Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-02-14

HEARING BEFORE THE SENATE COMMITTEE o
RAILROADS..

morning to hear further arguments in refer
ence to Senator Jones bill to authorize rail-
road companies to construct and maintain tele-
graph lines for commercial purposes. Mr.. j. c.
Reiff, of the American Automatic Telegraph
company, spoke for twenty minutes in favor of
the proposed bill, pointing out that by its pro-
visions the railroad companies could use their
Geographic facilities for the public lse if they
cared to do so, and certainly this would not
tend to increase the cost Of Geographic com
munication to the public. If no railway COM
paDy cared to do so no barn would be done.
lie referred to the western Union as Q eat
monopoly, and observed that it was the first
time in the history Of the country that the vast
telegrapbs OF this continent had been in the
hands OF one company, ano virtually controlled
by one man. commenting upon the state
ments of DR.. Green before the com nittee
the previous day he said this was not question
OF the government absorbing and controlling
the telegraph lines under postal telegraph
system. but simply Of the extension Of existing
laws to make Mr.. A as good as Mr.. B. DR.. Green
had stated that, aside from the contracts which
the Western Union had with railroad cOmpa-
MES. few OF them had any telegraph lines of
their own. The Baltimore and Ohio might have
some, although he thought they might belong
to the Western Union, but in any event that
company had more than any other line, and he
did not suppose that nineteen out OF every twen-
ty railroads had sngle mile of wire. Now an
officer of a corporation like the Western Union
would not come down here and make state
ments for the purpose Of misleading. Mr.. Reiff
proceeded to reply to Or: Green's testimony
at length, quoting the late President Ortons
chairman asked Mr.. Rief to state what
particular interest, il any, he had in the pass
ing Of the proposed bill. Mr.. Ref replied that
tie company he represented had spent $4,000
III developing teleGraphic Improvements. and
they proposed to unite with the various railroad
companies ID obtain the results or pnis expendi-
ture. They operated line between Washing
ton and New \ Ork. transmitting twenty words
fOr 25 cents. and he undertook to make an alli-
ance with the Atlantic and Pacific Telegraph
company as nucleus by which his company
hoped 10 establish firm opposition TO the
western Mon. circumstances proved fayorl-
Ole ard the concern became very formidable
opponent OF the Western Union company. Ii
was not broken down, as all previous opposition
had been. by the Western Mon. but it mad be-
cone so formidable that that company absorbed
II from necessity. That involved him in certain
complications, and he believed this proposed
bill would give him an opportunity OF eNtricat-
ing himself. Not thati gave any new rights, but
II raised questions for settlement in which the
Western Union was deeply interested. The
Western Union claimed certain advantages un-
der the act OF 1850, and all that lie asked was
that the government should use the advantages
which belonged to it under the same act
Mr.. G. P. LoWrey, as counsel for the Western
Union, then made long address upon the va
his remarks said that he did not know that
there was any public demand for the BILL but
he knew the source from whence it came
although he should not refer to IL.
NJ. Stanley Matthews thought the last re-
mark needed some explanation. The bill was
introduced by tie senator from Florida who
and it came in due course before this commit
tee. Now, Mr.. LOwrey seemed to intimate that
there was something sinister in the history of
the origin of the bill If there was ANYTHING
hidden. as'y private interest that was seeking
TO cover the public interest unduly, he would
like 1t TO be explained.
Mr.. Lowrey replied that the promoters of the
hlll would seem TO come from a kind OF cave of
Adullam, inhabited by the defeated litigantS OF
the Western Union. His friend Ref was one
and Gen. Butler was another.
lIE =
counsel for the Atlantic telegraph company but
YOU bought up my client and that ended me-
The committee adjourned until Tomorrow
morning. when Mr.. Simonton (of the New York
Associated Press, Gen. Butler, MI Hubbard
and Mi. LoWrey will be heard.
THE ADJOURNED CAUCUS OF DEMoCRATIc SEN
AToRs met this morning, but the attendance
was slim, and beyOund a little talk on the SUBJ
Ject OF the proposed repeal of the electio laws
nothing was done: The caucus VII adopt a
resolution demanding the repeal OF the test
oath laws, but beyond this nothing Will be in-
sisted upon.
THE ARMY APPROPRIATION BmL.-The sub
committee Of the Senate committee on appro-
priatiOnS-Messrs. Blaine Allison and Withers-
appointed 10 consider the army appropriation
DILL VIII attempt to have the bin ready to report
TO the full committee 10y Monday. The general
impression seems TO be that the committee VIII
strike from the bill the reorganization scheme
adopted by the House, and either insert as a
substitute the Hewitt reorganization plan or
nee the bill entirely from all interference in
the organization OF the army.
ARMY ORDERS.-Captain Frederick Van vliet
Is relieved from duty with the board OF officers
convened in this city to report upon the uuaIti-
cations OF candidates for appointment as super
1ntendents OF national cemeteries Second
Lieut.. {. \. Worden, 9TH infantry, will report
for assignment TO duty I'm the department OF
drawing at the L. S. Military Academy.
ordered to command the Alert, at San Francis
co, March Sd.
The TOBACCO MANUFACTURERS and repre-
sentatives OF tobacco manufacturers now in the
city trying TO secure reduction on the tobacco
tax to Ii cents per pound called on Commits
siOner OF Internal Revenue Raum to-day. There
were forty in the delegation. They came they
commissioner to withdraw his objection to
Ihe REDUCTION; they made arguments, and
8s Wrten f1aeg neege ndgeement signaa Produeed
manufacturers in the country that il
the reduction should be obtained they
would not agitate the tobacco tax question for
the next eight years, and would oppose any
agitation that might be attempted by other par
ileS After a talk OF about three quarters OF
an hour they left. unable to make any impress
sion ON the commissioner; and b0thISIdeS hold
lDg the same opinions as had been entertained
previous TO the interview.
u.
day amounted 10 S1.90i,200.
1HE foCR PER CENT. CERTIFICATES Bill
Inc senate this morning requested the House
TO return TO 1t bill recently passed providing
1or lhe Issue OF four per cent. certificates. ex-
chanseaole into four per cent. bonds. The
senate desires 10 amend the bill Still further to
thaDie tht secretary OF the Treasury to redeem
oollds outstanding of other denominations than
me SIX per cents. with the proceeds OF sales of
The certificates.
"orLDN JOIN THE QUEENS NAvY.-Senator
sargent, from the Senate committee on naval
affairs, has reported favorably bill TO appoint
SPflndle Bracklen an ensign in the navy.
Biackien Is the young man who refused a mid
ShIpinanS warrant in the British navy, after
passing his examination with highest hOnors,
! because before accepting the warrant he was
opilged TO renounce his allegiance TO the United
States and become citizens OF Great Britain.
HE APPOINTMENT OF CONGRESSMAN BUR-
'hARn TO be director OF the mint meets with the
approval OF the champions OF silver money. Mr..
Burchards views on the money question are in
opposition TO those OF the late director OF the
ntlht, )f. Llnderman, who was a supporter OF
she single gold standard. Mr.. Burchard has
oeeh IN CongrSsS 1or ten years past, and for six