New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-05-06
ALBANY.
THE UNDERGROUND TELEGRAPH BILL.

THE UNDERGROUND TELEGRAPH BILL.
ITS REPORT FROM THE COMMITTEE or CITIES AD-
VkRsELY-CHARGG OF THE LEGISLATIVE CAV
AIRY UPON tan ATTEMPT TO DISAGREE WITH
THE REPORT AND have THE BILL CONSIDERED.
IRON \ REaULAR CORRESPONDENT oP THE TRIBUNE
ALBANY May 5.-The monOtOny of session
~ continuous hird-readinss Of bills In the Assembly
was broken about 1880 p to-day by the report from
the Committee Ciies adversely, Of the Underground
Telegraph bill
Thomas c. Campbell moved that the report Of the Com
mittee be disagreed WITH and the bill be referred TO the
Committee Of the Whole
Mr. Kirk one N the Committee sprnug 10 mis- feet and
said that he did not Enov the Committee had ever or
dnred the bill 20 be reported adversely otherwise and
be would demand an explanation.
Mr.. Worth, another Committeeman, replied that the
Committee had not been disposed make any report
fsvorshly or adversely upon the bill and IL had been
hanging in the Committee. night be tSIr WORTH
had concluded that IL report the bill in some
shape 10 the House, AMI he sorry that any Oh
the Committee preiended not to know when the vote to
that elect had been taken. He said that every
the Committee opposed "a the bill except Mr.. DAILY,
because the arguments against 10 hd been stroug and
satisfactory. He hoped the House would not Disagree
with the report for IL they did the bill would occupy
good portion OF the rest of the session.
Mr.. DAILY sad that not mme listely in his sitla-
ton could realize the decacy Of his position lie had
House should have the privilege Of considering the bill
lir Worth had come 20 him last night, and agreed 20
withdraw his opposition in order that tho hill could
come before the House in shape and thus there
had been tive votes In favor reporting adversely
Before the Committee there had argument only
side. Corporations when their interests
tucked wero always ready with army, commissaries,
AMI generals 70 defend them The telegraph
companies had sent experts and electricians tile
Comnitteerooms Ia advocate their side of the question:
but the people had no experts astute lawyers 10
conduct their case for them aud 10 Xanine the
other side. He had asked the other side question
only how IL being feasible 10 the telegraph wires
underground London, t not feasible In Neyg-York
City. That had remained wercd and IL arll-
ment enough on his side. The telegraph poles were
nuisance, and the people IN favor VI having them
removed. lie wanted the question ventilated aud he
believed that II able 10 find pan this year
the agitation might arouse Investigation "hch would
lead to the invention Of plan by which the wires could
DE- run underground
Mr.. Beaman said 'hc hl had been hawked about the
Capitol here FOR months and could be found to in
roducc H. There had been argument in it, favor Ne
fore tile Committee and he people of New York had not
expressed themselves an xious FOR IL.
Mr. Daily said the bill had been forwarded here by the
Common Council " New York City tbe direct represent
atives Of the people.
Tlos. G. Campbell sod the members in the
Committee Of Cities by the difficulty that they hat
generally 70 listen the side only, and hear
nothing upon the other
SIR Kirk here point of order. thar the bill
could not he considered reported il being held accord
Ing to The rules that uOthing il to be considered
coming from the Committee, except what Is decided in
committee.
The Speaker held that be could consider the point
Of order being required accept the report II the Chair
of the Committee legitimate. He gould not go
back of that
~ ,l.nI Dbur ~ Tho
people demanded the OF the bill Those opIoeed
70 It are the Interested persons. controlling the tee-
graphs and th.y here lawyers and electricians
make the appear the better and show Ivy
skllful experiments that the thing IL impossible. II is
done in Paris and in London AMI yet these gentlemen
are able show that it cannot be done in NcwYork He
hoped the bill would 10 the Committee of the Whole
T. j. Campbell, having just come in and being in
formed as 10 the question before the HOuse declared
that the Committee Cities did aTee report II
adversely. but had laid IL the table only yesterday.
lie was astonished that any member holding the
position Of Chairman, should cent 20 make such
port He had heard The arguments advanced by the tee
graph and convinced that the laying OF the wires
underground impossible. There did 10 he
anyboy in favor Of It, There had appeared recently
article IN the paper, there combination in
the Committee 10 KIN IL That he wanted 10 deny
eDIphaically.
Mr. Burts asked sharply Why the gentlemen OF the
graph companies were daily erecting poles along the
sidewalks most trouged and in front OF the handsomest
residences, without asking consent OF the owners had
reported bill for the consideration Of tue
Housed
Mr. Campbell hositated and siamnered painfully over
this bluff question aud evidently ina Quandnry 10
the best answer 10 make when Mr. Hustled stepped 10 his
relief with a loudly asserted point ~ order.
The gentleman from Kings Is ont Of order" said he
He has no Business IN ask such question of any gen
tleman OF a committee. II IL mpcrTnent!"
Amid the sOmewh hat startled silence that followed this
sharp language Mr.. Campbell recovered L. equanimty,
and ia the mlst of u of laughter that immediately
succeeded said With happy omplaocncy:
" Yes. Nj. Speaker, that what about re-
mark
The debate was c1t short By motion Of Mr.. Alvord
that the whole subject be- laid the table bus the
ton w.s lost By vot3 0f Yes u 60 ys TIE hour
of o'clock interviewed AZ the close he roLcall and
was taken until 1870, thus leaving the bll in
uncertain position whence II viii have TO be called to-
mOTrvw % majority vote.