The San Francisco call., 1898-02-05
PROTECTION
 OF FEDERAL
 INTERESTS Sale of Railroads is Again Before the
 House. Democrats Bring Up the Question on the Kan
 SaS Pacific. Mcguire Says the Law Requires That the Government Collect
Mcguire Says the Law Requires That the Government Collect
 the Debt in Full.
PAY OR TAKE THE ROAD.
Powers Explains That Additional Legislation Is Not Required to
 Guide the Administration.
Special Dispatch to The Call.
Call Office, Riggs House.

Call Office, Riggs House,
 Washington, Feb. 4.
 This was private bill day in the House, but owing to systematic filibus- tering the private calendar containing the bills reported by the Committee on Claims was not reached, the whole day being consumed in passing eighteen of the twenty-four private pension bills favorably acted upon by the House at the session last Friday night. During the consideration of one of the bills an interesting discussion of the approach ing sale of the Kansas Pacific set for February r was precipitated by Elem ing (D.) of Georgia, who, with his Dem ocratic colleagues desired legislation to require the President to bid the full amount, debt, principal and interest. Powers, chairman of the Pacific Rail- road Committee, contended that the real purpose of the opposition was to compel the Government to take the road and operate it. He said he thought the administration which had secured every dollar owing from the Union Pa cific could be safely trusted to protect the Governments interest at the sale of the Kansas Pacific.
 A bill was passed to amend the act of January 3, 1895, granting the rights-of- way through the public domain for tram ways, canals and reservoirs so as to grant those rights for cities and private cor porations At present the rights-of-way are given only for mining and irrigation purposes.
 Fleming D.) of Georgia, during the consideration of one of the pension bills. took advantage of the latitude allowed for debate to discuss the question of pro- tecting the Governments interest at the approaching sale of the Kansas Pacific Railroad. The claim of the Government. he said, was over s13,000 ,000 and while it was claimed that the road could be paralleled for s, 900 900, he said that the engineer who bulit the road, Senator liar S25 600 600 to SS0. .000. GOO The average earn tngs of the road for the past ten years, Sl 70, ,oiS, were per cent interest on ESQ.,
 Shattuck (R.) of Ohio said while Sena- tor Harris might be a very competent civil engineer, he knew no more about computing the earnings or value of a railroad than the portrait alongside of the Speakers chair.
 Did you hear his speech on the Pa cific railroads?" asked Shafroth (Sil. R.) of Colorado.
 q read it." replied shattuck. land there is nothing in 1t. It was wind, nothing more"
 Fleming said Senator Harris. bv the IdClS IS HdU luTnlSneQ the GOVernmeQt. had saved the treasury s27 ,OOO, 900 on the sale of the Union Pacific. 'sThe press of the country built a fire under the ad- ministration," said he, "and forced it to act"
 Fleming said he had appealed to the Speaker and to Powers, the chairman of the Pacific Railroad Committee. to aid the consideration of the measure reported by teous.' said Fleming, but failed to get the Speaker to use his influence with Powers, or Powers to use his influence to get recognition from the Speaker. To- day, when did get recognition, it availed nothing, because the chairman of the committee, Powers. said he would ob- ject.''
 Continuing. Fleming said he did not consider it commensurate with the dig nity of the House to waive aside indif- ferent the millions involved. If the sale took place and the Government only bid the principal of the debt, the responsi- bility would be on the majority The only hope that remained, he said. lay in the press. It could force the administra- tion, as it did in the case Of the Union Pacific.
 Mcguire O) of California said the law required that the Government should col lect the full amount of the debt or take the road, and he believed the law should be obeyed.
 Tn other words. you want Government zell (Ro of Pennsylvania.
 .'I want to collect the Government debt" replied Mcguire.
 We had better have Government own ership of railroads than railroad owner ship of Government" cried Terry D.) of Arkansas.
 Powers CR.) of Vermont, chairman of the Pacific Railroad Committee. denied he had stated earlier in the day that the administration desired no further legisla- ticn. He alleged that the whole purpose of those who were opposing the sale was the Government ownership and operation of railroads.
 ''The gentleman has heard me to little purpose for the past five years inter rupted Mcguire. "If he imagines I desire Government operation of railroads I am highways of commerce. but not of operat- ing trains any more than wagons"
 T am glad the gentleman has made his proposition more ridiculous than I could.' observed Powers.
 Bailey CD0 of Texas objected to Pow Democrats He said 1t was not a ques- ton of sacrificing the Governments debt or Government ownership, and operation of railroads. '.On this side" said he, i've believe the Government can collect the debt. and, as prudent creditor. that it should collect every dollar Of it'
 Continuing. Powers said he did not be- lieve the administration should be re- quired to bid the full amount of the debt. principal and interest. The officers of he was willing to trust the matter to the officials who had obtained every dollar due from the Union Pacific.
 At D. m. the House took recess tf1l o'clock, the evening session to be devoted to the consideration of private pension bills.
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