Year: 1879

ment or otherwise upon Federal
office-holders or employees for cleo
ton purposes, and under what cir
cumstances and by what means, and
if so what amount was so raised and
how the same was expended, and
further, whether such assessments
were or not in violation of law.
The committee then adjourned sub
iect to the call of the chairman.


| The Republican members Of the
| Senate, in a caucus this morning,
adopted the report presented by the
committee appointed to arrange the
order of business for the remainder
of the session. 1t was agreed that
the Postofice Appropriation Eill
shall be taken up as soon as the
pending measure in regard to Chi
nese immigration is disposed of, and
that preference be given to other
regular appropriation bills, including
the River and Harbor bill, over all
other business thereafter. The fol-
lowing measures are to be given
consideration, not to interfere with
the appropriation bills, when ready,
in the order named: Proposed Con-
stitutional Amendment on the sub
ject of War Claims, bill for the fur
ther distribution of the Geneva
award. Mr.. Windom's PROPOSE
ton, authorizing that inquiry and
report be made on the advisability
of extending government aid for
colonization of the colored people,
and various measures concerning
the District of Columbia, for which
one day is to be set apart. 1t was
also agreed that from and after
next Monday the sessions of the
Senate shall begin at eleven o'clock,
a. m, and that a portion Of each
day be devoted to {" unobjected bus~
mess - on the calendar, under what
is known as the Anthony rule.


The Democratic Senators also
held a caucus this morning. The
subjects of discussion were the
same that occupied the attention of
the joint caucus Monday night.
Diametrically opposite views were
expressed as to the advisability in a
party point of view in endeavoring
to repeal the Federal election law,
etc., by means of amendments to an
appropriation bill, and thus probably
forcing an extra session of Con-
gress. After an earnest discussion
in which Senators Thurman and
Bayard were the principal speakers
on the opposite sides, the caucus
adjourned without action, to meet
again tomorrow morning.


The Senate Committee on Rail- |
roads met to-day to hear argument
with respect to Senator Jones bill
authorizing railroad companies to
construct and maintain telegraph
lines for commercial purposes.
President Norvin Green, of the
Western Union Telegraph Company,
made speech opposing the bill, on
the ground that it would not attain
the object desired, stating that the
railroad companies already shared
in the profits of the business done
over lines built along their roads,
and that the telegraph business of
the country was now done by the
Western Union Company more
cheaply than by any other company
in the world.


The chairman asked Mr.. Green
for information with regard to re
lations between the Western Union
Telegraph Company and Associated |
Press. The latter replied that there
was nothing in those relations to
conceal that the Western Union |
Company had announced repeatedly
that it would transmit the dis
patches of any other similar Asso-
citation for like price, without favor
of any kind. The Associated Press is
a private organization for the collec-
ton and distribution of news, and
news so gathered is as much its
property as private telegram or
letter. 1t does not monopollze the
news or prevent other Associations
from getting it who are willing to
90 to the necessary expense for its
collection. IF outside papers want |
a special report let them get up q
combination, collect the news, and
we will send it at the same rates as
charged the Associated Press for an
equal amount of service. We can |
not afford, however, to supply any |
body at tenth or fftieth of the
price paid by our best customers.


At the conclusion of Mr.. Green's |
remarks the committee adjourned |
until tomorrow.