Mr. JOHNSON. I shall not occupy 5 minutes. Ill object in rising is to state my position as amcmber of the committee and also nsamember of this House. My absence from the committee for a long time during the winter and spring prevente me from making that investigation of this measure that I desired. The rule which would governme in this matter is that no draw bridge ought to be established over any navigable waters unless it is clearly shown that the span of the bridge could not be erected without enormous expense. I have not had an opportunity of ascertaining whether that is the case with all these bridges or not. I have been satisfied in my own mind that in one or 2 cases draw bridges are absolutely necessary, and I would indicate the one at Wine na as being of that character, there being no bluff at the river bank. I have not seen any of this outside influence that has been referred to. I never heard an argument before the committee, although I have been attending there for the last 6 weeks pretty regularly. But now, after there have been iiitimations made of parties in interest in regard to these measures, I will say that when I hear gentlemen on this floor day by day undertaking to press measures of interest to rivets corporations or individuals, and when hear cries against monopolies, it occurs to me with great force to ask the question of this House, are we not becoming the great monopoly of the country? Are we notmonop olizing all the legislation of the States? Are we not undertaking to interfere with matters that might much better be referred to the representatives of the States who are prepared to act upon information of their own, and who have more time to deliberate than we'have upon such subjects? Do we not hear it here every day that even the committees have not had that opportunity for investigation that they ought to have? But when a bill is brought before the House under the spur of the previous question, we find the time farmed out, 5 minutes here and ten minutes there, for the discussion of questions of the most vital interest to the countr. That was the case the other day in regar to the telegraph bill, and the Gentfrom Illinois [MP ASHBURNE] was then loud in his opposition to monopoly; and I have also heard him equally loud in his opposition to all railroad monopolies, not only railroads in Illinois, but in other parts of the country. Now, I think it is time that he and others should come to understand that the Congress of the U.S. is becoming the great monopoly of this country, and is undertaking to regulate all matters relating to the States as well as to the U.S. IfI had had time to investigate this matter, I should have been able to take a position upon this question. But in consequence of the anomalous action of the ComPostOffice, in referrin this matter to the House without recommenation, I felt it necessary, being a member of that committee, to make this statement to the House as due to myself personally.