National Republican., 1888-02-15

bark Cashmere. Committee Of the whole.
Mr.. Burnett, Of Massachusetts, from the
committee on labor, reported adversely the
bill to provide for the licensing OF railway
conductors. Laid on the table.
Mr.. Richardson, of Tennessee, from the
committee on printing, reported adversely
the bill to disseminate reports Of Con-
gressional current leglslation among the
people. Laid on the table.
Mr.. O'Neill, OF Missouri, from the com.
mittee on labor, reported bills to protect
mechanics, laborers, and servants In their
wages, and to prevent the employment OF
enlisted men In competition with civilians.
Committee. of the whole.
The speaker announced the resignation
OF Mr.. Cox, OF New York, from the com
mittee Oh territories, and the appointment
Of Mr.. Taulbee, OF Kentucky TO fll the
vacaDcy--Mr. Taulbee retiring from the
committee on the eleventh census.
On motion Of Mr.. Burnes, Of Missouri,
the House then went into committee of the
whole (NIr. Blount, OF Georgia, In the
cbair) on the urgent deficiency bill.
Kansas, made speech, in which he eiuci-
dated the legal points presented in the An.
derson bill requiring the subsidized Pacific
railroads TO maintain and operate separate
telegraph lines. He gave succlnct history
OF the legislation upon the subject, aud
said that the entire cost Of construction Of
the telegraph line from the Missouri river
to San Francisco did not exceed $3.50, 900.
In answer to the contention that In the act
Of 1862 Congress did not reserve the power
to amend It's terms, he declared that the
eighteenth section positively reserved that
power.
Turning his attention to the contract be.
tween the Western Union Telegraph Com
pany and the Union Pacific Railroad Com
paDy he eaid that 1t was remarkable docu.
ment, and resulted In the destruction Of COM
petition In telegraph business, which 1t
was the very object Of the granting acts to
secure. The Union Pacific Company bound
itself hand and foot by this contract, SO
that II could not transport the poles or
wires OF any company desiring to construct
a telegraph life along the line Of the Union
Pacific railroad unless local rates were
paid. That was virtual prohibition. The
object and effect OF this contract was to
throttle all competition. He argued that un.
der the reserved power Of Congress TO alter
or amend the granting acts, Congress had the
right to declare null and void any contract
which interfered with the carrying out OF
the purposes Of the grant, and that no
vested right bad accrued by reason OF the
contract entered into between the Western
Union and Union Pacific Companies. Con.
gfees had the power and the right to step
forward and enact legislation which would
carry out the objects OF the grants. Were
CO. 0G0,0C0 people TO be bound hand and foot
and crushed beneath the foot OF the West
ern Union? II they were they were on the
verge of a rebellion which would tear down
this creature, break down it's throne, and
erect upon its iuin postal telegraph which
would subserve the public interests. [Ap-
plause
Mr.. Rogers, OF Arkansas, bringing the dis
cussion back to the deficiency bill, agreed
with the statement in the report OF the
committee on appropriations that deficiency
estimates should be carefully scanned
Pending further discussion the commit
tee rose.
Mr.. Henderson, of Iowa. introduced a
bill to establish corps Of chsplains in the
army. Referred.
Mr.. Romeis, Of Ohio, offered resolution
calling on the commissioner Of agriculture
for his reasons for Withholding information
regarding the analysis OF certain articles OF
beer. Referred.
Mr.. Cox, OF New York, introduced bill
for the payment Of the claims Of the mayor,
aldermen, and 'commonality of New York
city. Referred. 1T provides for the pay
mept Of s2,292,G57, being the amount paid
by New York city for the principal aud In
terest on the bonds issued to the Union de-
fence committee Of New York in 1881 and
| 1869
The House then, at . O'Clock, adjourned.