The New York herald., 1869-01-21

WASH INGT0M
The Proposed Telegraph Reform
Before the Committee.
WEAK PLEA OF THE MONOPOLISTS
THE WOMAN'S RIGHTS CONVENTION.
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Education or No Suffrage the Pro-
tOcol to be Submitted.
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A Bill for the Reorganization Of the Army
Introduced in the Senate.
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The Franking Privilege IN the
House.
The Franking Privilege IN the
House.
The AIRLINE Railroad Bill and the New Pacific
Railroad Subsidy Under Discussion
WASHINGTON, Jan. 20, 1869.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 20 1863.
Movements of General Grant.
The number OF visitors to General Grant increases
rs his days IN command Of the army diminish A
large portion OF each day is consumed IN inter-
viewing with Senator'S Representatives and citizens
generally. Very many of the callers are persons
visiting the city who merely desire to pay their re-
spects to the President elect. A number Of Con-
gressmen and officers OF the army and civll depart
ments called on the General to-day. Tomorrow
General Grant win leave for Baltimore.
Executive Session of the senate.
The Senate held an executive session to-day, but
owing TO an unmstaSable disposition the part Of
the majority towards giving little further attention
to Executive nominations no business was trans
acted In the hah hour OF the session. The With
drawal OF Perry Fuer's name by the President was
announced and then the nomination OF Alexander
Cummings for Commissionerof Internal Revenue
reported from the Committee on Finance was taken
up ana discussed without any result being arrived
at as q motion to adjourn cut short the debate and
caused the subject to go over until the next execu-
tive session, which may possibly be tomorrow or
some day between now ana the 4th Of March. II il
dlffcult 10 determine the chance which Cummings
stands OF being confirmed from the character ol the
debate, as two senators spoke warmly in his favor,
while two were opposed The Impression however,
Il tnat he has to run severe gauntlet.
- The TeIegrapbic Monopoly.
There is somewhat lively contest going on be-
tween the telegraph companies and the Boston par
ties headed by Gardiner G. Hubbard, who have
presented plan to build ana work system OF tee-
graphic lines throughout the country. The latter
have assembled their forces in Washington, While
the Western Union Company and others are on the
ground with their ebig guus," Mr.. orton and the
other telegraph presidents These have enlisted the
ancient and honorable ex-senator Cornell In their
beai and he proposes to onlighten the Postal Com
mlttee ON the tribulations and trials which were en-
countered by the first company which built line
nom Baltimore to Washington. Yesterday morning
the committee heard Cnauncey Smith, Of Bos-
ton, in behalf of the Boston company above
mentioned. This gentleman presented some
arguments against the monopolists which made them
vince. These arguments were mostly from the
Western Union Telegraph reports OF the condition OF
their lines. The most convincing proofs were Of
fered OF their miserable condition throughout the
country showing the extraordinary expenses OF
maintenance and the consequent increased cost OF
messages to make the lines pay good dividends. IL
was estimated that the total stock represented by
telegraph companies In the United States Is not less
than SEQ 900; that the COMPANIES force the public
TO pay large interest this amount; that, according
TO Mr.. Orton's statement at the Morse banquet IN
New York. there were 100, 900 miles OF single
wire: therefore the public are paying an
interest annually upon $500 for each mile
OF wire, while the telegraph companies
themselves, headed by the Western Union, repre-
sented in 1860 TO the government that they would
construct good lines for sls5 per mile OF wre IL Is
also represented that the western Union lately had
their lines examined and reported upon by the
aDlest electrician in the United states Mr.. G. Varley
Quotations were made from his report showing that
their lines were In the most horrible condition, and
that the business Of the company could be done at
hall the cost ard with hail the number OF wires
the lines properly CONSTRUCTED. December 20 1867
Mr. yarley writes to Mr.. william Orton:-'By in
spectIng sheets one TO six you viii see how very
inferior the city insulation on only SENT
damp day. Also that, after deduct.ng the
city escape, the more extended tests TO New Haven
Albany Buffalo, Elizabeth and Hartford, the iusu.
latng power OF your lines was on an average but
twenty TO twenty-five per cent OF the minimum al
lowed In England In the very worst weather" Speak
ing OF the quality OF the ipsuators OF pne and glass
table flty-six, he says, .'eyen when they quite
new they are poor" and page sxty-four OF report,
at Is the favorable climate which permits such In
lators 10 pay any dividend" "Secondly, your nsu-
lson Is horrible nwet weather and Is getting worse;
take IN hand those lines which earn most or your
money the Boston and Washington wires FOR exam
wires, and expect you viii fnd them
sufficient for your present trafrc.' tsee
page forty-nine OF reportJ II IL now reliably
estimated thai onehalf the length Of wires existing
would 90 all the business OF the country. n they
were properly built ana that these should cost to
exceed 5000 per mile, making total amount Of
si20o0,o00 for more vaiuabe aud eficaCl0us tee.
graphic system than that which now represents
soo,OO0,ooo. The monopolisis, however. have II
nearly al their cwn way. The committee appelr TO
have concluded Wlkl rare grasp that the Wcslgrn
.ygign ana Tho dissf exislps llass are the best
..ns go .rr existed, or that cen exist; AMI VIII, IL "
thoaghr, MAKE 4 report adverse % any prae.s
either on the part Of private parties Or 9p ehaf Of
the government interfering with tbs existing state
Of things one little thing shows how tho tee
graphic spark works, and II tho insula,ors
Of The Western unlon Company are no; OF the
nrst qualty on the poles they try to make them 80
In Washington. Numerous members or Congress.
are In possession OF certain little tickets. when
they present these a any Of tho Offices OF the West
ern Union Company they are permitted 20 CORES.
pond at WIN with any part Of the country ana free
of cost. This probably Is In opposition 10 the gov.
ernment franking privilege. whether these little
tecgraphc Insulators are OF more value to the CON.
pany than TO the individual hos yet been ascer.
tancd. Mr. Smith concluded bis argument to-day,
ana was followed by ifr. Orton Of the Western
Union hne, who made a rather weak argument
against government undertaking the management
Of the telcgraphs. The United states said he nigh;
an well 30 into the business OF selling potatoes ia
the poor, carrying trunks for travellers a. under
take telegraph enterprises. Government had no
right 10 go into such business.
Landing OF Foreign Teicsrnphsc Cables.
The chairman Of trc Committee on Foreign Rcla.
tons has requested senator Tessendcn 20 draw up
bill prescribing Tho conditions upon which foreign
cables shall be allowed 10 land upon these shorcs
majority Of the committee agreed upon consider
ine that the necessity exists FOR exsctng certain
conditions nom foreign companies that may desiss