The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-02-28
TEl:.Il..EGRAP1E!H:3.T!'C. Z i. I
WASHINGTON CITY.
What the National Lawmakers Are
at Work About
An Appropriation Wanted FOR Dan
viIle--- The Senate Discusses Teie-
graph Investigation D0ingS
Under the b0me.

WASHINGTON CITY, Feb IS the senate
Van Wyck offered a resolution directing the
postoiiice committee to inquire whether, at
any time, the Western Union ard Baltimore
& OHIO Telegraph companies, or officers of
those companies, had entered into a contract
or negotiation for the purpose OF consolida-
ton, or combination of companies Re
ferring to the testimony of DR., Green, he
said that this information was needed to help
the general inquiry. There was no
doubt that the Western Union
would gobble all competing lines as it
had in tue past, notwithstanding the promises
of the companies to act in the interests of
the people. Plumb could see no practical
use Of such an investigation. As far as he
was concerned he didn't expect to be guided
in his vote by such information. Platt
moved to refer the resolution to the com
mittee, and said: u desire the government
to assume in some way the telegraph as 4
means of transmitting intelligence through
the country, have no quarrel with either
company, and congress has nothing to DO
with quarTe!s between thu companies. II
they desire to consolidate, there is no power
in congress to stop them. 1t is necessary
that we should have tbe information whether
the people are paying toe much for the trans
mission of information by telegraph"
Ingalls, said the committee had already
gone into the question. Bayard remarked that
congress was taking an extraordinary posi-
tion if it assumed to exercise coau,ar nry
power in the disclosure of affairs OF private
corporations. The resolution was finally re-
ferred to the committee.
Sherman presented reports of the sub-com-
mitte9 on the Danville riots to the effect that
the house had not PASSED the bill appro-
printing money for tie investigation; that
the secretary OF tie senate refused to honor
tie vCCcheIs on the ground that there was no
fund out OF which TO pay them For this
reason the sub committee would be obliged
to suspend. Operations until AM appropriation
was made, The report was placed on file.
IL the house, Morrison, from the committee
On ways and means, reported a resolution call
ing on the secretary of the treasury for a
statement OF the amount of money in the
treasury and how much can he applied to the
liquidation of that part of the public debt
now payable; adopted Phelps, of New Jer-
sey, from the committee on foreign affairs
charged by the resolution of Brumm to in
ter accredited to his government had endeav-
ored to nullify the effect of unanimous reso
luton of the house by reflections upon the
honor and integrity of the members, reported
that they had obtained no information The
committee was discharged. San
Valentine introduced bill authorizing the
erection Of q bridge across the Missouri neal
| Decatur; referred
Lefevre offered q resolution, reciting that
speculation and gambling in Ameri
can farm products had obtained con.
troll of the market value of those
| products, and directing the commit
tee on Judiciary to prepare bill prohibiting
| the purchase or sale of wheat, corn, cotton
| provisions and other articles of prime neces
sity, unless the actual transfer of the article!
or q warehouse receipt accompanies such &C
ton; also a bill authorizing such govern
mental interference as will give stability tt
| the price of these commodities. Cox, ol
| New York, and others objected. Bingham
from the committee on postofices and post
| roads, reported adversely Oh the bill to pre-
vent the use of the Cnitei States mails t.
advertise noxious medicines, food and com
pounds. Laid on the table.
Tho house went into committee of TIT
whole on the cattle bill, Cox in the chair.