The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-02-23
Senate Discusses Bill For
Civil Government.
The General Question Of Government
Ownership of Railroads Comes
Up ia Connection With This
Discussion.
Discussion.
(By the Associated Press.)

Washington, ID. c., Feb. 22.-The
Senate today considered at some
length the bill providing civil gov
eminent for the Panama Canal zone.
The question of the government own
ership Of the Panama Railroad ana
its relationship to the general question
of government ownership of railroads
was debated freely.
A number of witnesses were exam
ined on behalf of Judge Swayne in
the impeachment proceeding against
him. Washingtons farewell address
was read by Mr.. Perkins at the begin
ming of the session. Mr.. Hale rein
troduced in somewhat different form
his resolution to bring the SWayne I'M
parchment trial to a close next Ssatur-
day, saying that he hoped in view OF
information received he would not be
compelled again to call it up. This
information he said was to the effect
that an arrangement was being per-
fected whereby the trial might be
terminated by the end of the present
week. He added that unless Sucn an
arrangement could be contaminated
he would find some way Of bringing
the matter to the attention OF the
Senate 50 as to get vote. lie Sald
that in order to get action upon the
appropriation bills it was absolutely
necessary promptly to dispose OF
the trial.
Mr.. Bacon objected 10 undue cx-
petition in disposition of the SWayhe
matter, saying that while he agreed
with Mr.. Hale as to the importance oi
pressing consideration of the regular
business of the Senate, he regarded
the trial as q constitutional function
of great Importance and therefore
deserving of most careful conSidera-
ton. He suggested longer daily scS-
sions of the Senate.
Consideration of the bill for the
government of the Panama Canal
zone was then resumed. Mr.. Morgan
took exception to some of the proVlS-
ions of the bill, among them the one
authorizing the deposit Of $1,5O0,0 600
to facilitate work on the canal. He
saw no necessity, he said, for employ
ing a bank for that service. He con-
sidered the provision as in the inter-
est of some favorite bank
Mr. Kittridge said the provision was
intended only to facilitate work on
the canal and avoid asking faVorS
from banks when funds We're needed.
MIR German explained that the pro-
vision was a matter of convenience.
| He did not doubt that the selected
| bank would be benefited, but he did
| not believe there need be any dan
| ger of loss. Mr. German also spoke
of the acquisition of the Panama rail-
road, saying that while he did not be-
| lieve in the principle of government
| ownership he was prepared to defend
| the acquisition of this road because il
| was necessary to the construction of
| the canal
Mr.. Bailey acquiesced in the opin-
| ion that the acquisition of the road
was in accord with sound business
| principles.
Ar. "a. 1900. S,,,>,o,~co,1 Iie op;u;op
| on the subject of governmental own
| ership, saying that he did not regard
such ownership as an unmixed evil.
| He favored the acquisition of the Pan
| anna road as it would enable the gov
| eminent TO demonstrate the effect of
| national control in such business
The following witnesses were called
| and examined in the interest of Judge
| SWayne: F. w. Marsh, clerk of the
Federal courts at Pensacola; Beverly
| H. Burton, deputy clerk; Thomas F.
| McGourin, United States marshall for
| the northern district of Florida; Her
man Wolf, deputy marshal; Elijah
| Barker, Percy s. Hayes Pensacola
newspaper men, and Adolph Green
| hut, all of whom testified TO circum-
| stances connected with the contempt
| proceedings in connection with the
case; Ezra p. Axtell an attorney,
whose testimony related to the re-
| spondents use of private railroad cars,
and Milton Jackson, of Philadelphia,
! a brother-in-law of Judge SWayne,
| who said that in recent years the
! judge had made only occasional visits
| to Guyencourt, Del
Robert Mccullough and Wood Will
son, Martin Turner and Charles c.
Morris, residents of Guyencourt. Del,
where the Swayne homestead is loca-
ted, testified that Judge Swayne had
| been in the habit of spending his
summers there, but that he is never
| there at any other season of the year.
After the last witness had been
| heard Mr.. Higgins said there are only
four more witnesses to be introduced
in Judge Swayne's interest and that
| they would not occupy to exceed 40
minutes and Mr.. Palmer said that
only one witness would be called in
rebuttal. Both sides agreed that not
/ 20 exceed two hours more time would
| be required for the introduction OF
| testimony.
The Senate adjourned until tomor-
| row.
| a trust deed was filed and recorded
| February 10th from NJ. j. Edwards TO
| Virginia Savings Bank and Trust Co.
| for $4,000 for the extension of the