Mr. HALE. Mr. Speaker, the chairman of the comPostOffice stated on unquestionable fact. when he stated that this was a bill of very great importance. I sincerely trust that this House will not pass upon it under the pressure of the previous question with only the limited debate which the morning hour of one day affords. I propose new simply to specify one or 2 objections to this bill which strike me as vital. cannot properly discuss them in the ten minutes that the gentleman has accorded me, and which is all that he could give me of the time allotted to him. Before entering, however, upon these points, let me say that the Gentfrom Massachusetts intimates that this bill is a measure in behalf of freedom of operations to individuals and companies to prevent the engrossment by agreat monopoly of allthe telegraphic lines within the U.S. Now, sir, ifby that the Gentfrom Massachusetts [Mr. ALLEY] means to convey the idea that those who oppose this bill here are the advocates of a monopoly, are for sustaining the rights of a single corporation or of any set of individuals at the expense of the rights of the people of the Republic, then for one I most emphatically disclaim and repel any such idea. I have never raised my voice and never cast a vote upon this floor in favor of chartered exclusive rights to the prejudice of the general rights of the community, and I trust I never shall The 1st objection that exists to this bill has been alread discussed by the Gentfrom Ohio, [Mr. fINCK] a member of the comPostOffice, and therefore I need add nothing to what he has said. The objection is conclusive, and I'challenge any man to disate the positions he has taken. This bill provides that telegraphic companies may enter upon and occupy private property for their purposes without making any compensation whatever. Sir, that provision is in direct conflict with that provision of the constitution which provides that private property shall not be taken for public use except upon just compensation. I will not go over that ground, but simply ask the House not to put itself in the position of framing a bill containing an unconstitutional provision merely for the reason that it may be remedied by the courts, which will declare that provision to be a nullit. Another provision in this bill strikes me as objectionab e, highly objectionable, on another ground; that is, on the ground that it goes to take away the general rights of the people and give them over into the hands of a monopoly, and that, too, a monopoly not of our own creation and not of our own regulation. I fasten upon this bill the charge that it has been framed in the interests of foreign corporations claiming exclusive rights; that it is designed and tends directly to porution created ya foreign Government the power of holding exclusive communication between its shores and the shores of this country. Look at it. This bill provides that tele graphic wires may be laid ‘over, under, or across the navigable streams or waters of the U.S.” by any company. The “navigable waters of the U.S." include a marine lea ue from the shore of the ocean. Take a single instance. The government of Cubahus chartered a telegraphic company and given to them exclusive rights upon the shores of Cuba, to connect with t it: shores of the U.S. No American company can connect with the shores of Cuba. nder this bill any company, being authorized to go outside of the marine league, may there enter into an a reement with the Cuban company by which they will have the exelusit'e of connecting with Cuba, of telegrapprivilege ic communication with Cuba, and every other/company is by the terms of this bill cut off from any such communication. And why? Simply because so long as the power rests with Cuba to say with whom they will connect when they get.outside of the marine league the moment we have given to any company the right to go across that marine league they have nothing to do but to make that connection and then the Cuban company has the On the other hand, monopoly. if we shoal ss such a bill as we ought to pass, one which shall provide that no company shall be permitted to form a connection across our marine league until the Government of the country with which it connects gives to all American companies the same privileges upon their shores, we then kec the matter entirely in our own hands. Not iing short of that legislation will do it. And until we do that this bill itself does create the greatest monopoly and confers the greatest exclusive privilege upon aforeign corporation, entirely free from our control. here are other objections to this bill, which in the brief time allowed me I shall have no opportunity to no tice. But the 2 objections to which I have referred, the one the want or constitutional power on our part to pass this bill, the other the giving exclusive privileges to a foreign corporation, are or should be conclusive against it.