Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1888-02-11

Committee on Agriculture, called up tn,
House bill to promote agriculture. 1t pro
vides that such portions of consular re
ports as refer to agricultural matters shall
be transmitted to the Commissioner of Ag
riculture for embodiment in his reports.
Mr.. McCreavy of Kentucky. from the
Committee on Foreign Affairs reported a
joint resolution authorizing the President
to arrange conference for the purpose oi
promoting arbitration and encouraging
reciprocal commercial relations between
the United States and the Republics of
Mexico, Central and South America and
the Empire OF Brazil. Placed on the calen-
dar.
bill was passed amending the law regu.
lating fees for the exemption from taxa
| tion of land patents.
| requiring subsidized railroads to maintain
and operate separate telegraph lines.
Mr.. DOckery, of Missouri, said the simple
propositions in the bill in plain unvarnish.
ed English was to compel the Union and
Central Pacific companies to construct the
telegraph lines required by their charters,
instead OF contracting with the Western
Union and giving that corporation q
monopoly of telegraph franchises west of
the Mississippi river. He submitted that
one OF the most pressing questions before
croachments OF the Western Union Tele-
graph Company.
Mr.. Anderson, OF Kansas, author OF the
bill, vigorously supported it. Railroad
companies had bartered away
their Franchise by entering into
contract with the Western Union, by
which the railroad companies refused to
perform their telegraphic services, and by
which they gave The Western Union an alb
solute monopoly over half the continent.
Through the genius OF the most unscrupu.
monopoly had been created. The pending
bill was simply proposition to inject a
little bit OF Gods unerring justice between
the people and Jay Gould. The
people OF the country we're praying for re-
lief from the bowelless, merciless grind, the |
most extravagant, enormous, unscuplous, |
piratical OF incorporated scoundrels on the |
continent. This bill was q square blow |
between the eyes ofGould's Western Union |
monopoly and each OF the Pacific railroad |
companies saying: "Gentlemen. there is q !
bination OF monopoly, but there is more
power in the arm OF the American people !
and you shall obey the law
Mr.. White, of New York, argued that, !
viewing matters in the light of public policy, |
it was unwise for the Government which !
was the largest creditor OF the Pacific rail- |
roads and was interested in the manage |
ment OF the property to entail legislation !
which would have the effect OF reducing the |
profits of these roads. He then proceeded |
to make a legal argument to the effect that |
Congress had no right to interfere with con-
tracts lawfully entered into. The after |
then went over and discussion will probably |
be continued Saturday. Adjourned.
The hearing before the Senate Committee
on agriculture of the bill to impose tax
OH lard containing anything except pure
hogs fat was resumed this morning. Judge
Wilson, attorney for Squire & Company,
read petition signed by large number
Of manufacturers and dealers in pure lard,
urging the passage OF the bill; also letters
rom manufacturers Of St. Louis and
Omaha, stating that crackers in which was
lsed lard compounded in part Of
cotton seed oil would become ran
id in few days; also clipping
rom the New York journal OF Commerce
n which is stated that the exports OF lard
rom the port OF New York has fallen off
Sc, 600, 900 pounds in the year 1887, as
with the year 1886. Mr.. Crom-
we'll, attorney for the refined lard manu-
acturers said he had d petition from
)ver 5000 persons saying "Refned lard"
vas not an injurious article. He said it
vas not claimed that cotton seed oil could
)e used for every purpose and he would
.u.uit IL WIS nu 1vr v.tDUt.enr. ~--------t