Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1869-12-17
F0RTY-FIRST CONGRESS.
This Afternoons Proceedings.
FRIDAY, December II.

SENATE.-Mr. Sumner, from Committee or
District Of Columbia, reported with an amend
ment bin toincorporate the Washington Homo
pathic Medical Society.
franking privilege, and to provide postage
stamps for payment Of Official CORRESPONDENTS
Referred to Committee on Post Offices.
MT. Spencer introduced bill to abolish the
that ONCE upon the Collector of Customs. Re
ferred the Committee on Commerce.
Mr.. Schurz introduced bill to prevent persons
VINO have been employed in the Treasury De-
government
MIR. Wilson introduced bill to provide for n
United States. Referred to the Committee on
Military Affairs.
Mr: Edmund offered joint resolution relative
to providing safes for officers of the Internal
Revenue. Referred to Finance Committee.
On motion Of Mr.. Pomeroy the Postmaster
General was requested to communicate copies
OF all correspondence with France relating TO
reduction OF postage between that country and
the Uniten States.
Mr.. Sherman called up the joint resolution re-
lative to cable telegraphs between the United
states and foreign countries.
lit provides that the United States shall en;ov
the same privileges as any foreign government
relative to cables landed on our shores; that il
shall at all times be entitled to use of cable for
Transmission of messages to its agents abroad.
that all companies before landing their cables
here shall file in the Office of the Secretary of
tnc Ctdtt WTltten acceptance of these cOndi-
tlons; and that the privileges conferred by the
act shall not apply to any company whose cable
terminates or extends in any country which does
not grant equal privileges to any company
Incorporated in this country.l
MT. Thurman expressed doubts as to whether
the United States had jurisdiction over this
matter, but that it rather pertained to the
States. An eminent LAWYER had expressed This
opinion after careful examination.
Mr.. sumner. What LAWYER?
Mr. thurman. Reverdy johnson / move to
refer the bill to the Judiciary Committee. to
nave their opinion on the subject.
MI. Sumner. 1t is not usual in this chamber
% 10 nave one COMMITTEES revise the action OF
another. He (Mr. S.) did not conceive it neces-
sary to 60 outside this chamber for the opinion
OF any lawyer. The Senator was reyiying the
exploded doctrine of State rights.
MIR. Sumner offered an amendment providing
that the provisions of the bill shall apply to
companies that have heretofore landed cables in
the United States, which he said he had pre-
Company, which was monopoly.
Mr.. Thurman said the Senator had been so
earnestly engaged In putting down erroneous
Ideas OF State rights, that he had arrived at the
conclusion that State has no rights. He ex-
pressed no opinion in this matter, but his mo-
uoh 70 refer mad been to get an expression of
opinion from the Judiciary Committee. There
was no want of respect in his notion for since
he had been member of the Judiciary Com
mttee several matters which had been consid-
cred by other committees had been referred to IN
The morning hour expiring, the bill went over.
ana am, the diminished business-being the Georgia
bill-was taken up.
Mr.. Salisbury being entitled to the floor. pro-
ceeded to argue that Georgia never had been
out OF the Union, and that the whole policy OF
reconstruction had been inconsistent, and was
only to subserve party ends.