The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-02-05
THE HOUSE PROCEEDINGS
ENLIVENED BY DEBATE OVER
KANSAS PACIFIC SALE.
Democrats Desire to Protect Govern
ment's Interests-Republicans OBJ
ject to Government Ownership
''Better That Than Railroad own
ership of Government" Says Terry

! way through the public domain fol
tranways, canals and reservoirs, so a:
to grant those rights for cities and pri-
vate corporations. At present the rights
of way are given only for mining anC
( irrigation purposes.
Mr.. Fleming Dem, Ga.), asked unan-
! imouS consent to set aside next Monday
for the consideration of the bill report
1 ed by the Pacific railroad committee tC
grant additional powers to the presi-
dent N the matter of the sale of the
/ Kansas Pacific railroad. The sale was
/ to take place Feb. II. he said, and il
was important if anything was to be
done that it should be done at once
! Mr.. Powers (Rep., Vt), chairman OF
/ the Pacific railroad committee, said
/ that the consideration of the bill would
/ be a waste of time, and it had already
/ been demonstrated that the senate
would not pass a similar measure.
you are chairman of the COMMITTEES
that reported the BILL said Mr.. Elem
ing. Us it not meritorious enough to
receive consideration?
1.-THE bill is harmless" replied Mr..
Powers THE president already has
sufficient power"
But he distinctly asked for add
tional powers in his message retOrted
Mr.. Fleming.
L.
During the consideration of one of
the pension bills, Mr.. Fleming took ad-
vantage of the latitude allowed for de-
bate TO discuss the question of protect
ing the governments interest at the APP
preaching sale of the Kansas Pacific
road The claim of the government.
he said, was over 5000, 900, and while
it was claimed that the road could be
paralleled for $S,00O,OOO. he said that the
engineer wao built the road, Senator
Harris os Kansas. estimated it's value
at from SIS, 900. 600 to $50, 000,0
Mr.. Shattuck CRep., o., said while
Senator Harris might be very compe-
tent civil engineer he knew no more
about computing the earnings or value
of railroad than the posts alongside
the speakers chair.
Did you hear his speech on the Pa
cific railroads." asked Mr.. Shafroth
= read it," replied Mr.. Shattuck, and
there IS nothing in it. 1t was wind;
nothing more"
MIGHTY GOOD WIND.
Mr.. Fleming said Senator Harris, by
the facts he had furnished the govern
ment, had saved the treasury S27, 5000
on the sale of the Union Pacific. The
press of the country built a fire under
the administration" said he, and
forced il to act"
Mr.. Fleming said he had appealed
tc the speaker and to Mr.. Powers, the
chairman of the Pacific railroad COM
mittee. to aid the consideration of the
measure reported by the committee.
'"They We're both courteous" said Mr..
Fleming, "but l failed to get the
speaker 10 use his influence with Mr..
Powers. or Mr.. Powers TO use his in
fluence with the speaker. On yesterday
l tried to get recognition from the
SPEAKER. Today when 1 did get recOg-
milton, It awaited nothing, because the
chairman OF the committee, Mr.. Pow
ers, said he would object"
THE RESPONSIBILITY.
Continuing, Mr.. Fleming said he did
not consider it commensurate with the
dignity of the house to waive aside
indifferently the millions involved. If
the sale took place and the government
only bid the principal of the debt, the
responsibility would be with the ma
jority. The only hope that remained,
he said lay in the press. 1t could force
the administration. as it did in the case
of the Union Pacific.
Mr.. Mcguire Dem, CALI said the
law required that the government
should collect the full amount of the
debt or take the road, and he believed
the law should be obeyed.
In other words. you want govern
ment ownership of railroads" inter-
posed Mr.. Dalzel (Rep.. Pa.)
L want to collect the government
debt" replied Mr.. Mcguire.
THE BEST CHOICE.
I'VE had better have government
ownership of railroads than railroad
ownership of government" cried Mr..
Terry Dem., Ark.)
Mr.. Powers (Rep.. Vt) 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 securing of the gov
eminent ownership and operation of
railroads.
'-1ne gentleman has heard me to lit
tie purpose for the past five years.
Mr.. Mcguire, If he i'm
agines 1 desire government operation
of railroads. 1 am in favor of the gov
eminent owning the highways of COM
merce, but not of operating trains any
more than wagons"
L am glad the gentleman has made
his proposition more ridiculous than 1
could" observed Mr.. Powers.
MISLEADING POSITION.
Mr.. Bailey Dem., Tex objected to
Mr.. Powers statement of the position
of the Democrats. He said it was not
a question of sacrificing the govern
ment's debt, or government ownership
and operation of railroads. "On this
side,' said he, I'VE believe the govern
ment can collect. the debt, and, as a
prudent creditor. that it should collect
every dollar of it,
Continuing, Mr.. Powers said he did
not believe the administration 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 matter to the officials who had
obtained every dollar due from the
Union Pacific.
The house resumed the consideration
of private bills in evening session.
IN THE SENATE.
No business of Importance was trans /
acted in the brief open session. After I
the executive session of three hours, /
the senate adjourned until Monday.
Senate Combinations.
Washington, Feb. 4.-The senate to- |
day confirmed the following nominal
tons:
To be Consuls.-Benjamin Johnson of
Iowa, at Utilla, Honduras; W. b. Sors-
by of Mississippi, at San Juan del /
Norte, Nicaragua; L. II. Cheny of New
at La Paz, Mexico; ]. e.
Rowen of Iowa, at Port Stanley, Falk-
land Islands