Year: 1868

felt probably as he himself had felt that the Pacific
Railroad was q necessity. The bill OF 1864 was
very improperly guarded bill, In which every restric-
ton for the protection OF the people that was con-
tanned In the act OF 1862 was wiped out. lie saw by
this mornings Chronicle that there was another
scheme on foot to build Pacific Railroad from Cairo
through TO Arkansas and New Mexico and he believed
this ana tile other Pacific railroad schemes
foot would require two hundred or two hundred and
fifty millions OF dollars. Referring to the Sioux City
Railroad he asked me gentleman oS from Mi9nesots IN
change an the law by which that road was to be built


Ia any other ganner than was provided In the act Of
i'sI; Mr wrSyox rep., Of Mimi. replied that he had
never consented TO any such alteration. One OF the
chief comp that he had had to make against the
Union pacinc Railroad Company was that Il had BY
means unknown 10 him procured that alteration. He
had been one OF two or three who had insisted on
having the condition to the Sioux City road put In
the act OF 1862.


Mr. ALLISON, rep.) Of Iowa, remarked that he had
stated yesterday his belief that the Minnesota dele
CATION was in favor Of the change but he had been
informed this afternoon by the gentleman from Min
nesota Mr. Wndom) that he had not favored II. He
would, however call upon the chairman Of the Union
Pacific Railroad Committee TO state whether the
Minnesota delegation had not pressed upon that
committee the exact change made In reference TO the


Mr. wAsnBURN, OF Wis, declined to yield for that
purpose. and proceeded with his remarks.


Mr.. wAsHBuRNE, OF ILL.,, said that after the exraor.
dinary developments touching the Union Pacific
Railroad Company, az to the character OF the CON-
pany, the gigantic power 1t Is commencing to exer-
cise its extortons from and oppression Of the peo
pie and after the disclosure OF the alleged illegal II
not fraudulent issue OF more than million OF
ernment bonds to enable private company to build
q railroad in the State Of Iowa In southeast direc
ton, under the pretext Of building o Pacific
Railroad, the question had become one OF national
importance, and would attract universal attention.
Mr.. washburne then entered into . history
Of the passage OF the amended act of the
Pacific Railroad Company in 1884. He alleged that
all amendments were voted down which proposed
to protect In any way the public interest, and that
the bill was carried through by the influence OF the
gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Price and the gentleman
from pennsylvania tMr. stevensl No man who was
present In the House in the night session I'm which
the bill was considered, in June, 1864 could ever for
get the extraordinary scene then presented. The
lobby mustered In fun force. To say aothing Of the
allegations Of expenditures, in confidential way,
the scene was one Of the most animated and ex.
citing he had ever witnessed In q service OF
nearly sixteen years In the House. The
galleries were packed with lobbyists, both male
and female and by shysters and advenurers, hoping
for something TO turn up. The gtlded corridors OF
the House were filed with lobbyists, who broke
through oil rules, and made their way. upon the


floor OF the House and into the seats OF the mem
bers. In q speech made on that occasion he had
challenged the various provisions OF the bill and
had shown their extraordinary character, and part
cularly the provisions which subordtnated the lien
the government held as security for the vast amount
OF bonds II had become liable for. He hsr asked IN
that speech who was willing u bcieye tat, should