Mr. STEVENS. If the gentleman willallow me to go on with the history of this matter he may, perhaps, understand itbetter. Originally these brane roads were to go to the initial point on the 100th meridian. The route of the Kansas branch, ending at Fort Riley, was to be fixed by the President. 2 years were allowed them to file their maps in the office of the SecyInterior, for the purpose of havin the route designated. The President never fixed the route. Some time after, in 1884, application was made to the House to allow anyone of these branches that chose to do so to unite with the Union Pacific railroad anywhere they chose west of the 100th degree of longitude, provided they received no more bonds than if they went to the 100th degree. The act of 1864, which I hold in my hand. gave either of these branches a right to unite with the Union Pacific railroad and go westward as far as they pleased without reference to the initial point, provided they should have no more than $16,000 permile up to the 100th degree. That was the law last year. It extended the time for filing the map. After this Kansas route had been extended as far as Fort. Riley, and had already 116 or 120 miles in running order, they came to the conclusion that the best route was upon Smoky Hill branch, which the engi neers had long before believed to bethe proper one. They filed maps for the purpose of taking up the Smoky Hill route, but t 10AttyGen decided that the maps were filed too late, not having been filed within 1he 3 years required. I do not think the opinion of the AttyGen was correct, because the initial point had never been fixed. The Kansas branch now comes and asks us to give them until the let of December next to file their maps and designate the route, the same as if it had been done within the 1st 3 years. That is the whole provision of the bill. So far as the Kansas route is concerned it expressly says that they shall receive no more onds than if they had gone by the other route. They only aslatbe right. to file their maps between this and December next, and to take the some advantages under the law to which this is a supplement that those 2 acts gave them before. If any member will read those laws, he must have an anxious desire to see a difference if he can pervert it to mean anything but whaLI have stated. Now, with regard to the main line, the California and Central Pacific railroad I think that is thename were authorized at 1st to build their road to the Nevada line, and then through Nevada to the eastern line of Nevada; and then there was a general revision allowing that company, if they could get there before the Union Pacific line got there, to go on east ward until they met the construction of the Union Pacific road. But if the Union Pacific Railroad Company failed to make it, then this company was to go on the whole way and make it themselves. That was the law as it stood in 1864. In that car, in the enactment u to which I have referre, there was inserted a 1‘ he bill under consideration at this time. provision that the California company should l I go on 150 miles this side of the Nevada line. How that provision got in that bill there is very great diversity of opinion. I do not want to make a statement; I do not.want to give any recollection about it.