The New York herald., 1879-02-06

network OF railroads, every one of which Is post
road. You know the old postal system was the post
man on horseback then camo the stage coach and
then the steamboat. followed by the steam cars
and in these latter days the telegraph. Now
just fast As the demands of civ
lization have required the government has
promptly taken hold of every facility for the prompt
transmission of mail matter and since the mail is but
q medium of commercial intercourse why should not
the be equally prompt to to its
citizens the advantage which cheap telegraphy must
afford? Professor Morse not only encouraged
but actually sustained for several years at the
pense Of the government. Oh the ground that his
wonderful invention would be an important
auxiliary of the Post Office Department, and the
original line between Washington and Baltimore had
its termini in the Post Offices in these cities. But
that was thirty odd years ago. to be sure Now. yes
terday, when the Army bill was under consideration
in Committee of the Whole the clerk read the
paragraph relating the cost of sending kilograms
1t has been the claim of the democrats that what
was in the interest of economy always ger
name to appropriation bill, and to that end
thought would offer amendment harmless
paragraph, which reads in the I'd follows:-
"And kilograms are 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 according to the
provisions of title G5 Of the Revised Statutes.
objection was made that the amendment was not
germane to the bill But the chair decided that the
amendment germane and all that remains is to
vote upon it as amendment when the bill is re.
ported back to the House from the Committee of the
Whole
"Now az to Title 65. The Revised Statutes ex-
pressly provide under what conditions postroads
shall become telegraph routes and since the Supreme
COurt laS mt ne of In fba
act of July. 1866, which is the substance of Title
65 why all have to do is to recognize the right Of
government to invite competition along the routes
which it not only creates but protects
"What am anxious to accomplish is to secure
provision in the Army Appropriation bill by which
railroads can unite telegraph lines and the gov
ernment can control them whenever the government
wants to do so. If the railroads were simply to
unite or not at their pleasure tine gov
ernment would have no control over the
routes. No regulation could be made
under existing provisions Of law. and the object to
be gained would still be without the grasp of the
commercial community. simply because the roads
would or would not forward messages at their con-
venience and pleasure. In fact, just it
is at present. Why. do not doubt that with
present regulations and conditions you could send
message from Washington to New York or from
New York to San Francisco by the railroad telegraph
lines almost If not quite promptly by the
monopolies, and am not so sure but what the main
lines long distances not in reality the prop
erty Of the railroad companies and used by the mo-
nopoies at a fixed rate.
"But to come back to the point. There legis-
lation in the Army bill germane to the subject and
all that necessary the adoption Of my HARM
less amendment to open the way for the government
asserting its authority and privilege to foster
important channel of communication between all
parts of the country My only purpose is in the interest
of wholesome competition and anti-monopoly,
q purpose which will utilize all the telegraph lines
in the land. enabling them to unite against all dictat
ing monopolies. and which win make it for their in
terest to invite constant OF their wires for
mercal aIsl personal matters"
The General was asked whether he thought his
amendment would be adopted by the House. lie
replied:-
THAT remains to be seen. will not say now what
argument may be used to urge the adoption of the
amendment, but am free to say that 1t cannot be
defeated without my giving very plain reasons for
such vote. There is rule of the House which forbids
members voting upon measure in which they
personally interested. How many members of the
Forty fifth Congress vote under that rule against
q proposition which antagonizes a monopoly will
be point of order to be tested when the time
comes. All / can say is that the point Of order
cannot be overruled without an attempt on my part
to make the fur fy.'
DEMOCRATIC ACTION ON THE NEW YORK Ap-
PoINTMENTs FROM BUrLEB POINT OF
VIEW
While General Butler in the lobby of the House
to-day he was accosted by number OF his friends.
and among the questions asked was, What his
view Of the conduct Of the democratic Senators in
siding with the President in the New York Custom
House appointments? The General dcliberated for
moment and then replied
SO far l can understand their action. III shows
great want OF political sagacity and want of political
leadership OF course do not know but that hi cher
than political considerations ruled their course but
upon that 1 must be permitted to doubt. These New
York appointments were a source OF contention be-
tween the two wings of the republican party. and
between Senator Conkling and the administration.
IL the democrats had voted with Mr.. Conkling they
would have kept the contention open like a run
n0g sore. The President would probably have
aided M to the difficulty by rsIsppohnt'ng ,I Mr.;
OF tho Senate But. II not, Messrs. Arthur
and Cornels commissions had only few months TO
and reconfrmation by the Senate. their
when appointed by the President would have gone
before the Senate, having democratic majority
which could dictate TO the President who should not
be appointed, il indeed il could not who should be.
and compel the President under his civil service idea
20 appoint man who was not politician at all. and
perhaps democrat. Now by voting against
Conkling they have rendered him powerless
to keep up the fight against the President;
healed tho sore reunited the two wings
OF the republican party given prestige TO the
republican administration; destroyed as far as they
could the influence of Mr.. ConkliDg as republican
leader opposed to the administration and fastened
two republicans, Mr.. Merritt and Mr.. Burt. In their
Offices for two years. at least 10 use the office
political machine in the interest OF the republican
party, under the direction Of Ex-Governor Fenton.
ono of the ablest political managers know. during
the next Presidential election. II all that is good
political management do not know anything about
politics, and that. perhaps is the reason why 1 do
not understand it. do not understand such demo-
cratic leadership.
When the reatcning the country in 1860,
after the Presidential election General Gushing made
to me the sagacious remark =
''what would one give II he could only know which
subaltern of the United states army will be the next
President of the United States"
wou,u e'se sue'nins " go, W xnow wn,o ou'su,ns