Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-07-12
GenernIRn.sean
XXXIXth Congress
WASHINGTON, July IL.
uOTcF


Mr.. STEVENS from the Committee on
Appropriations reported back the Senate
amendments to the Consular and Diplomatic
appropriation bill. Some were concurred
in with the amendment abolishing the Of
fee of Minister resident at Portugal.
The Senate amendment for the appoint
ment of a second assistant Secretary Of
State, was not concurred in.
Mr.. STEVENS also from the same com
mittee reported back the Senate amend
ments to the Legislative, Executive and
Judicial appropriation bill There were
1856 amendments, most of them Of an un-
important character. They were almost all
concurred in.
MI. DOAN from the Committee of Con-
ference on the Senate bill granting lands to
Kansas to aid in the construction Of the
Northern Pacific railroad, made report,
which was disagreed to.
Mr.. PAYNE introduced a joint resolution
recommending the organization Of Militia
by the several States, and providing for the
distribution of ordnance and ordnance
stores, which was read twice and passed.
Mr. HOOPER from the Committee on
| Banking and Currency reported substitute
| for the bill amendatory Of the National
| Currency act. Ordered TO be printed and
| assigned for consideration on Friday next,
1
Mr.. ALLEY, from the Postoffice Commit
tee, reported back the Senate bill which
| passed that body on June 29th, to aid in the
| construction of oftelegraph lines and to secure
Il to the government the use of the same Tor
i postal, military and other purposes.
Mr.. KASSON suggested an amendment
providing that no powers, grants or privi-
| ieges contained in the bill shall be constru-
ed to the telegraph communications between
the United States and foreign countries.
Mr.. ALLEY declined having the amend
ment offered on the ground that if the bill
| was sent back TO the Senate, at this late
day of the session, it would be equivalent to
killing it.
| Mr.. KASSON supposed there was no dan
ger of such thing and mentioned the fact
that so late as yesterday Senator said to
him; The House should send over some
real solid measures instead of the fancy
business in which it had been indulging
Laughter
Mr. HALE inquired whether the gentle
| man from Massachusetts, Mr.. Alleyb in
tended to bring the bill to vote without
giving any opportunity to discuss or amend
the bill.
Mr.. ALLEY replied that he intended tC
bring the bill to a vote without yielding the
floor TO the enemies of the bill to propose
| amendments which he knew would kill it
but he did not propose to deny any one the
privilege to discuss the measure IN good
faith
MI. HALE said that he most certainly
wished to discuss the bill and was not in th'
habit of discussing questions otherwise thar
in good faith.
Mr.. ALLEY opened the discussion. HI
} said that all telegraph companies of th'
| country, or nearly all, were recently con
solidated into one, which now represented I
| capital of 81, 100000. Is was certainly
most gigantic monopoly in this country, !
not in other countries. Itholds IN its hand
nearly the whole telegraphic powers OF tn
nation. The American people were sub
, | stautiaIly subject to the dictatiOn of tina
company, and everyone knew how mucl
| power the telegraph had, either for good
! for evil. This bill was not to opPress tina
: company, but merely to protect the right
/ of the nation. Congress had, a few year
! lsince, granted privilegest to the Pacific Telt
I graph Company, but that company had nc
: acted in good faith towards the Govern
y ment. It was TO charge but three dollars
message from Missouri river to Callfornli
and it was understood message of te
e words was to be sent from Washington t
San Francisco for 81, but the company e1
% | acted s. for a message of ten words, and II
: fused to receive payment IN the currency
: the country As to the western Union OO
its capital stock in 1854 was eleven mililol
Is of dollars, and was worth IN market zOO p
cent, but it had since rose up to twenty
two millions, and now the stock was selllr
ss at SO per cent Immense fortunes ha
n been made by individuals connected WIi
10 the Telegraph Companies. This bill vi
e designed te enable all Telegraph Con
panies that are or may be organized
i build their lines over military and post
Of / roads of the United States, and over u
J. public domain. :,
a. Mr.. FINCK, member Of the Postotn
J. COMMITTEES. argued against the eonsns