Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-01-08
POSTAL TELEGRAPHY.
important Bill to be Introduced by General
WashbGrno.

| The newspaper press begins to manifest
/ a marked interest in the new postal tele-
| graph bill which Gen. Washburne propo-
| ses to introduce on the reassembling Of
| Congress. It is quite long, and contains
/ fifteen sections.
| The first section declares that, from and
after the 24th day Of July, 1871, it shall DO
unlawful for any person other than such
as are hereinafter authorized to transmit
| by electric telegraph, or by any device
| equivalent thereto, any message, informa-
tiOn or intelligence of whatever descrip-
| ton, for hire, or to receive any moneys
or reward of any kind for such transmits
sion.
WHAT THE BILL PROPOSES.
The bill proposes to convert the tele-
graph lines into a Government institution
and place it on the same footing as the
postoflice service. The manner of acquir-
ing these properties is by purchase, and
the basis of the negotiations with the
companies is laid down in the second sec
ton as follows: The Postmaster-General
and the several telegraph companies are
TO appoint each two appraisers, who, to-
gether, will appoint fifth. These ap
praisers are required, between July lst
and December lst, 1870, TO proceed sepa-
rately To examine and appraise, at their
cost value, the lines and other telegraph
property belonging to each Of said compa-
MES. After appraisemenG, the Postmaster
General is authorized, subject to the ap-
proval of the President and Congress,
to contract for the purchase of said prop
erty, to be held by him and his successors
for the use and benefit of the people of the
United States.
COST OF MESSAGES.
BY the third section the Postmaster
=,
vided for are invested with the exclusive
privilege of operating the several teIe-
graph lines and of transmitting kilograms,
from and after the oath day OF July, 1871.
Each telegram is TO be paid for at a rate
not exceeding twenty cents for the first
thirty words, including date, address and
signature, but no message can be charged
at less than twenty cents. This will cover
the cost of delivery within one mile of
the telegraph Office, or within the town
postal delivery. Beyond such delivery,
messages to be delivered without extra
charge by the first post after their receipt,
or by special messenger, at d com pensatiOn
to be fixed by the POstmaster-General,o or
by his subordinaUes, under his authority.
The Government TO have precedence in
the transmission of messages-other mes
sages to be sent in the order in which
received.
The fourth section provides that mes
sages shall be paid for with stamps ''to be
affixed to each message by the sender
thereof, or by stamped paper" The POST
master General is directed to provide
stamps or stamped paper, to be kept for
sale by him at places to be designated by
him. Files of all original messages are |
required 10 be kept at every Office, TO be
subsequently transmitted to Washington,
TO ha ha-- -a1
telegraph Offices are required to " be kept |
in connection with the United States /
pOstofices," except when otherwise Or |
dered for special reasons by the Post |
master General.
WHERE OFFICES ARE TO BE EsTA ABLrsHED, |
The ffth section provides for the estsb- /
lishment of a telegraph Office at every 4
pOstOfice where gross receipts are not less |
than 500 per annum, provided that the /
distance between the postodice and the /
nearest line of telegraph shall not exceed /
twenty miles. The Postmaster General /
to designate the hours during which the /
Offices are to be kept open for the receipt /
and dispatch of messages.
MoNEY-oRDER SYSTEM.
Other sections provide that the Post |
master General may also establish. if ne /
thinks fit, % offices or pillar letter-boxes -
as places of deposit for messages, which 4
messages shall, if properly stamped, be /
conveyed to ths Onlces OF transmission
without extra charge. Provision is made
for adapting the money-order system in I
the Postofiice Department to tho telegraph /
at the rates charged upon mOney-oFders /
transmitted by mail. No such order by
to exceed slC0.
PRESS MESSAGES AND CABLE LINES.
The Postmaster General is authorized
he
press at rates discretionary
with himselt, and may assign one or more
wires to their exclusive use. he is also
to contract with foreign and
colonial telegraph companies, or with
governments having control OF lines with
in the United States for the interchange |
Of messages, and to open negotiations for
the purchase or laying down Of one or
more submarine cables connecting the
United States with ether countries. When
fail to come into the proposed
the Postmaster General is
to Anstruot other lines In lieu
Of the lines ofEuch companies.
BUREAU OF POSTAL TELEGRAPH.
A special bureau, to be called the Bu-
reau of Postal Telegraphs, is to be estab-
.ished in the POstotfice Department, under
.he control and supervision of a DIRECTOR
General, to be appointed by the President
and confirmed py the Senate, whose salary
shall be $1,000 per annum. The duties OF
shis DireetorGepeFal are enumerated,
and provision is made for such assist ants.
anu clerical force as may be necessary,
OFFIcERs-APPoINrNE
1t is provided that the lines acquired
shall be geographically apportioned by
he Psstmaster-General into five grand
divisions, each to be under the control of
general superintendent, TO be appointed
Dy the President and confirmed by the
Senate, and whose salary shall be 5000
per annum. Provision is also made for
he appointment of assistant superintend-
suls.
HOW AND WHEN LINES ARE TO BE TAKEN
POSSESSION or.
Upon the consummation Of the contract
{ viii be the duty Of the President to ap-
point the nirector-General and the five
,up uperinteDdents, and of the Postmaster
General to make a classification of the
offices on the various lines SINH
ar TO that now existing IN the postoffice
iystem, and to make arrangements TO
AXE possession of and operate the said
ines. To that end he is authorized TO
'mploy the necessary operators and as
stantS at salaries liked by himself until
regulated by law. Persons holding offices
n emplOymentS under this act not to be
emOved except for sufficient and salts
actory cause, and all promotions to va
sncies TO be made from the grade imme-
lately below that in which said vacan,
les may occur.
PENALTIES.
Penalties are prescribed for violation of ,
ne provisions OF the bill.
n aEohoe IS kba Dad p;,,o. D,,,.f,sf,.;ao /