Mr. WILLIAMS. I am satisfied with the bill as it now stands, and prefer it without the amendment proposed by the Senfrom Iowa; but if that amendment be adopted, as I resume it will be, I shall still vote for this bill, and hope itwill pass. I think that this bill, or some such bill, is necessary for the transaction of the business between the Pacific coast and the Atlantic States. I think that tic present line of telegraph is not sufficient to do the business that the people require to be done, and that the construction of other lines is necessary for commercial purposes, and that their construction will not only promote the commercial interests of the country, but they are necessary for the protection of the people. Persons living on the other side of the conti nent who have occasion to send messages by telegraph know something about the burdens imposed upon the people by the present company. It costs ten dollars in gold to send a telegraphic dispatch of any kind or description fIrom the city of Portland to Washington; and so ose that the prices correspond between Was iington and the intermediate oints. I think that some means should be devised to reduce this imposition and burden upon the people, and this bill tends in that direction t may not accomplish all the purposes that the people desire to have accomplished, but it certainly will have some effect in assisting another company or other companies to establish a line in competition with the present line of telegraph across the continent. Now, sir, the Congress of the U.S. as I understand, has given its countenance and support to one company. Is there any reason why Congress, if it desires to be fair and just in this matter, should not give its countenance and support to other companies ‘1 Why should one company claim the exclusive right to enjoy the favors of the Government as the present company does at this time? I think that the passage of this bill will assist other companies in the construction of telegraph liRes across the continent and the objections that are made to this bill seem to me to have very little weight. If a corporation was to be organized without any restrictions, the probability is that the present company wouldp purchase that company, purchase out its rights, its privileges, or its charter, and so destroy all competition. But there must be some‘way, it seems to me, by which competition can he established; and if there is any way, the most feasible way would seem to be by an act of Congress organizing a company or companies to construct another line, and forbidding that line from transferring its rights or privileges to the corn any new in existence. If that remedy fails, then , according to the argument that has been submitted, it seems to me that there is no remedy, and the entire country must forever submit to the bur dens imposed upon it by the existing monopoly. The present company has been characterized by all that have spoken on the subject as a very great monopoly. if it be such, it seems to me it is the vduty of Congress to take some steps to destroy that monopoly, or, at any rate, to alleviate its burdens upon the people. The objection that the companies organized under this act may sell out, seems to me to be an objection that ought not to prevail here. In the 1st place, Congress is constantly organizing corporations that have no railroads, no telegraphs; that have not engaged in the business for which they were organized. The argument is, that because some particular corporation in the State of NewYork, which was named in the original bill, is not engaged in the business of telegraphing at this time, therefore no additional powers or privileges should be, extended to it. That argument would defeat every bill that is proposed in Congress for the organization of a corporation to construct a railroad across the continent, or for any other purpose; because Congress is constantly organizing companies that have not engaged in this kind of businesS.R.NYE. Will the Senator allow me to ask him a question?