said Senator Harris, by the
! facts he had furnished the government,
had saved the treasury $27, 100000 on the
sale of the Union Pacific. The press
of the country built a fire under the ad-
ministration," he said, land forced ii to
act
Mr.. Fleming said he had appealed to the
Speaker and to Mr.. Powers, the chairman
of the Pacific Roads committee to aid the
consideration of the measure reported by
the committee They were both courte-
ous' said Mr.. Fleming, but l failed to
/ get the Speaker to use his influence with
Mr.. Powers or Mr.. Powers to use his infiu-
! ence with the Speaker. Yesterday tried
to get recognition from the Speaker 1
| caught his natural eye. but L failed to
| catch his official eye. To-day, when L did
get recognition, it availed nothing be-
| cause the chairman of the committee Mr.
| Powers said he would object"
Continuing, Mr.. Fleming said he did not
| think .it commensurate with the dignity
of the House to wave aside indifferently
the millions involved. If the sale took
place and the government only bid the
| principal of the debt. the responsibility
would be on the majority The only hope
that remained" he said, in conclusion
LAY in the press. 1t could force the adj
ministration it did in the case of the
Union Pacific"
Mr.. Powers denied that he had stated
| earlier in the day that the administration
desired no further legislation. He alleged
that the whole purpose of those who were
| opposing the sale was the government
ownership and operation of railroads.
Mr.. Bailey, Dem, of Texas, objected to
Mr.. Powers statement of the position of
| the Democrats. He said 1t was not a
question of sacrificing the government
debt or government ownership and opera
ton of the railroad. ION this side" said
he, I'VE believe the government can control
the debt. and, as prudent creditor, that
it should collect every dollar of it."
Continuing, Mr.. Powers said he did not
believe that the adminstrat ton should be
| required to bid the full amount of the
! debt, principal and interest. The officers
of the government had full knowledge, and
he was willing to trust the men who had
obtained every dollar due from the Union
| Pacific
AT 5 O'Clock the House recessed until 8
O'Clock, the evening session to be devoted
to the consideration of private pension
bills.
During the night session nineteen pri-
| vate pension bills We're favorably acted
on, and at 1880 the House adjourned.
MAKING DUPES OF NEGROES.