San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1879-03-08
COyGR ESSIONIL.
SENATE,
Railroads aud Telegraph Li""s.


I Railroads and Telegraph Lines.
! wAsnISoTos, Feb. i4-The senate commit
tee on railroads met to-day to hear arguments
with respect to SENATOR Jones' bill authorizing
railroad companies to construct and maintain
telegraph lines for commercial purposes. Pres
idcnt Noryin Green, Of tho Western Union
telegraph company, made speech opposing
the bill on the ground that it would not attain
the object desired; that railroad companies
already shared in the profits OF business done
over lines built along their roads, aud that the
/ telegraph business of the country was now
done by the WI. telegraph company more
cheaply than any other company IN the woria
The chairman asked Mr.. Green for informa-
ton with regard to relations between the W.
U. company and the Associated Press. Inc
latter replied that there was nothing IN those
relations to conceal; that the Western Union
company had announced repeatedly that u
would transmit dispatches of any other SINH
lar association for like price. The Associa-
ted Press is private organization for the col
lection and distribution of news, and news so
,thcred is as much its property as private
teles ram or letter It does not monopolize the
news or prevent other associations from get
ting 1t who are willing to 80 to the necessary
expense for its collection. If outside papers
9ant u special report let them get up combi-
nation, collect the news and we will send it at
the sam. rates as charged the Associated Press
Tor an equal amount OF service.
WASHINGTON, Feb l5.--rhe senate commit
tee on railroads heard to-day the conclusion Of
the argument of Mr. Lowrcy, counsel for thu
Western Union telegraph company, against
senator Jones bill. Mr.. Lowrey said the ac'
If 1856 gave the Western Union compan!
.othing which it did not already possess, cX-
sept the right to enter state with its lines IL
opposition to the will Of the state Legislature
- was done in the Pensacola case; and thai
mere was no reason why other telegraph com
,unies should not build their lines along rail
Dads, or ON the opposite side of the track from
ne Western Union wires, il they so desired
General Butler then addressed the commit
&C in favor of the bill dwelling on the dill
,uty of controlling such great corporations Il
nc Western Union, on account Of the immens
lower which it possessed of corrupting legis
atures. He enumerated the advantages which
would accrue to the public from the passage OF
ne bill, and said the buying up of rival lines
" the Western Union company as soon as they
,egiu to be successful was proof that telegraph
ny could be done more cheaply than it now is
vt the conclusion of Mr.. Buffers remarks til,
committee adjourned until Monday, when Mr.
>imonton will explain the nature Of the rels-
ions between the Western Union company
and the New York associated press.
WASHINGTON, Feb l5.-The senate to night
70 to q, passed the bill to restrict Chinese i'm
migration, and then took up the bill to amenn
The internal revenue law which contains an
amendment reducing the tobacco tax, but be
lore completing the reading of the bill, at 7:i0,
the senate adjourned.
WASHINGTON, Feb l5--In the Senate oday,
iIr. Edmunds, from the committee on the judi-
gary, reported favorably on bills to relieve the
political disabilities of Randolph Hamilton, of
South Carolina, and John Mcintosh kell, Of
Georgia; placed on the calendar.