The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-02-23

Revised Statutes referred to telegraph companies
while tins clause referred to railroad companies he
had no objection, however to their being put upon
the same footing as to telegraphing as telegraph
companies.
The amendment of Mr. Howe agreed to by a
rising vote Of yeas I'd. nays 90 when the yeas and
nays were ordered, and the discussion upon the
amendment was continued.
Mr.. CoNKIISG, (rep of n. ", said he thought this
whole provision of place this bill. but he did
not see how any Senate could oppose the amendment
OF the Senator IRON Wisconsin, Under existing laws
certain persons authorized to carry the busi
ness OF biography and to do they must le their
acceptance of certain provisions of existing law The
Senator from Kentucky Mr.. Beck) was OPP
posed To the governments acquiring telegraph
lines. so was he MIR. Conklngl. He OPP
posed to the government absorbing these lines.
All telegraph companies were required to conform to
the act OF 1866. Here comes an appropriation bill in
which, like jewel in toads head. short pro-
vision which would revolutionize the whole business
of teegraphng. He favored the amendment of Mr..
Howe, and said if the Senate to lelsate this
subject it should not be upon an appropriation bill
in phrases which were hardly grammatical. Was a
favored class to be established and that class railroad
companies?
Mr.. BECK gave notice that he would submit an
amendment repeating that portion of the act of 1866
which allows the government to purchase telegraph
lines.
Mr.. JONES of Florida, said he wanted no advantage
for railroad companies in this legislation. His whole
purpose was to secure for existing railroad COM
panies the same privileges that possessed by
telegraph companies under existing law. He re-
ferred 10 the bill he introduced this subject and
said he would be- glad 10 have it considered now 1t
submitted as substitute for the amendment OF Mr..
Howe, of Wisconsin. a proposition to strike out of
the Honse bill the words (which may have telegraph
lines, for the government and for the general public,
at rates to be fxed by the government according to
the provisions of title 65 of the Revised Statutes
and insert in lieu thereof land kilograms author
lied to be transmitted by railroad companies which
are hereby authorized to construct. maintain and
operate telegraph lines for the general public and the
government subject to all the provisions of title 65
of the Revised Statutes of the United States.''
RAILROADS PHOTOGRAPHERS.
AR INN dIr1tN n railr m nav
it's charter permitted 1t to do could not send o
commercial telegram now
Mr.. CoNKLING said he had never heard any lawyer
question il.
why any railroad company might not receive mes
sages for the government the public. unless there
was some statute which prohibited it. II railroad
company had not the charter power to carry on
the business of telegraphing il could not do The
state granting the charter must give the power.
Congress should do all it had the power to do. If
the effect of this bill could be to establish oppo-
stion which could not be purchased by the present
great telegraph company it was the duty OF every
Senator vote for it,. The Western Union Tee-
graph Company gave rise to another monopoly
which extremely dangerous. especially to those
engaged in the publication Of newspapers.
Mr.. JONES, OF Florida took the floor and argued
that had the telegraph been in existence ut the time
our constitution adopted it would have been
taken up by the government for the benefit of the
people
Before Mr.. Jones concluded his remarks he yielded
to Mr.. Thurman. and after brief discussion it was
agreed that the Senate should now adjourn or have
executive session. and that the discussion the
Telegraph bill should be resumed Monday at twelve
O'Clock aud vote taken on pending amendments al
three p. NJ. without further debate. Before this
agreement made Mr. Jones. ut the request of Mr.
Conkling of New York. modified his amendment sc
as to read TO construct maintain and operate tele
graph lines and to the lines or wires they now
have for the general public. &c.
The Senate them at five o'clock. OH motion of Mr.
Paddock, OF Nebraska went into executive session
and when the doors reopened at fifteen minutes
to six adjourned until eleven o'clock on Monday.