Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-02-24
YEAS,

Other amendments were proposed by the
committee on appropriations, striking out the
House bill provisions that each member of the
next two graduating classes of the military
the gross sum Of $3.50 and mileage, and the &C
ceptance of this sum shall render him ineligible
to appointment in the army until two years
after his graduation; also striking out the sec
ton providing that officers who may be de-
tailed to service in the pay department shall
give bonds, the same as paymaster; appoint
ments to the grade of paymaster may be made
from pers ms who have served as additional pay
master, if not over As years of age, and were
agreed to. The Senate, by vote of yeas 20,
nays 30, refused to strike out the section
authorizing the secretary of war to issue arms
to any established college or university having
not less than $50 students.
Senator Howe said there was an eccentric
provision in the first part of the bill which
read: "For cost of kilograms authorized to be
transmitted by railroad companies which may
have telegraph lines for the government and
for the general public at rates to be fixed by
the government according to the provisions Of
title IS, revised statutes" Senator Howe said
if transfer of the business of telegraphing to
the railroad companies was to he made, it
should be at least with the restrictions now i'm
posed upon existing telegraph companies. He
submitted an amendment SO as to provide that
said railroad companies shall file their written
acceptance of the restrictions and obliga-
tions imposed on telegraph comanies by title
IS, revised statutes.
In explaining the amendment Senator Howe
said title IS gave the government the right to
purchase any of the telegraph lines at the APP
praised value. He proposed to transfer to the
railroad companies the same power to telegraph
business the telegraph companies had, but the
government should have the same right to OBJ
tain their lines at the appraised value.
Senator Beck was opposed to the government
purchasing telegraph lines. He was opposed to
the government doing a private commercial
business. He favored the repeal of the act of
1866, and said if the privilege conferred by that
act be conferred on the government as to all
telegraph lines, perhaps at no distant day the
government might attempt to purchase them.
The amendment of Senator Howe was agreed
to by rising vote, yeas 36, nays 20, when the
yeas and nays were ordered and discussion upon
the amendment was continued.
Senator Beck gave notice he would submit an
amendment repeating that portion of the act
which allows the government to purchase tele-
graph lines.
Senator Jones sad he wanted no advantage
for railroad companies in this legislation, and
submitted as substitute for the amendment
of Howe a proposition to strike out of the
House bill the words (which may have tele-
graph lines for the government and for the
general public, at rates to be fixed by the gov
eminent according to the provisions of title IS
of the revised statutes, and insert in lieu
thereof, "and kilograms are authorized to be
transmitted by railroad companies which are
hereby authorized to construct, maintain and
operate telegraph lines for the general public
and government, subject to all the provisions