Shiner gazette. [volume] (Shiner, Tex.) 1893-current, 1898-02-09
SENATE AND HOUSE.


that when the senate adjourn it be I'M
til Monday next.
A bill providing for the erection OF a
public building ut Beaumont, Texas, ut
a cost not to exceed 100000, was
pissed
Mr.. Plat Of New York offered
resolution, which was referred to the
committee on military affairs, direct
ing the secretary of war to return to
the seventh regiment artillery for
mcrly the one hundred and thirteenth
New York V. ~ the flags of the regi-
ment.
A bill authorizing the erection of
bridges across the Choctawhatchee
river, navigable stream in Dale
county, Alabama, was passed.
At 1885, on motion of Mr. Davis of
Minnesota, chairman of the foreign
relations committee, the senate went
into executive session. At j.: 40 p. m.
the senate adjourned until Monday.
Washington, Feb Sin the house
yesterday 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 pri-
vate corporations. AT present the
rights of way are given only for min
ing and irrigation purposes.
The private pension bills favorably
acted upon at the session last Friday
night We're first considered.
Mr.. Fleming (Dem.) 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 govern
ments interest in the approaching
sale of the Kansas Pacific road. The
claim of the government, he said, was
about $13,0OO,OOO, and while it was
claimed that the road could be paral-
leled for 100000, he said that the
engineer who built the road Senator
Harris of Kansas, estimated it's value
at from $25,000,OO0 to $3O,OOO,OOO The
average earnings of the road for the
past ten years, $1,255,675, were per
cent interest on s3O,OOO,OOO
Mr.. Fleming said that Senator Har-
ris, by the facts he had furnished the
government, had saved the treasury
S27,000,000 on the sale OF the Union
Pacific. "The press of the country
built a fire under the administration,
he said, "and forced it to act"
Mr. Fleming said he had appealed to
the speaker and to Mr.. Powers (the
chairman of the Pacific roads commit
tee) to aid the consideration of the
measure reported by the committee.
"They were both courteous" said Mr..
Fleming, "but failed to get the
speaker to use his influence with Mr..
Powers, or Mr.. Powers to use his in
fluence with the speaker. On yester-
day 1 tried to get recognition from the
speaker 1 caught his natural eye, but
failed to catch his official eye To-
day when / did get recognition it
availed nothing, because 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 waive aside in
differently the millions involved. Ii
the sale took place, and the govern
ment only bid the principal of the
debt, the responsibility would be on
the majority. The only hope that re-
manned, he said in conclusion, was lay
in the press. 1t could force the adj
ministration, as 1t did in the case Of
the Union Pacific.
Mr.. Powers of Vermont, chairman o.
the Pacific railroad committee, denieC
that he had stated earlier in the da!
that the administration desired nj
the whole purpose Of those who wer'
opposing the sale was the government
ownership and operation of railroads
Mr.. Bailey (Dem.) of Texas objecte'
to Mr.. Powers statement of the posi-
ton of the Democrats. He said tina
is was not question of sacrificing tn
governments interests or the govern
ment ownership and operation of rail
roads.
ION this side" said he. tive believ
that the government can collect tn
debt, and, as prudent creditor, tina
it should collect every dollar of It,"
Continuing, Mr.. Powers said that h
did not believe the administratio
should be required to bid the flu
amount of the debt, principal and il
terest. The officers of the govern
ment had full knowledge, and he We
willing to trust the men who had oil
tanned every dollar due from the Unto
Pacific.