The Russellville Democrat., 1891-03-05

The house then adjourned until :3C a.m. to morrow.
 Forenoon Session, February 26. SENATE. The senators came in shiveriug but with sufficient nerve to tackle business.
 The journal was rather lengthy but as usual entirely correct. The standing committees reported | as follows:
 On Judiciary-By Chairman Will. lisms, senate bills 196, 164 and 198, recommending passage; also senate bill 175 with substitute bill, recom- mending the passage of the substi tute.
 On Penitentiary-By Chairman Hawkins, senate bill No. 43, that it do not pass.
 On Agriculture By Chairman Al. len, senate bill No. 19l, that it dc pass.
 On Claims--By Chairman w. E. Davidson, senate bill No. 1l3, that it do not pass.
 The order being the consideration of the pending motion at adjourn ment yesterday evening-the motion of the senator from Jefferson to re- consider the vote whereby the tele- graph rate bill passed.
 Senator Crawford took the floor, and informed the senate that, upon mature deliberation, he had con cluded that perhaps he voted wrong yesterday when he voted for the bill With the lights now before him, he shall vote for reconsideration.
 Senator Patterson claimed that the bill was well discussed yesterday, and that every senator ought to have known what be was doing when he voted.
 Senator Washburn claimed that if it is true that the telegraph com panies have watered their stock aud are making 8 per cent on watered stock, their rates ought to be reduced. But we have no proof that their stock is wa tered. We may think so, butthink- ing so and evidence are two different things.
 Senator Tillman opposed recon sideration. The telegraph companies had their agents and attorneys before the committee fighting this bill; they have had them here lobbying, and yet they have failed to convince the committee or this senate that the rates ought not to be reduced and regulated. It appears in this fight that the Western Union Telegraph company is on one side and the peo- pie of Arkansas on the other. He is on the side of the people. It is true, petitions have come in here, but they are signed by only a few among thousands. The telegraph com panies worked up these petitions by various technical methods, and he is not here to obey those petitions.
 Senator Hamby in the chair, President Clark took the floor. He wants corporations regulated. It is in proof here that these telegraph companies have been discriminating. For the same distance in some in- stances they charge 25 cents for ten word messages; in other they charge 80, S5 and 40 cents, This is mani festly unfair and unjust. He is will ing for them to charge 25 cents for transmitting ten words, but he wants the same rate throughout the state. He will vote for reconsideration in order that the bill may be recom- mitted for perfection. The tele- graph companies ought to be com peled to promptly send and deliver messages, which they do not do.
 Senator Gaughan favored recon sideration. The business men of the country who send almost all the tel egrams are the signers to these peti- tions. They are not kicking at the charges. As to whetfer their stock is watered is not the question in volved in this discussion. The bill ought to be reconsidered and be so perfected as 10 be fair and just to the companies as well as the people.
 Senator w. E. Davidson said he voted for this bill, and believed that if it was ruinous to the telegraph companies they would have ample time to prove it by facts and figures to the house committee that will con sider this bill, and the members of this legislature, in the other end of the capital, will have full opportunity to correct it 70 that it will do justice to the companies and the people, but if it is desired to give the matter a new hearing in this body, he is will ing and will vote for reconsideration.
 Senator Bell spoke in favor of re. consideration.