The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-06-11

the bill was to authorize the pur-
chasers of this property at the foreclos-
ure sale to acquire the franchise, the
right to be corporation, and there
was. no land grant in anv way connect
ed with the legislation. A special coun-
sci of the United States, Mr.. Joseph H.
Call, had investigated the whole SUBJ
Ject and strongly recommended the
leglsiatlon fRecord. page 1850. There
was no new authority conferred upon
the company that the old company did
not have
The vote in the house that is criti-
cized was on substitute that was pre-
sented for the resolution of the COM
mlttee Several amendments were Of
Iered to the bill and accepted, until
when the vote was taken there was but
little difference between the substitute
ana the original bill. pages 1S0-1S1).
Inc vote was on the substitute, which
was defeated by vote of II yeas to
l6S nays. Voting nay were Broderick
OF Kansas. Burton of Ohio, Cannon,
Curtis. Dalzell, Dingley, Dolliver,
Grow. Mccall, Moody. Payne, Sherman
ana Iawney. If I was found voting for
land grant which took ten million
acres from the people and gave 1t to
the Atlantic & Pacific railroad, every
member OF the house did the same
thing, for there was no division on the
final passage OF the bill; there was no
roll call and the bill passed unanim-
ously.
Does this record show that my vote
was cast In the interest of Wall street?
ieaVe 1t to every unprejudiced person,
who Will examine the record here made
The Pacific Railroads Funding Bill.
The charge in the article is this:
On page 6SS, part 1, volume 20. OF
the Congressional Record, Longs vote
is recorded as against giving the peo-
pie further protection than the regular
Dill gave them. in the settlement Of the
Paclhc railroads controversy. The in
terests Of the people Of this country
were opposed to Wall street and Long
stood with Wall street,
This bill was to provide for the set
Element of claims growing out of bonds
to aid in the construction of the Pacific
railroads. Mr.. Henderson (page 308).
In reporting the BILL referred to the
long controversy over the settlement
Of the amounts due the government and
took the position that something
should be done toward an extension of
the Indebtedness or the government
would lose its entire claim. The bill
provided for an extension of the time
within which the railroads could pay
the debt due the government The SUI
preme court had decided that the lien
Of the government attached only to
those parts Of the Union Pacific and
Central Pacific systems which received
subsidys bonds, or about 1928 miles Of
the Union Pacific and Central Pacific
railroads. The lien Of the government
was a second lien. The proposition for
the extension of the debt provided for a
second lien on the entire system which
embraced over 5000 miles of road The
bill had been prepared with great care
and was approved by the executive de-
partment of the government Mr..
Harrison Of Alabama offered a
substitute for the bill; Mr.. Bell OF
Texas offered a substitute for Mr.. Har-
rison's substitute. I voted against Mr..
Bells substitute for Mr.. Harrison's
against Mr.. Harrisons substitute (page
$500, and I voted for the bill reported
from the committee, for I believed that
it was the best proposition that was
presented. The bill was defeated and
the plan to extend the indebtedness OF
the roads to the government was lost.
This vote was cast in 1897, while
Grover Cleveland was president OF the
United States. 1t was in the midst OF
the financial depression that had con-
tfnued for over four years. The Union
Pacific was in the hands of a receiver
and suit was pending to foreclose the
first mortgage. 1t was the opinion OF
those who had investigated the matter
most carefully that the railroad would
not sell for more than sufficient to pay
the first mortgage. It was the opinion
Of many that the government would
cumstances, voted for an extension OF
the governments claim, which gave
the government lien on over 5000 miles
Of railroad instead Of 1928 miles.
William Mckinley had been elected
president and predictions had beer
made about the prosperity that would
come with his election. I had mad,
nf thnSn T1rndiofinnc J,,,
I did not dream of the wonderful
change that would take place in tn,
business conditions of the countr.
within short time. Within three year,
a settlement was made with the Uniof
Pacific and Central Pacific railroads b.
which the government got every dolIa
of it's principal and interest and wal
paid the principal on the Kansas Pa
cific Indebtedness. It was very fortu
nate that the bill for which I voted ii
collection of the claim of the govern
ment in full at an earlier date, all ex
cept the interest on it's claim agains
| the Kansas Pacific. This was mad,
possible only by the wonderful i'm
provement in business everywhere, ant
| the rise in values Of all kinds of pro
perty, including that of railroads. TIL,
| only explanation I have of my vote OF
the main proposition (for which I an
| not criticized in this article), is tina
| In 1897 there was many a farm in Kan
| sas that could not have been sold fo
enough to pay the mortgage upon /
which within three years was sold a
| a price that not only paid the mort
| gage Indebtedness in full. but left !:
| large margin above the Indebtedness
AS there were farm mortgages in Kan
| sas in 1897 that were being extended
until conditions would improve, so
| was in favor of extending the indebted
| ness of the Pacific railroads with TIL
hope that finally the government
claim would be paid. The vote I cas-
on the main proposition. and for which
I am not criticized in this article, wal
cast with the full belief that It wa
| the best course to pursue. and I an
/ glad that although I voted for 1t, tn
| hi1I WAS defeated. It resulted in al