Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1888-02-20
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
the FISHERIES QUESTION AND THE
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE EXPECTED.
NJ Fresideatial Party or for Florida-
Fortress Monroe to bs Well Patronissd--
+, Considering Govsrans,t Telegraph
Othsr ImPortant Items.

Othsr Important Itens.
WASHINGTON, February 0-To-day i
suspension of rules day in the House o
Representatives. There are, however. few
measures of general importance likely Z
come up for consideration. The judiciary
committee NAV ask for action on the bill il
reported some time ago. providing for Z
constitutional amendment making the S0tf
of April Inauguration day for the President
Of the United States, instead of the 4th o
March. Chairman Mills. Of the Committee
on Ways and Means, may call up his reso
luton authorizing the Secretary OF the
the Treasury, bonds Of the United States
for redemption. There is on the calendar,
the Military Academy appropriation bill,
inasmuch ~ Messrs. Tillman and Cutcheon
OF the committee. are out OF the
city and will he absent for some
days, il is not likely that the bill
will be taken up during the week.
The same may he said of the pension appro.
priati"n bill. Mr.. Foran, of Ohio. who has
supervision Of il, is on the sick list. The
Committee on Ranking and Currency will
ask the Hou~e to iiN a day for the consider
alton of the pngley bill. providing for the
national bank redemption fund in Govern
ment bonds Ii the President should send
TO the House the answer Of the Secretary of
War 10 the resolution of Mr.. Boutelle, call
ing for information relative TO the distribu-
ton OF the battle flags, lively debate NAV
be exps,ted. The tariff bill is not antici-
pated in the House under ten days or two
weeks. Beth houses are expected TO sd-
lourn over "Wednesday, which is Washing
toms birthday
Very little has been done in the Senate to-
towards fixing programme for the
weeks business. Mr.. Allison will
THURSDAY In take into consideration
his amendment IN the customs under
valuation bill. Debate upon this is likely
20 occupy several DAYS. There are twenty
one pages of the calendar and disposition
Is manifested 9" turn attention to il, and
take up the bills upon il in their order.
The deficiency appropriation bill has
been received from the House, and may be
reported 10 the senate from the Committee
on Appropriations before the adjournment
is taken over to next week. There is moth
ing of sensational or absorbing interest to
the country at large on the calendar of
either House Al present and the outlook is
for a quiet session III Congressional pro-
ceedings
Mr.. Ingalls, NAV deliver his long-c Hpected
speech on the surplus and tariff during the
week, and if lac does he will undoubtedly
add u good deal "f ze>t and make the day
an interesting one. The fisheries treaty is
expected at the Senate to-day, accom-
panied by message from the President 1t
is understood that the President has recon-
mended thar the whole matter be made
public. The treaty and the message will he
referred "a the Committee ou Foreign Re-
lations. and will not appear for final action
fof some time.
The Postal Telegraph.
WASHINGTON, February 2n.-'iovernment
telegraph and regulation of the telegraph
business of the country has already come In
for a considerable share of attention from
Congrcs>inen this Session. Five Senators
and seven Representatives have introduced
bills relating 10 these subjects. Mr. Ed
mund> WAS in early iii December with his
old bill Of last session, proposing the con-
struction of four trunk lines to connect
Washington with the northeastern, north
western, southwestern and southern parts
of the United States by postal telegraph
system. He proposes an expenditure of
two million dollars on the plant during the
first year, directs that the lines he built BY
the engineer corps of the army. and places
the system under the care and management
Of the Postmaster General.
Mr.. Dawes in the Senate. and Represen-
tative Hayden, of Massachusetts. in the
House. have introduced identical bills, by
which il is proposed To establish an extern
sive postal telegraph system throughout the
country. This is to he done either BY con-
tracing with existing companies to handle
the business At low rates prescribed in the
4 L. 8 L. IL.
event Of failure 10 purchase, the construc-
ton by the Government or the trunk lines
proposed by the Edmunds bill. On the
other hand, Senator Sawyer. and Represen-
tative Rogers, of Arkansas, have intro
duced bills embodying the Dawes plan,
without the Eimunds features of that bill.
Mr.. Cullom in the Senate, and Representa-
tive Anderson in the House have intro
duccd similar postal telegraph bills. Both
propose the construction OF government
lines, and an extensive plant that will eX-
tend the postal telegraph system to all first,
second and third class postoffices. Mr. Cul-
lom proposes To expeud four millions and
Mr.. Anderson ten millions for the construc-
ton of three lines.
Representatives Weaver. of Iowa, and
Smith. of Wisconsin, have introduced simi-
lar bills in the House. Both propose q
telegraph pure and simple, to
be constructed entirely by the Govern
ment; no lines To be purchased from exist
ing companies. The system is TO extend to
and furnish telegraph offices in every town
of 200 inhabitants or more. General Wea-
yer wants $25,O0O 0O00 and Representative
Smith $40 0Oo, 60 to carry out their pospec-
tive projects. Mr.. McComas. of MARYLAND,
has introduced bill proposing to establish
= postal telegraph service by contract with
81, -
facilities from existing lines. Representa-
tive Hopkins. of Virginia, has introduced
, bill in the House TO establish post
n telegrsphs that is simplicity
and brevity combined Section /
authorizes the Postmaster General
10 establish telegraph and telephone service
rither or both, as soon as practicable. upon
AL available post roads within the jurisdic-
ton of the United States. Section makes
il y felony after the Postmaster General
announces that this service is in operation,
for any person OF corporation TO transmit
Section ; authorizes the Post
master General 10 fix rates nj about the
cost of operating the service. Section ap-
the public funds Necessary to
carry this act into effect" Section 5. the
last, repeals all laws in conflict with the
bill. and directs that il 90 into effect when
On the subject of telegraph supervision
Or regulation. Senator Spooner and Repre-
tentative Guenther have introduced in
troduced identical bills. Both prohibit
telegrsphic rates and prefer
ential rates to particular persons, COM
panies. or locality. or class OF business;
makes pooling of receipts unlawful: directs
the publication from time to time of tele-
graph rates. and gives ~ the Postmaster
hnr fG 90 IN, tv,f.
agement of the business of telegraph com
panies generally.
AL of the bills introduced propose rates
on commercial business much lower than