Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1888-03-24
WASHINGTON
GOSSIP FROM UNCLE SANS CAP
ITOL
What our Busy Law Makers are Doing.
Congressional and Other News.

What our Huay Law Makers are DONG
Congressional and Other News.
The President has recognized EugeEe
Thiebaut as vice consul of France at
Charleston, S. G.
Congressman Hemphill presented a
petition from the citizens of Bay Spring,
S. c., recommending an increase in the
compensation of fourth class postmasters.
The Supreme Court has rendered de-
cision affirming the right end power of
the State of Massachusetts 10 tax the
property of the Western Union Telegraph
company within its limits.
The senate committee on postoffices
and postroads has ordered favorable
report on the senate bill to reduce the
postage ON seeds, cuttings, bulbs, ETC.,
to one cent for every four onnces. The
present rate is sixteen cents per pound,
while that of Canada is only four cents.
The purpose of the bill IS to place Amer
lean seedsmen on an equality with the
Canadians so far as the use of the United
States mails are concerned.
In anticipation of the decision in the
telephone cases, the United States Su-
preme Court room was crowded to-day
when Court assembled at noon, and q
large number of people were turned
away from the door. Alexander Melville
Bell and Mr.. Starrow, of counsel for the
Bell Company, were present, as were also
the Commissioners of Patents, several
patent attorneys and large number Of
persons directly or indirectly interested
in telephone stocks.
At 1905 Justice Blatchfor6, acting
for Chief Justice Waite, began reading
the opinion in the telephone cases. The
opinion was prepared by the Chief JUS
tice, but owing to a slight indisposition
he did not feel able to read it, and there
fore requested Justice Blatchford to read
it for him. The cases covered by the
decision of the court are six in number,
one coming from Massachusetts,, one
from Pennsylvania, and four from New
York. In the first five cases the appel
lants are Amos E. Dollar ct al, the Mole
cular Telephone Company, the Clay
Commercial Company, the Peoples Tel
ephone Company and the Overland Tele-
phone Company. In the sixth the Bell
Company is the appellant against the
NlOlECuldI OolnpdhJs lhC OPAhAOh was
a lengthy one, and decided in the favor
of the Bell Telephone Company.
The dissent of Justices Bradley, Field
and Harlan is based on the Drawbaugh
claim. These three Justices are of opin-
ion that the evidence overwhelmingly
shows that Drawbaugh was the first in
ventor of the speaking telephone, al
though he was unconscious of it and was
not aware of its importance.
The opinion of a majority of the Court
was read by Justice Blatchford, but was
prepared by Chief Justice Waite. The
latter, owing to indisposition, did not
feel able to read so long an opinion,
which occupied in delivery one hour and
three quarters.
Immediately after the conclusion of
the reading of the opinions in the tele-
phone cases Justice Lamar began the
reading of his first opinion as member
of the United States Supreme Court, the
case being No. 1868, the Missouri River
Packet Company VS. the Hannibal and st
Joe Railroad Company. The point in
volved was the construction to be given
to "A law of Congress, authorizing the
building of bridge for the use of the
railroad company across the Missouri
River at Kansas City. The judgment of
the Supreme Court of Missouri, in favor
of the Hannibal and st. Joe Company.
was affirmed.