The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1879-02-25
XIV CONGRESS.
SENATE.

bs
WASHINGTON, Feb. Ex-senator Win
dom, from the Committee on Appropria-
tons, reported with amendments the house
bill making an appropriation to pay the
Arrears of pensions. Placed on the calen-
dar.
Senator HamliD, from the Committee
on Foreign Relations, reported the mes
sage OF the President of the United States
in regard to inviting other maritime powers
to uccede to the three neutrality articles in
the treaty Of Washington. and the commit
tee was discharged from further consider
alton.
Senator Bayard called up the bill report
q few days ago from the Committee on
tluances, amending the charter Of the
Freedmen'5 Savings and Trust Company.
Passed. 1t repeats the act of June 10th,
1874, providing for the appointment OF
three commissioners, and authorizes the
Secretary OF the Treasury TO appoint one
commissioner to manage the business OF
the institution.
The question then required on the
amendment Of Senator Jones of Florida,
submitted Saturday, providing that tele-
grams may be sent by railroad companies,
etc, which are hereby authorized 10 con-
struct, maintain and operate telegraph
lines, aud to use the lines or wires they
now have for the general public and the
government, subject to all the provisions
ut title 90 OF the Revised Statutes of the
United States, Rejected-yeas 20, nays
.35.
Senator Beck submitted an amendment
repeating so much Of the Revised Statutes
as authorizes the United States to acquire
title to or obtain possession of telegraph
lines within the United States, and declar-
fug that all contracts with existing compa-
MES giving the United States that authoy-
ity shall be null aud void.
Senator Beck sad he did not believe in
the government controlling railroads or
telegraph lines
Senator Thurman demanded division
oil the question, 30 q vote should DO taken
on the first part of the amendment in re-
gard % repeaIing certain parts Of title IS
OF the Revised statutes. So ordered, and
il was rejected
Senator Beck withdrew the balance of
the amendment
Senator Conkllng submitted an amend
ment, provided, however, that every such
railroad company chartered or authorized
by any state. shall have first obtained from
such state by which it was created. the
right to do so. Rejected-yeas %, nays 80.
Senator EdmInds submitted in lieu of
the clause of the House bill. an amendment
directing the Postmaster General to re-
port 10 the next session OF Congress the
pract!cability and economy OF establishing
system at postal telegraph. Rcjected-
yeas 70, Gays AZ.
Senator Eaton then moved TO strike out
the House clause allowing railroad com-
panics to use telegraph lines for commer-
clal purposes as amended by the Senate.
Rcjected-yeEs %, nays 81.
The clause as retained 10 the bill reads
Tor cost of kilograms and kilograms as
are authorized to be transmitted bv raiI-
road companies which have telegraph
lines, and which shall file their written
acceptance OF such restrictions and obi
cations imposed on telegraph companies
by Title 65, of the Revised Statutes for
the government and the general public, at
rates to be liked by the government, ac-
cordlng to the provisions of Title Is of the
Revised Statutes"
Senator Paddock submitted an amend
ment appropriatiDg $4,000 for the con-
structlon OF military post in Northern
NeOraska or Dakota. Agreed to.
Inc OIL having been considered in Com
nlttee OF the Whole, was reported to the
senate ana the question being on con-
curing IN the amendments made in the
committee, Senator Beck demanded a
separate vote on the amendment made in
committee, striking out the House clausa
lorplddlDg the use Of troops at polls and