Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1888-03-15
CONGRESSIONAL.
SATURDAY, Mar. 3.

successor to the late Seth c. Moffat, in
the house, took the oath of Office to-day.
A resolution was adopted authorizing
an expenditure by the committee on
manufactures in the trust investigation.
After the reports from various commit
tees, the house resumed considera-
tion of the Pacific railroad telegraph bill.
Mr.. Williams, N. Y, took the floor in
opposition to the measure This bill al
forded the government no new remedy.
There was q bCncombe in it bat there
was no legislation in it. He warmly
championed the Western Union telegraph
company and asserted that the company
furnished better facilities and at lower
average rates than in any other country.
He said he was here to protest against
anarchy and commuuistic legislation
which would seek to legIslate away the
property of a man acquired honorabiy
and honestly under the forms of law.
Mr.. Symes, of Colorado, said tbs pur-
pose of the bill was merely TO compel the
subsidized railroads 20 comply with the
conditions and provisions of the grants
creating them, After Jay Gould and his
ring had conducted the Union Pacific as
long as be could make anything out of it
be had walked off leaving the company
bankrupt and taking with nim among the
assets, the telegraphic lines with which
he levied discriminating 'ibute from
the people west Of the Missouri river.
Mr.. Dockery, of Missouri, said under
the granting acts the Pacific companies
were required to construct not only rail
.oad lines, but also telegraph line. In
stead of doing so they mad assumed to
divest themselves of their obligations by
a monopoly contract with the Western
Union Telegraph Company. Competi-
ton was essential TO the highest and best
interests of the whole people and if nee
essary, and he believed it to be necessary,
the power of that government must be
exercised to execute to the people that
perfect equality without discrimination,
which was the very basis upon which
rested the whole fabric of our institutions.
The pending bill was an initiative meas
ure of reform. He desired TO appeal to
no prejueice in The discussion of this
question, but hs was in earnest about this
proposition, that no man in this country
although he was worth 100000, 900,
should dominate the country and succeed
in his attempt at universal monopoly.
Mr.. White then offered his subs iituts
which was rejected without division, and
the ILL was passed-yeGs, 1877; nays, A.
bliss, ketchum, Merriman, and White,
of Nav York The house adjourned.
MONDAY, Mar ..
SeHdie.-Sen, Regain reported adversely
from the postoflice and post roads COM
mittee Edmunds' and Cunom's posta!
telegraph bill, and reported favorably
the original bin TO regulate inter state
commerce carried on by telegraph, and
to subject the telegraph companies to
the supervision of the inter state com
merce commission. After much debate
the matter went over without action.
Several petitions were presented when
Sen. Chandler offered q resolution
(which was agreed TOY insttucting the
select committee on Indian traders to in
quite into the methods of allotting lands
in seyeralty to the Indians on the Indian
reservations in the northern portions of
| Wisconsin and Minnesota; and as to the
sale of timber on these lands. AS unfu-
| ished business, the pension bill was laid
aside, and the urgent efficiency aPpro-
/ priation bill was taken up for considera-
/ tion, but did not come to a vote
1 Houe.-The committee on rivers and
/ harbors has declined to grant further
/ hearings and has concluded to report the
/ bill it is preparing by the 20th inst. Bills
were introduced as follows: Mr.. Kerr,
/ for public building at Cedar Rapids,
/ Iowa. Mr.. Thomas, of Wisconsin, TO de-
/ due trusts and 20 prohibit trusts from
/ carrying on Interstate commerce Mr.
I Nutting, n Y, for the construction of a
ship canal around the Niagara Falls in
Z New York. Mr.. Weaver, Ia, for the cree.
\ tion Of public building at Ottumwa
and Os5aloOsa, Iowa. On motion Of Mr..
! Dunheu lIus) the bill passed authorizing
the city of Chicago to erect crib in
Lake Michigan for water works pur
poses.
TUESDAY, Mar. G.
SsH0ts.-The rule as 90 executive SEES
sions was modified so as to read: "Wher
treaty shall be laid before the senate
for ratification it shall be read the frsl
time: aud no motion shall be in order
except to refer il to committee, to
print in conference for the use of the
senate, to remove the injunction OF Sc
i crecy or to consider il in opez executive
session By it a treaty may be made
public or considered in open session
whenever desired by a majority Of ths
senate. The senate then resumed con
sidera.ion of the pension bill, the ques
ton being on Wilson's amendment. 4
lengthy and heated debate followed re
sulting limo action being taken. H.
House, Consideration of the Alabama