Omaha daily bee., 1899-08-20
ROADS REPLY TO POINTER
Give Their Reasons for Not Bringing tbs
First Regiment Home.
TOO GREAT A FINANCIAL RISK TO ASSUME
Would Have Been Necessary to Adj
vance tho southern Pacific and
Pullman Companies n Large
sum of Money.

oficials of the Union Pacific and Burling-
ton railroads believe that some OF the state
ments made by Governor Poynter in his
open letter to the people OF Nebraska, pub
lished yesterday, are liable to serious mis-
Interpretation. The general attorneys OF
both roads, to WHOM the proposition Of Gov
eruor Poynter regarding the furnishing Of
transportation for the returning soldiers
with the promise of future legislative re-
Enumeration was referred in order to estab-
lish its legal status, are as thoroughly cog
infant OF the entire history Of Governor
Poynter's plan as any other officials, and
their statements will add considerable light
upon the subject.
Personally, the officials of the Union Pa
cifc, from the president down to the hum
blest subordinate, are as greatly interested
and have as much admiration for the boys
of the gallant First Nebraska regiment as
any other class of citizens In the state"
said John N. Baldwin, general attorney of
the Union Pacific for Nebraska and Iowa.
individually, we are willing to do anything
that we possibly can to welcome them back
to the state in a manner BETTING the recep-
ton of returning heroes, but because the
officials have not seen their way clear to
provide for the transportation Of the boys
from San Francisco to Nebraska, assuming
an enormous liability and establishing a
precedent which would certainly be abused,
their attitude has been severely criticised
by the chief executive of Nebraska.
THE proposition submitted by Governor
Poynter was, that the Union Pacific COM
pany should transport this regiment from
San Francisco to Omaha and rely upon fu-
ture legislative action for payment for this
service. In addition to the outlay which
the Union Pacific would incur for transpor-
tation of the regiment over its own line, 1t
would be compelled to advance a large
amount to the Southern Pacific company,
and to the Pullman company for sleeping
car service. The Union Pacific has no con-
troll over these companies, and they would
demand their share of the amount to be
paid in advance. Assuming that 1000 men
and officers would be carried, the cost would
be as follows: 1000 second class tickets
at $3.50, s37, 800; 1893 sections in tourist
s~leepers, 1888, a total OF $40, 1873.
The Union Pacifc's proportion at this
rate is S20.25 and the Southern Pacifc's is
$17.25. Deducting the amount of the Union
Pacifc's proportion, 500, $50, would leave
|$20,5S3 which the Union Pacific would have
to advance to the Southern Pacific and the
Pullman company, in addition to the actual
cost of the service upon it's own line.
LAS the payment Of this claim could not
be legally enforced, the Union Pacific COM
pany declined to advance such a large
amount of money and depend entirely on
legislative action for reimbursement. An
other serious objection to entering into such
an arrangement is that it would be recorded
as a precedent for other states. The Union
Pacific company has been informed that
| other statas would apnlv for similar or-
rangements. Iowa, Wyoming and Kansas
would insist upon the same agreement for
their regiments. The Nebraska arrangement
could be used with unanswerable logic by
other states pleading for similar favors. In
the end there would be fixed upon the Union
Pacific a responsibility and liaDllity which
It's representatives cannot ASSUME or incur
Position of the Burlington.
OMAHA. Neb.. Aug. 19.-To the Editor
of The Bee: j have read with much in
terest and regret the letter addressed to
the people of Nebraska by Hon. w. A. Poyn-
ter, governor Of the state.
The statement of a half truth is frequently
more Injurious than giving forth an entire
falsehood.
So far as the Burlington company is con-
cerned 1t. as a corporation, and its officers
and employees as individuals have evinced
in every way a desire TO recognize the gall
liant service Of the Nebraska troops in the
field and feel particularly a strong incli-
nation to do everything in their power to
bring the gallant men of the First Ne
braska to their homes without cost.
The rate fixed by the roads connecting
with the Burlington, over whose arrange
ments 1t has no control, is $3.50 railroad
fare from San Francisco to Omaha and
1888 cost OF sleeping car per man. OF this
rate. amounting to $4O.SS for each passen-
ger, the Burlington road would get but 81. 80,
being the pay over its road from Denver to
Omaha Thus. 1t will be seen that on the
basis of the movement of 1000 men the
Burlington company, II it did THAT has
been requested. would not only have tc
wait the pleasure of the next legislature
for $500. but it would have to advance to
the Denver & Rio Grande. the Rio Grande
Western and Southern Pacific railroads in
cash S3l, 800, for none Of these roads will
move the train until that money is paid In
San Francisco. II the road were to accede
to this demand the precedent would plead
for the movement of troops to the states OF
Kansas. Iowa and Illinois, and we would
nave TO pay out an enormous sum of money
and look to legislative consideration in the
future to be reimbursed. A moments con
sideration on the part of any fair man will
satisfy him that 1t is out of the question.
Proposed Loan illegal.
We regret that the efforts of Governor
: POINTER to obtain the $40, 900 from the
banks has failed. but an examination of the
national bank act would show that it would
be a violation of the law for them as ma
tional banSJ to make a loan on such indeli,
mite security. j would be extremely glad Il
3 see a large sum Of money paid not only t.
the men OF the First Nebraska. but also Il
those OF the Second and Third Nebraska
who, although not SO distinguished, woulc
have been equally SO had the opportunit!
been afforded them.
The proposition made by the newspaper
has been to raise enough money by vol
untary subscription to bring the First Ne
braska from San Francisco to their HON
state, ] understand that SIS, 900 has beer
guaranteed or is in sight. My desire t,
recognize the services of these fighters il
the Philippines ! make manifest by thi
proposition, which is open for ten days:
Will be one OF twenty men to advance O
; guarantee $1,000 to Governor Poynter, to b.
reimbursed by an appropriation by the leg
5 i~slature. II 1t can be induced at its next ses
sion to pass the bill. II within ten day
the $40, 900 additional cannot thus be raised
then the only other course open for US i
TO permit each man OF the First Nebraska
TO pay the $40 that will bring him to hi