Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1869-02-10
From Our Washington Correspondent



House and Senate. It'll.
pcrhops me- most important measure that has
been considered by the present Congress t.c
,ar,ous propositions in the way OF amendments 10
tbe constitution establishing universal 9uufaHei /
some of which are daily before the SENATE Tor aus
cus.0n. L.,
No doubt saom. now to be entertained even by
It's opponents. that this just and truly republican
measure will be adopted, and in due time iathleu
Inv fhe requisite number of States. The friends
oi the measure however. begin 20 lear that the
field for discussion is SD illmiiabici that what Oh
the remaining time Is not occupied by othcr 7ena
tors. will finally Do consumed by garct Jaws
from whose mouth words issue as dld the winds
from the cave Of Holus II is more than proba-
bic that the suffrage question will thus be be-
quoathcd 90 the next Congress
senator Sumner takes the gruund when ne
fortified and defended at length on Friday, that
equal suffrage can be- secured simply by an dq 81
Congrcss. which he claims would bee an easier,
quicker. aud more ellcctual way than by consti-
tutiOnal amendment.
The House committee ON Post Office, and Post
roads. have before them am important proposition,
made by james T. Hall and associates, which
promises b. work the most radical and desirable
changes in the system Of teltgwphy and the
communication OF intelligence.
They ask authority from the government 10
build n line Of telegraph. connecting Boston, New
and promise hy the use OF many Improvements in
the art, which have never before been combined,
90 SD reduce the cost Of tCcgmphic cummunca-
ton us % bring It within the reach OF all. They
obieute themselves t. transmit messages between
any two points upon the line at one cent word
10 make reduction even upon this rate to the
press, and 90 transmit general news by authority
Of the government, free qf all charges, 10 hc press
and me ppbhc Such general news is % be mmc-
diately posted as received upon bulletin boards,
erected for TINT purpose. ut every post Office con-
ncctcd hy this line.
It is further proposed that the Post office De
partmcut shall appoint n " Director Of Iele-
graph, ~ rs supervisor or custodian ut the line
for three years during which time the Post Office
Department could thus learn the actual cost Of
the most improved system of teleuophy, the low
est rates nc which messages can bc transmitted,
and thus decide uuderstandm-ly upon the ques-
ton now being autotcd. of the absorption of the
Telegraph hy the postal system. without the cx-
pendturc of any ui che public funds in expert
mental measures.
No subsidy or other aid is asked from the goy-
eminent other than permission OF authority to
construct the line. An act of Congress of Suly
-, 1866. grants to any telegraph company, d" tNe
right of way over and along any post road, Of the
United States Notwithstanding this statute
and notwithstanding the fact that the various rail-
roads connecting the above cities have been de
tltltu pl-l Iuhtl@, anu N-tl us ~Ntll4 Llt ItluS
have made contracts with the existing telegraph
lines giving them the crciHsire right to construct
lines along their respective routes.
Therefore special permission or authority is
sought of the Post Office Department TO construct
this line, regardless of the illegal contracts of the
roads with the present telegraph monopoly
The great cost Of repairs will be almost entirely
avoided by this line. By the use OF lamilton's pa
tent iron poles, which are practically ndcstructi-
bic and Of Foucaults cable, hy which perfect
insulation is secured. The new and improved in
strument, batteries &C., will enable the new sys-
TEN TO transmit one hundred words per minute
upon each wire used at all times, and regardless
OF atmospheric conditions, while the present lines
can only average about twenty words per minute
under the most favorable conditions, and in wet
and ioggy weather communication is frequently
interrupted,
To such perfection has the art been brought
that 10 is claimed that hy the new system all pos
shllity Of error or delay is entirely avoided
Messages can be printed in the Morse character,
IN type, or in the fac 1D'ic of the handwriting
Of the message.
This proposition, looking of course to the ulti-
mate adoption of the telegraph hy the govern
ment, and its connection with the Post Office De
partment, meets the opposition Of the present i'm
mense telegraph monopoly, which under the name
OF " The Western Union owns and operates
over ninetenths of the telegraph line in the coun-
try. Notwithstanding the apparent advantages
which would accrue to the public by the adoption
Of this proposition, it is said that the committee
are sure to report against it.
The committee having charge Of the inaugural
ton ceremonies, not discouraged by the refusal of
the Senate to permit them 10 hold an inaugurn-
ton ball in the capitol, nor disnayed by the re-
quest of General Grant that the bail be dispensed
with have obtained from Secretary Mccullough
permission 10 make use of the North wing of the
Treasury building-now nearly completed, for
the above purpose.
A small army Of workmen are busy plastering,
painting and finishing, 80 that the rooms may be
toleubly lit for occupation by the fourth Of March
Although tins place has the advantage that it
will cost the committee nothing for rent or prcpa-
ration, It Is slngularly Inappropriate and ncOn-
yenient for the purposes of ball. The building
Is cut up into halls corridors, and small rooms,
in which dqHcng will be out OF the question, first
because they will be too densclV crowded and
second, because the music Of different brass bands
will become a confused babel Of sound.
Nevertheless, as the city will be full Of stun-
gers there will doubtless be enough to fill the
rooms, who will be willing to pay their ten dol
lars for the privilege Of being squeezed
1t Is understood that Gen Grant will not refuse
90 attend
The House committee on printing TO whom was
referred resolution, Several weeks ago) direct
ing an Investigation into the alleged frauds in the
stationery contract Of the Interior Department.
submitted their report through Mr. Ella of n II
on Wednesday. This Investigation developed the
most astounding and shameful fraud by which the
government has been swindled 10 the amount Of
over one hundred thousand dollars. Ii appears
that the contract was given to the kqhest bidders
instead OF the ioCest as required by law, and that
many articles purchased in large quantities, were
paid for at over five hundred per cent more than
their market value. Not satisfied with this the
frnudulpnt Contractors ohornd ~,
thing furnished double and treble the actual
amounts furnished, which was certified and paid
by the proper officers in the Interior Department
who were c0nledeates in the schemes and Dnr-
Elephants in the plumber
After fully exposing the details Of the fraud. the
committee recommend that any unpaid balance
due the contractors, Messrs Dempsey q O'Toole
be withheld by the Secretary Nothing vet has
been observed IN connection with the proceedings
IN this case To indicate that the contractors are TO
be compelled 70 disgorge any portion of their i'll
gotten gains, or that their official confederates are
to be punished for their uniaithuness to the GOV
eminent
On Saturday morning Mr. Dempsey, the senior
partner OF the swindling concern, went into the
Patent Office, armed with raw hide, and made
a cowardly and outrageous assault upon Gen
Duncan, Assistant Commissioner of Patents. who
has been instrumental In bringing these trnnsoe-
tons to light. Gen. Duncan Immediately turned
the tables upon his Nssallant and would have in
tllcted summary and wholesome chastisement upon
him, had he not been prevented By the bystanders
Mr.. Morrill, of Vermont Immediately upon hear
ing OF the occurrence, introduced into the Senate
the following resolution
. WHEREAS General Duncan, Assistant Commissioner of
fateh, having under orders Of the Commissioner made
a. examination and report upon the contracts made In
that Office, duplicating firm under the style of DENIM
'ey OToole, IN gross frauds Il Is reported that nc
senior member OF the firm, accompanied by an accom-
pee on yesterday called General Duncan from his rom,
lha commenced most brutal assault, and then satisfied
ne letter OF the law by appearing before Justice of the
feace OF The District coniessing the assault and submit
ting to a fine of s., therefore
Rtsoited, That the Committee on the Judiciary he in
'tructed TO inquire whether any further legislation 4 re-
CURED TO protect officials Of the Government in tho
honest faithful and courageous discharge of their duty
In view Of the enormous frauds deyeloped by
this investigation, Mr. Ella of the Printing Com
mittee, has prepared bill which will secure the
purchase of stationery for all the Departments by
contract awarded 10 the lowest bidder, under tho
direction and oversight Of the Committee on
Printing Of Congress, as they now receive bids
for and award the contracts for paper and material
Tor the government printing Office
On Wednesday last Hon. l.. p. Poland intro
dueed into the House bill providing for a uni
form system of naturalization The bill restricts
proceedings for naturalization to the Circuit and
District Courts Of the United States and the court
of highest jurisdiction in each state and territory
which holds stated sessions in each county for the
IL