El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-01-23
RAILWAY BENEFITED,
PUBLIC PAYS BILLS.
Congress Allows S. P. for
Money Spent CURLING
Colorado To Save
Track.

Washington, D., c., Jan. 23--An at
termath of the Salton sea- came up in
congress when the senate passed bill
to reimburse the Southern Pacific In
the amount Of $773, 647.25 for money
expended by it between December 1,
1906, and November 80, 1907, in closing
and controlling the break in the Colo
RADIO river.
The bill was introduced on March 22,
1909, by senator Flint Of California, and
referred to the committee on claims. 1t
was reported from the committee with
amendments on June 9, 1910, and put
on the calendar In clearing up the
calendar by moving that bills go over
until the next session, the S. P. bill
came up and senator Overman moved
that it go over. In a moment Mr.. Smoot
was his feet and moved that the bill
be considered notwithstanding the OBJ
lection by Mr.. Oyerman. Mr.. Shoots
motion carried
The bill as originally introduced
asked that the S. P. be reimbursed in
the amount of s1,636, 063.11, but the
committee on claims cut ii to s77S,-
647.25.
Considerable discussion was pro-
yoked, senators Cullom, Hepburn, War
rem and Kean. objecting or at least.
insisting that on account Of the large
amount the bill should not be acted
upon until all the members were IA
miliar with it, but beyond brief ex-
PLANTATION by Mr.. Smoot, the bin was
passed without additional time for
consideration being given.
Where the Money Went.
Following a demand for a full ex7
PLANTATION by Mr.. CuIlOm, Mr.. Smoot
said:
This is a bill appropriating money
for the reimbursement of the Southern
Pacific Railway company for closing
and controlling a break in the Colorado
river. This work was done at the earn
est request of president Roosevelt, and
1t is also referred to in the last mes
sage of president Taft, who expressed
the opinion that relief should be
granted. The claim was for $685.
063.11, and the committee allowed only
$773, 647-25, and these were the items.
For labor, S275, 310.12, and we de-
Quoted from that 10 percent, leaving
s247.779.11
That was done for this reason: At
ter the examination of the accounts Of
the railroad company we found that
they had added 10 percent on the
deducted 10 percent from it.
The next item was for materials
and supplies actually used, 1851, 5000,
and from that we deducted 10 percent
The next item was for construction
of levees, and that was done by con-
tract, and I examined every contract
that was signed on behalf of indi-
viduals and the company. The amount
was 1855, 37S.55.
The next item that we allowed was
for duties actually paid. That is,
great deal of the rock came from Mex
leo, and for duties paid, amounting to
$34,7l745, we also allowed
All the other items, consisting of
fuel freight charges on supplies and
materials, freight fuel, transportation,
work train service rental of equip
ment, cOmmissary supplies and labor.
trackage charges. officers and clerks
salaries. office expenses, travelling ex-
penses, and sundry expenses, we elm
mated, cutting the amount from $685.
063.11 to S773, 647.25.
Mr. Hepburn said that the ~exp1ana-
ton sounded alright but he was under
the impression, and had we more time
to give to this matter, I think my i'm
preston would be borne out, that the
benefits derived by the railroad COM
pany far exceed any expenditure which
II made in the matter"
Continuing, he said: Doubtless the
committee has given some considera-
ton to this measure, but we want the
record to justify our votes. If they
were really doing that which was a
benefit to their own line. if they i'm
proved their road and protected them
selves against great loss, then, it be-
ing a private enterprise. there is no
reason on earth why the government
should stand the expense