The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-02-05
THE PRESS BUTT A FIRE
Under the Administration, is the Way
Mr.. Fleming Explains che q.
p Sale

WASHINGTON. Feb. 5.-ln the mouse yes
terday Mr.. Fleming CDem., CAD, during
the consideration OF one of the pending
bills, took advantage of the latitude al
lowed for debate, to discuss the question
OF protecting the governments interest a
the approaching sale of the Kansas Pa
eihc road. The claim OF the government.
he said, was over S13, 900 900, and, while it
was claimed that the road could be par
alleled for $3OO0OG0 he said that the en-
gineer who built the road, Senator Har-
ris of Kansas, estimated its value at from
S25,OOOOO0 to S30,O9O,O0o. The average earn
ings OF the road for the past ten years,
81, 255.675, were 1 per cent interest on $780,
Mr. Shattuck CRep., o. said that while
Senator Harris might be a very compe-
tent civil engineer, he knew nothing more
about computing the earnings or value of
a railroad than the portrait alongside OF
did YOU hear his speech on the Pacific
railroads?" asked Mr.. Shafroth (SiIver
4 read it." replied Mr.. Shattuck, "and
there is nothing in it. 1t is wind, nothing
Mr. Fleming said Senator Harris by the
facts he had furnished the government,
had saved the treasury $4,000. 900 on the
sale Of the Union Pacific THE press of
the country built fire under the admin
istration,' said he, land forced 1t to
Mr.. Fleming said he had appealed 10
the speaker and to Mr.. Powers. the chair
aid the consideration of the measure re
ported by the committee. They were
both courteous" said Mr. Fleming, put
I failed to get the speaker to use his IN
f1uence with Mr.. Powers, or Mr. Powers
Yesterday I tried to get recognition from
the speaker. Today when L did get rec
ognitiOn it awaited nothing because the
chairman of the committee, Mr.. Powers,
said he would object.
Continuing. Mr.. Fleming said he did not
consider it commensurate with the dignity
of the house to waive aside inadvertently
place and the government only bid the
principal of the debt, the responsibility,
the administration as it did in the case
of the Union Paclhc. -, -,
Mr.. Mcguire (Dem-, Cal-) sald 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
IN other words you want government
ownership of the railroads, lnterposed
u want to collect the government debt"
replied Mr. Mcguire.
I'VE would better have government
ownership of the railroads than raiIroad
ownership of the government, crleo MI
Terry Dem. Ark.
Mr. Powers (Rep., Vt.) chairman of the
Pacific railroads committee, denied that
he had stated earlier in the day that the
ton He alleged that the whole purpose
of those who were opposing the SAFE was
the government ownership and operation
.sTbe gentleman has heard me to little
purpose for the past five years, inter-
ruDfed MT Mcguire ''if he imagines de-
sire government operation of railroads
am IN ia vOrao of the government owning the
highways of commerce, but not OF 0peH-
atfnG trains any more than wagons.
IT am glad the gentleman has mace ms
proposition more ridiculous than could,
observed Mr.. Powers ..s 4. ~
Powers statement of the position of the
Democrats. He said it was not questlon
government ownership and operation OF
railroads. ION this side" said ne, we
bajiave the government can collect the
Sebf. and as a prudent creditor that 1t
should collect every dollar OF II; -, -.
continuing. Mr.. Powers said ne qld not
,eIieve the administration should be re
0Tired to bid the full amount OF the 9ept,
T1rjncinal and interest The -ofncerS OF the
government had full knowledge, ana ne
Syras willing to trust the matter TO the o.
ficiaIs who had obtained every uollaI Cue
from the Union Pacl1c. 44,
At p m. the house recessed a ulCil :
o,c1ocIx the evening session to be devoted
10 The consideration of private pension
bills.