The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-12-22
Senator Summers Ocean Tele-
graph Bill.
Debate in the House on Che Georgia
Reconstruction Bill.
Passage OF the Bill by Vote of
I'll to 81.
Reception OF the Romans OF George
Peabody.
E0RTY-FIRsT CONGRESS.
second ssea.ioa.
SENATE.
second seaaioa.

OF the vacancy occaSiunel Dy the death OF Mr.. fe9.
sender OF the regents or the Smithsonian In
stitution he law provided thar this vacancy should
be filed II The same manner Inat committees are
appointed.
PoLYGAMY IN UTAH.
Mr.. CRAGfS, Fep.) or, y. H., reported iavorabiy
with an aiaeadment, the bin TO provide Tor the
cquon OF tac law against poly samy the Territory
OF Utah.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN THE DISTRICT.
Mr.. WILSON, (rep. OF Mass.l offered resolution,
which was agreed 10, lnstTucung he committee on
the Dlstric vi Columbia to examine into tne ADMIN
istraton OF tue sch DOL Commissioners ana the con
dition OF the pubic schools OF Washington and
cosr or REVENUE CUTTERS
Mr.. SPENCER, trep. Of Ala supmitied resolution
requestip lie secretary OF the Treasury To comnfu-
OF tho revenue cutters now employed, and informa-
ton in regard TO the number conf ensaion, &e,, OF
officers ana men In that service.
REDIsTkiBUfioS OF NATIONAL BANKS.
Mr.. WARNER pep.) OF Ala, Introduced bill for
the more equs distribution OF national banking
capital, providing that the amount OF circulating
notes 10 be Issued 10 banking associations shall not
exceed $50 ooooo, and IN Issuing SAID circulating
notes pree ence shall be given to banking associa-
tons IN sections having The least National bank cir
culatlop IRat the secretary OF the Treasury re-
CURED to reare and cancel United states three per
cent certificates 10 the extent OF the issue oil the
bank notes under tins act ana snail cease TO pay
interest on the three per cent certificates Of the
United states. referred 70 tae Committee on
Finance.
FOREIGN TELEGRApnlc coAarSlcArloS.
MI. OHNfEht tftll u MASS, novel TO lake up tDe
piii reatfc ~ leefraphc COMMUNICATIONS Ietwe en-
the United states and foreign countries lie urged
that prompt action on the measure very iupor-
tant.
A discussion ensued concerning The propfie.y or
giving priority 10 Lhis measure over others deemed
by otner senators 10 be equally important.
EXECUTIVE SESSION.
Mr. RAMSEY, rep) OF Mmn., moved 10 proceed to
the consideration " executive business which was
agreed TO, and at twenty-five minutes to one F. NJ.
the doors were closed for an executive session.
OCEAN TELE6K SpaS.
10 lnf1E At hatr IL
when Mi. SUMNER renewed the motion 10 tax up
the bill relative to Geographic communication be-
tween iae United states and foreign countries.
RESTORATION OF yIgGiNIA.
MT TRUMBuEI, trep.l OF ILL.,, urea the necessity OF
taking INTO consideration now the bill relative 10 the
Mr.. HOWARD, trepl OF Mich, stated his disposition
70 favor the admission OF Virginia 50 soon her
fidelity TO the enforcement Or the reconstruction acts
could be shown; but AZ present he desired further
Information On The subject.
fuG NINTH cENsUs
Mr. CoSELlNG, irep.l OF \. H.. IRON the Committee
on REVISION of Laws, reported iavoraDiy, without
amendment the House Dill Tor Tue taking Of ninth
census. III view OF the report SO after the
commtta OF the bill 10 the committee he SAID tue
reason Tor What might otherwise seem nasty action
was basel upon the fact that unless passed before
the MONDAYS the CENSUS would, under the existing
statute, be taken under the present OF 1850. II
was Tor the senate to determine, IA regard TO the
House BILL whether hrst, the bill to be divorced
from It's provisions In reference the appOrtlOn-
ment AMI. second, whether IN taxing the next cen
sus Congress was 70 dispense with the MafshalS
an insrumentahty AMI create officers 80 perform this
duty. Those were the general questions. The others
matters OF detali relating 10 the schedule &C
II the judgment OF the Senate was that the House
bill ought not to be accepted III substance as Il
stood then 1t might be advisable TO suspend the
operations 81 the act OF 1850 until the senate
mittee could bestow further care aud examination
upon the peaalng proposition. la reply 10 an IN.
curry by Mr. Trumbu, lie stated that, according to
representations. Il tnts bill law, the Isl
OF June oelng the time xed for beginning the work
OF taking the census, sufficient time would scarcely
be given, even with the utmost dlngence, 10 make
tue necessary preparations, among which were the
printing OF formulas, tabular statements, &c. TO
do this would require all the time be this day
and the lst OF June therefore the prov 50ns OF the
bill ought to operate before the lst OF January II the
time fixed was TO be determined upon.
Mr. WILSON expressed the hope that the bill
would be recomn. Ted, and thar the committee would
report JOINT resolution to meet the extSency An
immense numner OF officers were 10 be appointed
under the bill, and the senate should act WIN pru-
dence and care He moved TO recommitt the bni TO
the committee Agreed to.
Mr. CoEKLiSG, from the Committee on the Revi-
sion OF Laws, then reported, BY direction Of the
committee, Joint resolutions suspendng until
February ! 1870 all existing laws relating to the
taking OF census
The Ioiut resolution was &C once taken up and
passed.
EXECUTIVE SESSION.
The motion OF Mr. SUMMER 10 take up the Ocean
Telegraph bill was then agreed TO, when tine
again Went into executive session Tor short time.
TELEGRAPHic .CoIdUNIcATIoS WIN FOREIGN CoCS-
TRIES.
Upon the conclusion OF the executive session the
Senate ,ook up the bin relative To Geographic COM
mnnication between the United States and foreign
amendment OF Mr. sumner to make tue bill applIca-
BILE TO existing as well az future cables.
Mr.. CoN1LlSG opposed the amendment, as having
tendency towards an nfracon Of vested rights
by imposing code OF restrictions upon cables here
tolorc authorized by Congress upon well defined re-
strictiOus
Mr.. poMEgoy trep.l of Kan, said he supposed the
OBJECT or the Senator from MASSACHUSETTS was 70
provide specially for the case oil a French cable
which had been landed the shores or taat State.
He therefore submitted an amendment. referring to
the landing OF the French cable and providing Tor
Ds4 Ia Dfat t4t I'M
regulations imposed upon others.
Mr.. SUMNER advocated uniform system IN lpgis
laton relative 10 ocean cables, ana in reference
suggestion Mr.. Morton contended that the fact
that the restrictions of the bh might DC applied to
our telegraph communications with Canada was an
additional feature In its favor. The proper jurisac-
Il on over the subject properly belonged 10 the
national government and the landing 81 he French
cable In Massachusetts was subject 70 tlat JGisdlc
ton.
MIR. HOWARD considered the Dill practically mop
erative but ii The bill became law as proposed 70
cation between this country and Canada. The regu-
lation giving to the United states government priyi-
leges and control over the lines connecting with
foreign countries might be right but IL nd not con-
form 10 the existing state oil things
Mr.. CARPENTER, Tep.) or WIS.,, said that III the
liberties OF a peope were endangered 10 any one
respect more than another 1t was by the growth OF
monopolies and the ease with which charters were
passed through the state Legislatures. ana no mat
ter how Improper tue obligations OF contracts mus
secured, according 10 judicial decisions taeg could
not be impaired. But the constitution Imposed
such restriction upon the power OF Congress 1ke
that imposed upon the States, that law
iunpalring obligation OF contracts shall pass
As question OF power IL was within
the Congressional province 70 repeal every
CHARTER heretofore granted ~ Congress. lie
deemed It vastly important tina, IN tins country
Congress should clearly assert that power, aud be-
eVed IL 10 be the duty Of Congress under Its power,
10 regulate commerce, extend the regulations over
the Telegraph and railroad system oil the several
states. lie favored tho bill and the amendment be-
cause OF tneir implied assertion ~ time eminenty
proper 10 make the assertion OF the absolute power
OF Congress 10 reguiate tins subject any ease OF
communication between this and foreign lands.
MIR. MORTON, trep OF Ind. believed that to be fully
operative the conditions here imposed must be con-
CURED in by Canada.
Mr.. DAVIS, (deIn,l OF ky understood that lines
between the United States and Canada were CON
ducteu upon principles OF entire RECIPROCITY and the
eneet OF the Dill would lie not TO suspend bat 10
make perpetual that principle OF reciprocity
MI. RAMSEY suggested modification OF the bill
BY whicn the exclusive control OF cables woula 10