Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-02-15
KANSAS PACIFIC SALE.
Resolution I. Of Nj. Harris Adopted by
the Senate.
CRITICISM u TEE ADMINISTRATION
information Wanted Regarding
Death Of Lopez.
A TRAG EDY IN CUBA

Mr.. Pettus (Ala.) offered and secured the
passage of a resolution by the Senate to-
day requesting the President If not in
compatible with the public interest. to in
form the Senate what action has been
taken in reference to the murder of Sc
gundo N. Lopez, citizen of the United
States. on the 18th of April, 1896, in the
| district of San Diego del valla Magueural-
| la, Cuba, by armed soldiers of Spain, COM
manded by Col. Estruch.
The resolution introduced yesterday by
Mr.. Harris (kan.) directing the Attorney
General to furnish the Senate with in
formation as to the agreement reached by
the government with the reorganization
committee of the Union Pacific railway
concerning the Kansas Pacific branch was
laid before the Senate
Mr.. Chandler said he had no objection to
| the resolution. but did not approve of the
preamble, which included press dispatch
Mr. harris replied that he might not in
sist upon the preamble after he had made
q statement. The Union Pacific, he said,
| Tor long time had attempted to influence
congress and officials of administrations
10 scale down the debt of that company to
the government about so per cent. Until
year ago last January the company had
peen unsuccessful. At that time they made
an arrangement with Mr. Clevelands ad-
|
disposed of with a loss to the government
| of about $2SOOOOOO.
| Mr.. Harris then outlined the reasons why
enat arrangement was not carried into eff
| Iect. Public sentiment was aroused from
| Maine to Calffoi MIA, the demand Of the
people. he said, being that they should not
| be swindled out of the enormous sum men,
tloned Wien the present administration
! came INTO power the question was grappled
| with, and the government finally obtained
| ever cent due from the Union Pacific on
the main line
We were all very glad" said Mr.. Har-
| us, that the government received its just
| que, and nobody has more cordially con-
graduated the present administration than
upon the successful negotiation OF that
transaction"
Mr.. Harris maintained that the Kansas
Pacific road was worth the last cent IF the
| gcvernT ents claim, and it ought to Le de-
manded by the Attorney General.
Mr.. Morgan, referring to the effort of the
Senate to pass a bill giving powers TO the
| administration to become bidder for the
Kansas Pacific railroad. said he thought
| the Senate, ought to take that measure up
| and pass IT. Whether 1t would pass the
congestion which sometimes takes place in
the other branch of Congress-" he could
not say. IL would be possible. however
thus to demonstrate whether there was a
power in the House of Representatives
which would stand in the way of the pro-
posed measure Intended to save the people
Of the country nearly seven millions Of
| dollars. &c
Mr.. Gear objected not only to the pream-
BILE of the resolution. but also to the word
| ing Of the resolution as discourteous to the
| attorney general.
Referringno petition from a London
! banking firm read as part OF MIR. Harris
| remarks which contained evidence that
| there was trouble between the reorganiza-
| ton committee and those whom they repre-
scented. he said that when rogues fall out
| honest men were likely to get their dues.
| THAT Is contamination devoutly to be
| wished exclaimed Mr.. Harris J"W hen
| these thieves fail out perhaps the United
| States will get it's dues
| Mr.. Gear, continuing, regarded as the
| greatest plume in the caps of the present
administration the fact that it received
| 100 cents on every dollar of the Union Pa
| cific Indebtedness. E9- r..
! Then why is 1t willing TO accept AZ
| cents the dollar of the Kansas Paci-
fic indebtedness" inquired Mr.. Morgan.
Il don't know that it is, replied Mr.. Gear.
But If it Is, perhaps it is because the road
| is worth only 4S cents on the dollar"
| Mr.. Foraker (Ohfo) discussed the situa-
| ton as it had been viewed by the President.
| The President had asked Congress to give
| him authority to enter the sale of the Kan
| sas Pacific a bidder, but Congress had
| taken no action.
The final offer made by the reorganiza-
ton the President had evidently regarded
| as reasonably satisfactory
Resolution Passed.
/ The resolution was passed. 1t Is as fol-
| lows: tt
Resolved, That the Attorney General is
directed to inform the Senate IL he has
| authorized the abandonment of any
intention to redeem the first mortgage
| bonds issued on the Union Pacific
| railroad, eastern division now the Kansas
| Pacific division of the Union Pacific rail-
| way, and to ask postponement of the
| sale thereof and for the appointment of
| receiver therefor in the interests of the
| government of the United States, and also
| If he has authorized an agreement by
| which said property is to be sold for the
! face value of the subsidy bonds, resulting
! in a loss to the government of the amount
| of S6,624, 107. and if the government has
agreed not to be bidder at said sale"
| Prior to its passage Mr.. Gear moved to
refer the resolution to the Pacific railroad
| committee, but the motion was defeated
! 10 to 81. ~
Two verbal amendments by Mr. Chan
| dler were agreed to, and the resolution was
adopted without division. On motion Of
| Mr.. Chandler. the preamble was then
stricken from the resolution
At 2:30 pm. the Senate, on motion of Mr..
Davis, went into executive session.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,,
Mr.. Payne On. V, chairman of the COM
mittee on merchant marine, In the House
| of Representatives this morning called up
the Senate bill to amend the novipa tyon