The Carson daily appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1865-1870, 1868-06-09
GOVERNMENT TELEGRAPH LINE
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..

Hon. E. B. Washburne yesterday intro
duced bill providing for the construction OF
Government telegraph under the direction
Of the Postoffice Department between New
York and Washington.
The first section provides that the Post
master General shall, within thirty days
after the passage of the act, advertise in two
newspapers in each of the cities of Washing
ton, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New
York, for proposals for constructing and
furnishing materials for a line with four
wires extending from the Postofice Depart
ment in Washington to the Postotfice in
New York, by way of Philadelphia and Bal
timore, with such intermediate stations as
may be designated. The second section
prescrIbes rules as to proposals. and the
third section authorizes the Postmaster
General at the opening of the proposals to
examine any proposals from the proprietors
of any existing line for the sale to the United
States of their entire line of telegraph be-
tween two of said cities, or for the entire
line with all the property, rights, &C., con-
nected Herewith. In the fourth section it is
provided that unless the proposal for the
sale of an existing line is twenty-five per
cent less than the lowest bid for construc-
ton, &c, the said proposal shall be rejected.
The fifth section provides that all materials
and work shall be inspected by an army
officer detailed by the Secretary of War, and
the sixth section provides that the Postmas
ter General shall establish a telegraph sta
ton at as rlany postottces along the line as
the public interest with due regard to the
economy of the administration shall require,
and shall employ in the business thereof as
far as practicable the employees of the Post
office, and employ special Geographic clerks
when necessary, at the customary salaries,
and shall also employ general superintend
ent, who shall be a practical telegrapher, at
a salary not exceeding $500 per annum.
The seventh section provides that every
message shall be stamped with three cent
postage stamp that the uniform rate with
put regard to distance, shall be one cent a
word, exclusive of address and signature |
hat no message shall be sent for less than
ZEN cents and two cents shall be charged |
for the delivery of every message. The |
Ill messages free of charge, and shall have
priority in sending messages. 1t is also pro-
'ided IN the section that news kilograms for
publication BY newspapers shall be trans
nitted at a reduction not exceeding fifty per
cent. on these rates. The eighth section
provides penalties for divulging the purport
# messages or altering the same, and the
ninth section appropriates $4,000 for the
purpose of carrying out the provisions Of
he act. lhe bill was referred to the Com
nittee on Postotfices and Post Roads
Washington Chronicle, Nay2l.
This bill, which the people of the
United States are deeply interested in,
nasmuch as its passage will act as the
wedge to that system of cheap
elegraphing which can never prevail
Until the Government makes the wires
part of its postal system, should re-
GIVE the votes of every Senator and
who would relieve his
constituents from the expressions of the
nost powerful and greedy monopoly
bat ever fastened its fangs upon free
eople. Let this bill pass; and let it
e considered a worthy precedent for
xtending, at an early day, similar
olicy upon the part of the Government
oward all the important telegraph lines
l the country. We hope that Messrs.
tewart, Nye and Ashley, regarding the
l:erests of their constituents in their
roper light, will exert their influence
nd cast their votes in favor of this bill
Mr. Washburue's.