The Sun.
London, England, 1870-05-28 00:00:00

FAT DUTCHMEN IN COUNCIL.

A heavy meeting of rich Germans desirous of leaving
on record some evidence of their weight in the community
spurred on by the consideration of their importance in the
scale of humanity, coupled with a desire to excel their
American brethren in luxuriance, assembled at 165, Allen-
street, where lager and other important subjects in refer-
ence to their future action as a body of heavy Weights
were discussed in a solemn and ponderous manner. The
name of the new body is to be the German Fat Men's
Association, and this was a preliminary gathering to pre-
pare for perfect organisation. Mr. Adam Brandt, a 265-
pounder, sustained the dignity of the chair, as the chair
seemed to feel by its numerous squeaks and groans. He
was guarded on his right and left by Mr. George Neyer,
the treasurer, weighing 245 pounds, and Mr. George A.
Scheyerling, secretary, only 225 pounds avoirdupois. On
account of the narrowness of the entrance to the meeting
room many of the 300-pounders whose names grace the
Ale of membership were obliged to content themselves by
sending their respects and promising their attendance
when a large hall with folding doors shall have been ob-
tained for future meetings. Suggestions were received,
duly weighed—they weighed everything—and considered•
touching the propriety of using clams for food in June.
The suggestions were received with some favour and re-
ferred to the Committee on Clams. The lowest standard
weight of members shall be 200 pOunds. Propositions for
membership coming from any individual below that rank
will be indignantly rejected. The present membership is
about 70, and it is confidently asserted that a very large
club can be formed in a short time. —Hew York Herald.

THE POSTAL TELEGRAPH.
WASHINGTON, May 12.
The Select Committee on the Postal Telegraph held
two sessions yesterday. Mr. Orton's argument occupied
two hours. He replied to many of the points made by
Mr. Washburne, of Wisconsin, in his speech of Decem-
ber last, and exposed the errors into which Mr. Scuda-
more had fallen into by repudiating his testimony given
before a parliamentary committee concerning the
cost of the lines in Great Britain, and which
is contained in the Parliamentary Blue Book, a
copy of which Mr. Orton produced. He also exposed
the errors of the Acting Swiss Consul, in estimatinc,
the number of messages transmitted in Switzerland,°
and demonstrated that the average cost of transmit-
ting messages in Europe was as high as in the United
States, notwithstanding the fact that the distance over
which messages are transmitted is "several times greater
on an average than in Europe. He submitted testimony
to prove that the percentage of increase in the miles of
wire in Europe required to transmit the increased business
resulting from a reduction of rates, was greater during the
last five years than the percentage of increase on the num-
ber of messages. He called attention to the fact that the
Government telegraphs in Europe are exempt from taxa-
tion, either on the materials used in the construction of
the lines, or upon the receipts from business, whereas in
this country the duties upon wire and telegraph apparatus
are equal to 50 per cent. in currency, and the taxation
of Federal, State, and municipal governments consume
the profits upon "one-seventh of the gross receipts. He
produced tax bills shewing that in one of the States the
taxation upon the gross receipts amounted to more than
11 per cent. His argument was listened to with close at-
tention, and is admitted to have made a profound impres-
sion upon the Committee.