New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-02-05


TO OPEN RAILROAD TELEGRAPH LINES 10 GEN
FRAL BUSINESS.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBrNFI
WASHINGTON. Feb 4.-The House OF Representa-
tves was occupied all day in the consideration Oh
the Army bill. Little progress was made
A very animated debate Of two hours took place
ON the proposition to reduce the Army 10 l5O0o
men hut the Democrats tired of this kind OF
foolishness and the rcducers were badly beaten.
Altogether the sentence of General Grants letter III
which he said that the Army has no peace except III
war was well illustrated 10y the day proceedings
There was one amendment placed on the bill in
Committee of the Whole, which if not stricken out
i'm the House Will have an important new influence
On the future of the telegraph interests OF tins
country. The amendment is IN these words
And kilograms are authorized to be transmitted by
railroad companies which may have telegraph INES l"
~ G"Vernucnt and FOR the general public at rates 90
be fixed by the Government according To the lioNH'
ions Of title sXty-hye of the Revised statutes
This provision in the briefest possible form, i i'll
substance the Telegraph bill of Jones OF Flor
ida. now pending III the Senate Title 90 of the
Revised Statutes. relating TO the telegraph contains
among other things the law OF July, 1866, when
really gives companies the power TO put lines OF tel
fpraph over any portion of the public domain and
along all post and military roads At the time OF
the passage Of this act it was not believed that any
the bill was not strongly opposed but now that the
United states supreme Court, in case coming mp
from Florida in a contest between an Old telegraph
company and new lue has decided that the law
j. constitutional. and that any railroad company or
telegraph company has right TO transact public
business the law has gained new Importance. II
wa, To give effect to this decision of the United
state, Supreme Court constituting that statute that
the bill Of Senator Jones was introduced
The telegraph companies until recently have paid
little attention to the matter, but within two weeks
representatives Of the railroads on the one side nave
Pppcarcd here urging the passage OF the Jones bill,
and representatives. Of the telegraph companies
have appeared on the other side to oppose it. The
plan to defeat the bill in the Senate has been to
move its recommttal to the committee which re-
ported it, on the ground that it was not thoroughly
understood when reported and that IT involved too
great an interest 10 be voted upon without further
Investigation. That motion Is now pending. Sen
ator Jones VIII oppose it the ground that il Is an
effort 10 kill the bill. but the action of the House
today makes II certain that the subject Will be
brought directly before the Senate event the Jones
lii should be 1ecommittcd.
Tbcamcndmcnt wa, adopted in the House with
out any out,pokeu opposition, although any con-
siderable les stance must have defeated H. II II was
certainly in the nature Of new legislation The
temporary opposition was withdrawn when II was
asserted that the only purpose of the amendment
was 10 make tclcTaphng cheaper, and 10 make
lines which run side by side along the same rail
road competing lines. The amendment was al pied
i'll Committee Of the Whole and has Vet 10 hc voted
ON In the House when the bl i reported back, but
The Indications are that 1t Is very SUR t" pass Inc
House. The contest over II viii then come Up U
III. senate and il rejected there, subsequently IN
conference committee. This amendment. with the
EXISTING laws Of eGG as construed 10y the Supreme
Court practically gives 10 railroads owning iei,-
graph lines all the advantages which they could de
i've from the passage OF the Jones bill.
II is certain hat the telegraph companies viii re-
alIIc the situation soon enough to make am earnest
contest lu the Senate. No more debate is probable
4 H.. I'm.