Omaha daily bee., 1883-12-05
Senator BdmUndS Comes Promptly to
the Front with a Bill for GOV-
eminent Telegraph,
And Another for the Protection
Of the Rights of COhored
Citizens,
The Degcperscy of the Cotrts q
TcNas-Thc Mnhonitcs Abse~t
from the Caucus.
CAPITAL NOTES
INV POSTAL TELEGRAPH nILl.

WAsHISG ron, December A. The pos I'D
telegraph bill introduced by Mr.. Esd
munds, provides that u board consisting,
OF the secretary Of state, secretary Of
war and postmaster general cause to be,
located and arranged tour trunk lines of
postal telegraph connecting the north
west, northern, western, southwestern
and southern parts, of the United States
with the city Of Washington; along such
lines offices, to- be established ut such
places as will he for the public interest
for the time being, aad from time to
time the lines, to be extended,
additional offices established as con.
gress may provide, the rates
for use of the lines, to be established by
state, secretary of the treasury and post
master general, the lines to- be con-
structed and kept IN repair under direc-
ton of the secretary of war and through
the corps of engineers. The secretary of
war is authorized and directed to acquire
by purchase, subject to the approval of
tho president, the right of way fos the
construction, extension of the lines and
purposes of location. He is authorized
to take and use such lands, tenants and
other property MS may be necessary,
and pay " compensation deemed
reasonable. Clerks, operators, electric
ians and other employees will be selected
under the provisions of the civil service
law after examination by u board ap-
pointed for the purpose. Two million
dollars is to be appropriated for the
fiscal year ending June 30, 1885, for
working and operating the lines under
the direction and charge of the post
master-gencral. Nothing in this act is
to be construed as prohibiting individu-
ais or corporations from carrying on tho
business of operating telegraph lines.
PROTECTION OF CoLoTtED CIvIaENS.
Mr.. Edmunds' bill, to provide for the
further protection of colored citizens
begins with u preamble stating that
doubt has arisen as to whether the laws
of the United States now in force are in
all respects adequate for the protection Of
citizens of any race, color or previous
condition of servitude. The bill pro-
vides that whenever in any case new
pending, or hereafter may be pending, in
any court of any state, IN issue shall arise
as to the civil rights of q person, juror
or other party to the suit, such case may
t be removed to n circuit court of the
United States, for the district within
which such case is pending. If decision
il made adverse to party by reason o.
race, color or preSiots condition Of serv-
. itude, the party shall be entitled to a re-
view by the supreme court, etc.
courts
A memorial was presented in the sen
ate by Senator Coke to-day, relating to
alleged abuses in the United States dis
trict courts of Texas. 1t sets forth that
the United States district judges in Texas
are failing to hold the terms of courts as
fixed by law, they appointing sons, sons
in.law and brothers n-law to places in
their districts as deputy officers of their
courts, and keeping them in Office to the
great wrong of the public. Among other
illustrations of the charges, the memorial
mentions the fact that the United States
district Judge of the Western district of
the state has for the past threeyears held
only two terms of court, when he should
have held six, and for this negligence
there is no good cause.
THEY HELL ALooF.
Ten republican senator's met in caucus
this morning, Sherman presiding, who
appointed the following committee to re-
arrange the membership of committees:
Cameron (Wis.), Hoar, ingalls,, Miller
(Cala.), Harrison, Hale, Miller IN. W
A resolution for the immediate election
of officers was debated and withdrawn.
Malone and Riddlebergerdi did not attend.
MIR. ~HAsKELL's ILLNESS.
Representative Haskell of Kansas, has
been seriously i'll ever since his return
to Washington, moaS of the time being
confined to his bed. His friends fee.
much anxiety over his conduotion.
The l.. +. Stuck.
SNLT LAKE. December 4.-The Den.