The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-02-18
BAGA|NSTC()NHRN|NG
Senate Adopts the Kansas
Pacific Resolution.
MAINE AFFAIR Is NOTICED
Resolution For an InveStiga-
ton is introduced.
MAINE AFFAIR Is NOTICED

Washington. Feb. 17.-After a spirited
debate occupying more than two hours,
the senate today, by a vote Of "a to %,
agreed to the resolution of Mr.. Turpie
Ond) declaring the senates opposition
TO the confirmation Of the sale of the
Kansas Pacific railroad. After the dispo-
sition of the resolution, the Corbett case
was discussed by Mr.. Pettus (Ala-) and
Mr.. Hoar (Mass.), an agreement having
first been reached to take final vote
upon the case on Monday, February %.
AT the opening of the senate the blind
chaplain delivered a touching invocation
with reference to the awful disaster to
the Maine
MAINE INVESTIGATION.
The only reference thus far made to
the disaster 10 the battleship Maine was
in the form of the following resolution
introduced by Mr.. Allen CNeb.):
Resolved, That the committee on ma
val affairs be directed to make an imme-
date and thorough investigation into the
cause Of the disaster to the battleship
Maine in the harbor Of Havana Oh the
18th instant, and report to the senate"
If the matter were taken up by the
naval affairs committee, Mr.. Hale said,
the best the committee could do would
be to act through the navy department
He was satisfied that as soon as the sec
rotary of the navy obtained definite infor-
nation concerning the explosion and its
details he would communicate the facts
TO congress.
Mr.. Allen objected to having the reso-'
luton sent TO the committee on naval af-
fairs.
Those of US" said he, who are not
members Of the naval affairs committee,
or Of the foreign relations committee
cannot get information from the depart
ments about these things. We are shut
out as completely as if we were private
citizens. I think 1 ought to get my infor-
mation, and each member interested in
this matter, through the committee on
naval affairs Of this senate 1 do not
care TO debate this matter or to indulge
in any extended discussion of it, What
want is action by the committee that will
give US information"
Mr. Chandler N. h objected to the
resolution and it went over until tomor-
row.
TURPIE'S RESOLUTION.
Mr.. Turpie's resolution declaring that
the sale Of the Kansas Pacific ought not
20 be confirmed unless the government
received not only the principal but also
the interest of its claim, was laid before
the senate, and Mr.. Thurston resumed
bis remarks upon it. He pointed out thai
the entire debt of the Union Pacific
branch, to the government, was about
S71,O0O,OOO. The sale of the main and
branch lines would return to the govern
ment SIS. 900. 900. or 81 per cent Of the roads
Indebtedness to the United States prin-
cipal and interest. This. MIR Thurston !
held, was a piece of good fnanciering |
on the part of the president, who. he |
said, was better informed upon the value |
OF the road and all the details bearing |
upon that value than any other official of |
the government, in congress or out. He |
pointed out that if the sale of the Kan |
sas Pacific were not confirmed, the pres |
ident would have no other alternative |
than to redeem the first mortgage bonds |
and thus. instead of having in the treas
ury more than 5000. 600 as a result of the
vest about S7OOO,0OO more cash TO redeem
the first mortgage bonds, and then would
have on its hands a property that was of
SO little value as compared with what
some senators imagined, that not a sim
gle one of the great railroads centering
in Kansas City thought enough of it to
venture a bid upon it at the sale yester-
Aay
Mr.. Thurston regarded the settlement
effected by the administration of the
whole Pacific railroad business as emf
nently satisfactory far better settle
ment. better by nearly $20.O O00. than that
proposed TO have been made by the Cleve-
land administration
This business was in the hands of the
president. and the country might well be
satisfied with the discretion. the business
sagacity, the Judgment and the states
manship of William Mckinley
Replying to Mr.. Thurston, Mr. Harris
(Kan) read a telegram he had received
last night from Topeka, Kan. as fol-
lows:
Government lien sold here Special
messenger sent to St. Louis to have San
born approve sale in the morning
Mr. Harris said he did not know what
practical effect the passage of the pend
ing resolution might have. but it was evil
dent that the purchasers were manifest
ing remarkable haste to secure the con-
frmation of the sale.
Remarks in favor Of the resolution were
made by Mr. Rawlins Utah) and in oppo-
sition by Mr.. Gear UowaD While Mr.
Warren Wyo) was speaking. the morn >
ing hour expired. and the resolution. its
privilege having been lost, went to the J
calendar.
Mr.. German CMdl suggested that the
Corbett case be voted upon Monday. Feb
Tuary p. at p. m. This was agreed 10.
The Corget case was temporarily laid ,
aside. and Mr.. Turpie moved 10 take IN ,
his resolution relating to the Kansas Pa