, 1879-02-23

ceire the nross sum of >S1o0 and mileage, anu
the acceptance of this sum shall render nm ~
| riieiblc to appointment IN the army Until two
wears after his graduation; also striking out the
| section nroyidjng that the officers who may be
| detalicd to service in the Pay Department shall
! rive bonds the same as the Paymaster; also
! that appointments to the grade OF Paymaster
| ma. be made from persons who have served US
i Additional Pavmastcr, ol net over 10 years OF
age, wero agreed to.
The Senate, br vote of yeas 29, nays so, re-
| fused to strike out the section authorizing the
! Secretary OF War to issue arms to any estab-
1ishcd college or university having not less than
| l5O students.
Mr.. Howe said there was reccntric p1ovis-
ion in the first part Of the bill which read, tor
| the cost of kilograms, and telegrams authorized
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 Statutcs." Mr.. Howe said
il the transfer of the business Of tecgraphng
to the railroad companies were to be made, it
should he at least with the restrictions now i'm
posed upon the existing telegraph companies.
He submitted an amendment SO as to provide
that said railroad companies shall tl1c their
written acceptance OF the restrictions aud obli-
cations imposed on telegraph companies by
Title g. Revised Statutes"
In explaining, the amendment A1r. Howe said
Title is gave the Government al right to pur-
chase any OF the telegraph lines at an appraised
companies the same power to do telegraph
business which the telegraph company had: but
the Government should have the same right to
obtain their lines at the appraised value.
Mr. Beck was opposed to the Government
purchasing telegraph lines He was opposed to
tile Government doing private commercial busi--
ness. lie favored the repeal Of the act Of 1856,
and said If the privilege conferred BY that act
he conferred upon the Government as to all tel
cgraph lines. perhaps, at no distant day, the
The amendment OF Mr.. Howe was agreed to
by a rising yote,-ycas, 3G; nays, 20, 0,-whcn tic
yeas and nays were ordered and discussion upon
the amendment waB continued.
Mr.. Beck gave notice that he would submit
an amendment repeating that portion Of the act
Of 1SG6 which allows the Government to pur-
chase telegraph lines.
Mr.. Jones said he wanted no advantage for
the railroad companies iu this legislation, anl
submitted as substitute for the amendment OF
Alr. Howe proposition TO strike out of the
House bill The words, (which may have tclc-
graph lines for the Government and for tho
general public at rates to be fixed by the Gov
rrnlnct, ACCORDING to the provisions of Title Is
Of the Revised Statntcs,n aiui insert in lieu
thereof, = And kilograms arc authorized To be
transmitted by thc.raiiroad companies, which are
hereby authorized to construct, n.aintain, and
operate telegraph lines Tor the general public
and Government, subject to all the provisions
Of Title Is OF the Revised Statutes OF tho United
Statcs,n l.
Mr. Thurman said that if the effect OF this
bill could be to establish an opposition which
could not be purchased BY the present great
telegraph company, it was the duty Of every
Senator to vote Tor it.
Mr.. jones, Of Florida, again took the floor,
but, before concluding his remarks, yielded to
Mr.. Thurman, aud, after brief discussion, 1t
was agreed that the Senate should now adjourn,
or have an executive session, and that the dis
cussion Of the Telegraph bill should be resumed
Monday ut noon, and a vote taken on tile pend
ing amendments at 3 p. III. without further,de-
bate
Before the agreement was made Alr. Jones, at
amendment so as to read "Construct, maintain,
ami operate telegraph lines, and to use the lines
or wires they now hare for the general public.':
Mr.. Ferry introduced a joint resolution to
authorize the Secretary Of War to sell or lease
to tue Port Huron & Northwestern Railroad
Company portion Of the Fort Gratiot military
reservation, and to authorize the City OF Port
Huron to grant the said Company the right-of-
way through Pine Grove Park. Referred.
The credentials Of Senators Logan, OF Illinois,
CALI OF Florida: and Slater, OF Oregon, were
placed on file.
Mr.. McDorald introduced bill for the relief
of Representative Springer. Referred. This
bill authorizes the Court Of Claims to determine
the amount due Mr. Springer for professional
services rendered o the United States in the case
Of the Centennial Board OF Finance, notWith
standing hc was member OF Congress at the
time.
After a.brief executive session, the Senate
adjourned till Monday