The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-12-06
FROM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT

WASHINGTON. Dec 8, 1871
TELEGRAPH LINES IN FLoRIDA-sUIT BETWEEN
THE WESTERN UNION AND THE PENSACOLA
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES OF PERRY BEL
MONT AND SENATOR JONES.
Tho case OF tho Pensacola Telegraph Company vs..
the Western Union Telegraph Company was argued
IN the Supreme Court to-day By Mr.. Perry Belmont
behalf OF the Western Union Telegraph Company,
md by Senator Jones, Of Florida tho part OF the
Pensacola Telegraph Company The question In
volved in this is the right of the Western Union
Telegraph Company to maintain and operate line of
electric telegraph the county Of Escamba State OF
Florida. The Florida company ressts this right on
the ground that under its charter from the State is
entitled the sole and exclusive privilege TO erect
and maintain telegraph lines In said county. The
Western Union Company bases its right upon the act
! OF Congress- entitled IAN act to aid In the
struction OF telegraph lines and to to
the government the OF the same for pos
tall military and other purposes" approved July "a,
1885, This act authorizes any telegraph company or
ganized under tho laws Of any State to construct,
maintain ana operate lines OF telegraph through or
over any portion Of the public domain Of the United
States, and along any military post roads OF tho
United States which have been or may hereafter be
declared such by act OF Congress- Dir. Jones con-
tended that the provisions OF this act not applca
BILE to railroad chartered by State upon which tho
mails are carried and which ia post road under the
act Of Congress July 1885, declaring such roads post
routes On tho other hand Mr. Belmont insisted that
the act OF Congress OF july 1866, is regulation OF
commerce. and the charter OF tho Pensacola Telegraph
Company being State law and conflicting with
act OF Congress 10 voiL Mr.. Belmont argued that
State law pretending to grant exclusive rights TO
telegraph company, in fact attempted 10 regulate CON-
MERGE, the power to do which s reserved by tho
stitution to Congress- and denied to the State. In
this case the Western Union Company has already it's
lines within the State, In connection with lines coming
from other States, and from the island OF CUBA and
the States charter to tho Pensacola Company ut
tempts to "reguate' this commercial enterprise by
excluding it from certain PARIS OF tho State.
REDUCTION OF THE ARMY-ANoTHER EFFORT
TO BE MADE IN THE HoUsE-THE PRESENT
AVAILABLE FORCE.
is understood that an attack is to he made at once
upon the army in the House, with view to effect ito
reduction in number to $4,000 This will emauate
mainly from some members who have heretofore
sailed It under the leadership Of Mr. Blackburn, OF
kentucky, and 1t s thought that General Ban Mug,
chairman OF the House Committee of Military Affairs,
does not support this movement Such reduction
would be beaten the Senate; but should 1t pass
there II Is for granted that tho President would
veto the measure alter which 1t could not get two
thirds Of the House. The present law limits tho
number Of enlisted mon to rs. 0C0 Included in this
number are the following unavailable men and nom
combatants according TO last reports:-
Engineer battalion at Willets Point, N Y....... 1913
Permanent and recruiting parties, music boys
and recruits not available. asa
General service men on duty in the bureaus Of
War Department, army division and DEPART
ment Headquarters. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 345
Ordnance Department... Observation-Disclosures. $3.50
West Point detachment .......... ........ lS9
Prison guard, Fort Leavcn worth. ............. "a
Hospital stewards. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 1873
Ordnance sergeants.. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. ia
Commissary sergeants. ........... LAG
Available recruits at depOt-M, charles. So
Signal corps dctachments. Observation-Disclosures. 4O3