The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-22

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me following u a copy OF q. B. Wasnburne's bill
nor the construction OF . government telegraph.
under the direction OF the Post once Department.,
oetween New York end Washington. Itisnow pend
sue In the House Committee on Post Onces and Post
Roads, and win be taken mp and considered imme-
dlately after the recess:-
bin for the construction Of government tele-
srH3b under the direction OF the Post Once Depart
ment between New York and Washington.
BE Il enacted by the Senate and House OF Repre-
TsS assembled, That the Postmaster General shall
within thirty days after the passage Of this act ad
xertise in two newspapers IN eacn OF the cities Of
Sortproposals for constructing and for furnishing
mstertais for constructing line Of telegraph with
md In the city OF Washington, In the District OF
COLUMBIA 10 the Post once In the city OF New YORK
BY way o. pniadspnla ana Baiamore With sacn
fh01hanner hereinafter prescribed; and such sdver
tigfhent shall be published in each OF said papers
onk q week. for the period OF four weeks.
SIC 2 And be It further enacted. That the pro-
posas may be separately for the telegraph WIRE for
The poles for the nsula ors for the batteries for the
feeraphing instruments and for the construction OF
she the materials being furnished or for any TWO
or moro OF said descriptions Of materials, or for the
line completely constructed ready for use, the mate
y1as 10 be OF the most approved quality and class.
Said proposals shall be transmitted sealed to the
ceived and opened at the department in the
same manner az proposals Tor carrying the
mail are now received ana opened, ana the same
evidence Of ability perform the contract shall be
submitted to the Postmaster General as now re-
CURED in the case Of proposals for carrying the
SEC. g. And be it further enacted, THAT the Post
master General shall, at the time OF opening said
proposals, also receive and examine any proposal
from the propretors OF any existing line OF tele-
graph the sale to the United States Of their entire
line OF telegraph between any two OF sad cities, or
for the entire line herein provided Tor with all the
property franchises, rights and privileges connected
Herewith.
SEC A. And be It further enacted That upon OPEN
ing the proposals rst herein provided for the Post
master General shall select the lowest responsible
bids which IN the aggregate shall show the lowest
and shall compare Herewith the cost OF purchase OF
an existing line as proposed III any proposal thereof
latter shah be at least twenty five per centum below
such lowest aggregate the proposal for the sale Of
such existing line shall be rejected; II otherwise, It
shall be accepted II this proposal shall be rejected
then tine Postmaster General shall accept the prop0
sails constituting the lowest aggregate - herenbe
SIC. 5. And be 1t further enacted, That the con-
tracts contemplated herein for the construction Of
hne Of telegraph shall provide that all the materials
named IN the contracts, and that all the work to be
done by virtue thereof shall be OF the best class and
quality; and no part thereof shall be accepted until
enc same shall have been examined and It's accept
ance recommended by some proper of1cer OF the
army detailed therefor by the Secretary OF War; upon
the request Of the Postmaster General; and no
money shall be paid on account thereof until the
same shall have been thus accepted, and the con-
tracts shall be SO framed, under the direction Of the
hne or Tor the entire line the may be, that
the entire work ehal be completed within SIX months
from the time he shall notify the contractor to COM
SEC. 9. And be It further enacted That the Post
master General shall establish telegraphc station
q as many Post 0flces along said line as, In his
Judgment, the public interest with due regard to
economy Of administration shall require, and shall
employ In the business thereof far practicable,
she employees OF the Post once, ana may employ
special Geographic clerks when necessary at their
customary salaries And he shall employ, before the
M opfUto 0A LIANT
who shall be practical teegrapher and VINO shall
receive a salary not exceeding S. 500 per annum.
sage aha be sent said line unless it shall be
stamped with three cent postage stamp, and there
sasil oe UNIFORM rate for the transmission OF mes
each word, exclusive Of address and signature but
no message snail be sent for Q less sum than ten
cents and there shall be charged two cents for the
delivery OF each and every message: provided
that the government shall be entitled to send and
charge, and SHAH have priority in sending iii mes
sages: and provided that when less rates than
herein provided shall be charged by any other tele
grapn hne between the same points, the Postmaster
General may reduce these rates conform thereto:
and provided furtherl that he may direct that
kilograms Tor publication by newspapers shall be
transmitted at q reduction not exceeding nfty per
cent on these rates.
SEC, SEC 8 And Be il further enacted, That If any
cmcer, agent operator, clerk or employe OF said
seie9raph or any other person, shall wifuly dvulge
as Sss 9
or TO his agent or attorney. any message
received or sent or intended to be sent over such
telegraph line. or the contents, substance, purport
or meaning OF such message, any part thereof or
shall wifuily falsify or alter any sncn message by
adding thereto or emitting therefrom any word or
words, figure or figures so Is 70 materially change
the sense, purport or meaning or such message, TO
the injury OF the person sending desiring to send
the same or TO whom the same was directed, the
person SO offending shall be deemed guilty OF mis-
demeanor, ana shall be punished by fine not TO ex-
ceed $1,000, or Imprisonment not to exceed one year.
OF by ootn such line and imprisonment, in the dis
cretion Of the Court; provided that when numerals
or words OF number occur In any message the
operator or clerk, sending receiving, may express
the same In words or figures, or In both words and
b2ures aud such fact shall not ne deemed altera-
uon OF the message nor In any manner AFFECT its
genuineness, force or validity.
SIC y. And be 10 further enacted That the sum OF
$1,000 Is hereby appropriated out OF any money IN
Ne Treasury not otherwise appropriated for the pur-
pose Of carrying out the provisions Of this act