Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-12-06
BY TELEGRAPH
TO THE
Daily Kennebec Journal.
FOrty.Second Congress-First Session.

ue RESOLUTIONS distributing the fresluent
Message among the committees, Mr.. Wood
denying that there were any insurrectionary
States or any committee thereon.
Mr.. Dawes said that such a committee was
raised last session, and it was proposed to
refer to it the Ku-klux Outrages.
Mr.. Wood remarked that several efforts
were made last session to revive the Recon
struction Committee, but the House unvari-
ably voted it down. The Committee on In
surrectionary States was formed for a TEN.
porary purpose to go in the Southern States
and do certain things, when it reported its
functions ceased, and he opposed reyiying it
in surreptitious manner.
Mr.. Dawes said that the terms constituting
the committed provided that it continue the
present Congress, and even were that not so
measures were referred to it yesterday which
revived the committee.
Mr. Wood protested against keeping in eX-
istence committee not only useless but a
promoter of disorder throughout the country
and the subject was here dropped.
Mr.. Randall called attention to the resolu-
ton referring that portion of the message
relative to postal telegraph to a select com
mttee. He did not why it should not go
to the Commerce or Post Office Committee.
The owners of telegraph lines had estimated
the cost to the government at S25 ,00o, 200.
creating special committees. The first Pacific
Railroad Committee was made up in the in
terest of the road. and was prepared to give
away all the land Of the nation. This sub
ject should go to the appropriate standing
committee.
Mr. Farnsworth, Chairman Of Post Office
Committee, moved its reference to that COM
mttee, because it seemed to him no other
could have proper jurisdiction. The select
committee formed at the last session arrived
at no conclusion.
Mr.. Dawes remarked that he was men,
Der of that committee, and joined in the mi
uority report against the proposition. The
subject was Of great importance. 1t effected
treaties, postal affairs and foreign affairs of
the country, so ne one committee could be
said to have jurisdiction of the whole matter.
If anything required special committee il
was this: not however, because he had any
want of confidence in the Chairman of the
post Office or other committees.
Mr.. Nihlack suggested that the project
would entail an immense patronage on the
administration, which would have an appoint
ment of at least 5000 employees to take charge
Of Geographic business, which fact made the
proposition an appalling one to him, and
would control his vote against it.
Mr.. Farnsworth understood that it was
able post Office in the country a telegraph
office. and to make every postmaster a tele-
graph operator, or else to appoint an expert
operator to operate the telegraph. The mem
bers of Congress would be importuned by
heir constituents to make their post Office
telegraph station. The post offe committee
has been appointed without reference to this
subject, and might therefore be presumed as
fair as one appoin ted specially He was
willing to admit he had gone over the whole
subject, and was against the whole scheme.
The success ST the system in Great Britain
or any thickly settled old country where new
post offices had been established for 80 years,
formed no criterian for this country. The
whole thing was monstrous in any way it
could he regarded.
Mr.. Banks remarked that the question of
ocean cables was in the jurisdiction of the
Foreign Committee, and moved that that
point be stricken from the pending resou-
ton.
Mr. Dawes assented and the resolution was
so modfi
Mr.. Banks thought it best for the interests
of the country to avoid special committees,
whenever there was a permanent standing
committee to whom the subject could be re-
ferred.
Mr.. Beck a member of special committee
of the project had been understated. To-day
there were 5000 stations in the country with
II, 900 miles of line, and 1000 employees.
Under the government plan there would be
at least 10000 telegraph offices, loo, 900 miles
of line, and 25 600 employees. He believed
the proper committee to be that of appropria-
tons, who would be very careful in recon-
mending anything that would take from the
people, not thirty five, but nearly seventy
million dollars. He did not believe that the
| committee would ever sanction such scheme
or even consider it for moment.
Mr.. Randall wished to stop this scheme Of
plander at its Threshold. He was informed
that originally the whole of the telegraph
lines did not cost over two or three million
dollars, and now the company had the eff
frontery to ask Congress to take its property
at the present appreciated value. He would
oppose the scheme because it would place
| the whole private and business transactions
of the people under the scrutiny Of govern
ment officials. He hoped that the House
| would squelch the thing at once.
| Mr.. Dawes did not understand that any
! project was recommended, The statement by
| MIR. Randall that the Telegraph Company
asked Congress TO purchase its property
| showed that the gentlemen did not understand
| the relation of the matter more than baby.
| Ing w tstttH NoupdHy WAS aETHNing
| itself with all Its power and influence against
any such proposition.
| Mr.. Beck remarked that while the Western
Union Company opposed the project last Con-
gress. he understood that it had changed its
| position and was now anxious for it,
| Mr.. Dawes said that fact did not commend
the matter to his approval but this was not
| the time to enter upon the merits of the
whole subject After further discussion by
Messrs. Palmer and Garfield in favor and
| Conner and King against Il special committee,
the subject was referred l05 to IS to com
nit ee on appropriations.
Mr.. Cox moved reference of that portion
of the message relative to the new loan to
Committee on Banking. Rejected and the
subject was left with the Ways and Means
Committee.
The resignation of Mr.. Washburn of Mas
| sachusetts was presented
A resolution was adopted for inquiring into
the expediency of the establishment of a labor
bureau in connection with the department of
agriculture with view to complication stats
ties, and more complete recognition Of the
rights of laborng classes.