Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-02-26
AFFAIRS AT THE CAPITOL.
The Bill to Suppress Lotteries.


1ITTEE on POST OFFICES AND POST ROADS.
M Wilson, from the committee on post of1ces
ana post roads to-day submitted to the Senate
the Dill TO suppress lotteries with favorable ne
port from majority, with amendments The bill
as amended, Is as follows;
That it Shall be unlawful to convey by mail or to
railway postal car letter box or other receptacle
Iof mall matter, To deliver TO letter carrier or
o.nSr employe OF the postal service to be sent by
man, any newspaper, pamphlet, or other publica-
lion containing or having printed therein an ad
sertisement or other notice OF lottery, or any
OF any drawing OF lottery. Any person engaged
IN publishing q newspaper as owner or part owner,
PROPRIETOR, or general manager, or superintendent,
agent, president, or other Olcer connected there
Win. and any person engaged In conducting lot
yer! as owner or part owner, and any person con-
nected herewith as superintendent, manager,
agent, or other capacity, violating the provisions
Oh TINS act, shall, upon conviction, be liable 10
me Tor each onense OF not less than $780, with costs
OF prosecution, or Imprisonment for not less than
thify Gays nor more than one year, both, at the
discretion OF the court. Another amendment pro-
above description who shall violate the act with
intent TO give circulation to any lottery advertise
nent or notice or any agency thereof shall be sub
1ect TO the penalties herein prescribed
A minority report, signed by senators Jackson,
Maxey and Groome, opposes the bull These SEN
that lotteries are species Of gambling and are
pern1cious, but they dissent nom the method pro-
posed for their suppression. They deny that Com
states They maintain that II the bill Is not
stitutonal Is In dangerous line, and ought not 70
be passed
DR.. Green Declines to Answer.
HI QUESTIONS THE RIGHT OF CONGRESSIONAL
COMMITTEE TO INQUIRE INTO THE PRIVATE Bus
mess OF THE WESTERN UNION COMPANY.
Dr. Norvtn Green's examination before the sub
committee OF the Senate committee on post on1ces
and post roads, was continued to-day. he sub
United further replies to the tnterrogator1es OF the
committee relating TO various business matters IN
detail OF the Western Union telegraph company.
When the questions relating to contracts were
reached, Senator Hill formally asked that all con-
tracts with press associations be laid before the
committee.
In reply Mr.. Gwlnn, OF counsel for the Western
Union, read statement addressed to the chairman
OF the subcommittee. In effect that the witness
h htsa That certain questions, as requiring
road companies and press associations and
with certain cable companies be referred
road ane said Whole e0s
may determine whether the witness ought to be
quired to furnish said copies" Ii was not pretended
continued the statement, that these contracts con-
travened any law OF the United states or exceeded
the corporate powers Of the company. This being
tne case the witness respectfully submitted that
neither the subcommittee nor the whole commit
tee nor the Senate had the rightful power to re-
qulre the witness TO produce said contracts
Inc statement said further that the witness
would not be able to comply with the request be-
cause the contracts copies Of which he is required
to produce, are not In his custody or control Waiv
Ing the subject Tor the time being tonly one men,
Der or the subcommittee was present at the mo-
menD Senator Hill proceeded TO question DR.. Green
upon various points OF administration, expense and
receipts. Coming 10 the matter OF receipts from
the gold and stock telegraph company, from the
cable contracts and other outside sources OF rev.
ehue DE- Green said he did not think the inquiry
ought to extend 10 that matter Ii seemed 10 him
that the Information intended for outside pur-
poses II would at least be used more by outsiders
t.al by the committee.
Senator Hill expressed the opinion that the In
QulrieS were pertinent
DECLINES To ANSWER ON GENERAL PRINCIPLES.
Dr. Green, in reply to formal inquiry, declined
to furnish the Information required. He also de-
clned TO furnish copies OF cable contracts He said
there was nothing in them which he was not will
ing the committee should know but he declined to
answer on general principles.
Inc INQUIRIES were in9uisltorial ia their nature.
senator Hill said: "fou are public corporation.
are you not? Congress has right to leg1slate In
the matter, has 1t nor?"
NO, sir; not the least in the world" replied Mr.
- Senator Hill-Doyou deny the right OF Congress
10 regulate your Interstate business"
Mr.. Gwinn,-No, but Congress has no right to In
terfere with the management OF our private busl-
ness.
Senator HILL cannot agree with you on that
any day.
A TELEGRAM FROM WILLIAM HENRY sMTTE
Dr. Green here said he had just received q tele-
gram from Mr.. William Henry Smith, general man.
ager OF the New York and Western Associated
Press Associations, In relation to what he (Dr
Green) was reported to have said yesterday. He
asked If the committee would receive the tele-
gram.
would ask Mr. Smith to appear in person before the
committee, and that would be better than to re-
celve the telegram.
Senator Hill continued his inquiries and DR.
Green his replies respecting the details
NO NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE Nv. Q. AND .. AND
o. COMPANIES.
DR.. Green was examined briefly as to the rates
for press dispatches, when Senator Hill said: 81
want to inquire If there has been any negotiations
between the Western Union and the Baltimore and
Ohio companies within the last year."
DR.. Green None within the last year that
know OF.
Senator Hill.-No discussion OF the subject be-
tween the representatives OF the two companies?
DR.. Green-None has occurred to my knowledge.
There was negotiation some two years ago, but
there has been none since that has come to my
knowledge.
senator HnL-Nothing within the last twelve
months that you have heard OF?
Dr.. Green-No. sir.
Senator Hnl.-No proposition for consolidation
between the officers OF the companies that you
know OF?
DR. Green.-Not that has come to my knowledge
Mr.. GwinE.-(Sotto yoce to Dr. Green)-You might
as well say none al all
DR.. Green ito Mr. Gwinn,.-weI. think there has
been some bantertng between you and Mr. Frick
tAat the Two companies ought to come together
doctor could we'll say that there positively had been
none, because l think We should be able to prove
| that there has been, and that the contracts were
actually signed.
MI. Gwinn.-I can say that there is positively not
one word OF truth in that report.
DR.. Green-1 presume, Mr. Chairman, that re-
port grows out of the fact that there was contract
signed two years ago. but the arrival OF the elder
Mr.. Garrett knocked IT into cooked hat.
Mr.. Hl-It would be In entire keeping with the
practice or the company In the past II they were
working together to-day They might be
as far apart as the poles to-day and be together
next week
Mr.. Gwinn.-very likely, Sir; that's the way with
all OF Us.
After some further good natured talk in the same
was In the nature OF capital to amalgamate, and
DR.. Green said IN reply that the telegraph business
OF the country could be transacted at lower rates
by one company than by two, the committee took
recess, d.. Green being discharged
AFTER THE RECESS
E. R. Chapman, superintendent OF construction Of
the Mutual Union telegraph company, was called
His testimony related chiefly to the cost OF building
and maintaining telegraph lines.
Capitol Notes.
Murat Halstead editor Of the Cincinnati Com
mercial Gazette, was at the Capitol to-day.
Besides those that have already been heard, 1l6
witnesses have been summoned by the Senate sub.
committee investigating the Danv1lle affair.
The Senate committee on public lands will hold q
lsation for the forfeiture OF land grants In all its
bearings 1t will be very important meeting.
The BlOdgett Claim.
ANswRRs FILED By DEFRNDANTs-NR. WELLS BRINGS
FORTH HIS CHARGE OF CHAXPIRrY.