Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 24.djvu/524

 FORTY-NINTH CONGRESS. Sess. II. C11. 345.- 1887. 491 roads; also to enquire if the United States have contracts with branch roads controlled by either of said Pacillc roads for carrying United States mails, and, if so, what service has been performed by them, and what money, if any, has been paid for such service, and what remains due and unpaid, and if the United States by failing to pay for such mail services has embarrassed said railroad companies, or either of them, in paying their indebtedness to the United States; also to enquire if the several Pacific railroad companies have complied with the provisions of “An act to alter and amend the act entitled ‘Au act to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Missouri River to the Pacific Ocean, and to secure, to the Government the use of the same for postal, military, and other purposes,' approved July first, eighteen Vol. 12, p. 489. hundred and sixty-two, and also to alter and amend the act of Congress Vol. 13, p. 356. approved July second, eighteen hundred and sixty-four, in amendment V0!- 20. P- 56- 0f said nrst-named act," commonly known as the Thurman uct, and, if not, in what particulars they have failed to comply; also to enquire what sums the Paeiiic railroads and their branches can severally pay \ annually on account of their indebtedness to the United States without imposing such burdens upon the people, and particularly upon the localities through which the roads pass, as to retard the development of the country. . That the commissioners hereby created, or either of them, shall have Power to send power to require the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the pro- f" P°”°°° and duction of all books, papers, contracts, agreements, `and documents relat- p°p°”‘ ing to the matter under investigation, and to administer oaths; and to that end mayinvoke the uid of any court of thelfnitecl Btatesin requiring the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the pgxlnctiou of books, papers, and documents under the provisions0f tsection. Any of the circuit or district courts of the United States within the jurisdiction United states of which such inquiry is carried on may, in caseofasutumacyor refusal °°'*¤'*¤ W P¤¤¤¤h to obey a subpmna issued to any person, issue an order requiring any °°"°‘"'"‘°y' such person to appear ,before said commissioners, or either of them, as the case may lie, and produce books and papers if so ordered, and give evidence touching the matter in question; and any failure to obey such order of the court may be punished by such court as a contempt thereof. · The claim that any such testimony or evidence may tend to criminate Evidence. the person giving such evidence, shall not excuse such witness from testifying; but such evidence or testimony shall not be used against such person on the trial of any criminal proceeding. Sec. 3. That the sum of one hundred thousand dollars, or so much Appropriation. thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury of the United States not otherwise appropriated, for the purposes of this investigation. S20. 4. That whenever, in the opinion of the President, it shall be gubmgmou gf deemed necessary to the protection of the interests and the preservation United sums to of the security of the United States in respect of its lien, mortgage, or P¤°*` "°¤¤• °*°· other interest in any of the property of uny or all of the several com·· panies upon which an lien, mortgage. or other iucumbrance paramount to the right, title, or interest of the United States for the same property, or any part of the same, may exist and be then lawfully liable to be enforced, the Secretary of the Treasury shall, under the direction of the President, redeem or otherwise clear off such paramount lien, mortgage, or other incumbrance by paying the sums Iawthlly due in respect thereof out of the Treasury; and the United States shall thereupon become and be subrogated to all rights and securities theretofore pertaining to the debt, mortage, lieu, or other incnmbmnco in respect of which such payment shall have been made. It shall be the duty of the Attorney- P¤>¤¤¤¤i¤m¤ *0 General, under the direction of the President, to take all such steps §t':*°°:f*”I‘;;'f:‘:z and proceedings, in the courts and otherwise, as shall be needful to St,{{,s_ · redeem such lien, mortgage, or other incumbrunce, and to protect and defend the rights and interests of the United States in respect of the