The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-12-10
Monday December 10. 1883.
POSTAL TELEGRAPHY
Senator Hill Embodies His Tlsas on
the Subject in Bill.
And Thus Brings the Matter BEFORE
the National Legislature
Synopsis of the Proposed
Measure.

troduced by Senator Hill, of Colorado, pro-
vides tbat on and after July ], 1887, messages
for transmission by telegraph or telephone
or other equivalent device may be deposited
at all places in the United States where let
tiers for transmission by mail may be de-
posted under the laws and regulations
governing the postoffice department, and
ut such other places MS the postmaster general
may designate. When prepayment of any
such message is made, by means Of postage
stamps affixed thereto it shall be forwarded
to It's address as hereinafter provided.
The postmaster general is to ascertain
the amount and character of the wires,
apparatus and other facilities required for
the prompt Transmission by telegraph,
telephone or other equivalent device
between postal telegraph offices to
be established, of such number Of
messages as he may estimate may be 50
offered at places Of postal deposit for trans
mission during the fiscal year ending June 30
1888 He shall thereupon advertise for pro
posas in detail for furnishing such facilities,
at such times, Of such quality and in such
quantities as he may deem expedient Pro-
vision is then made as to the manner in which
the negotiation for the purchase of lines al
ready built shall be carried on, the interests
of the people being carefully guarded.
Whenever a sufficient extent of telegraph
line has been acquired, the postmaster general
shall establish postal telegraph offices i'll the
postofiices, and shall open the same to the
public; and he shall continue to establish and
open such Offices as rapidly as possible, and
shall, by June 81. 1887, have such offices
ready for operation at all the postofices
where telegraph offices now exist or where
the postal receipts during the fiscal year
ending June 50, 1855, exceed -
dollars. After June 80 1887, the postmas
ter general shall establish new offices
wherever the same shall be needed; provided
that he shall secure from responsible per
sons guarantee for the payment to the
, United States Of any deficit i'll the receipts
Of any Office established if it shall appear
that such receipts will not during the first
wear, cover the operating expenses of such
office and the expense of opening the same. 1t
is farther provided that the postmaster gen
eral may contract with any railway company
for the use by the public of telegraph
offices established by such railway company
tor the transmission of its own business, pay
ment therefor TO be made whenever practica-
bic, in services to be performed by the postal
telegraph and such offices to he known as
postal telegraph Offices.
The charge for the transmission Of messages
between all places in the United States shall,
except as provided, be at the rate of / cent
for each word contained therein, counting
date, address, and signature
When a message is deposited at a place
yphpra thara nj toll. -
shall be forwarded without extra charge,
and as speedily as possible, to the nearest or
most convenient postal telegraph Office, for
transmission to its destination. When a
message is addressed to q place at which
there is no postal telegraph Office it shall be
forwarded to such address from the nearest
or most convenient postal telegraph office
When so forwarded by mail no extra charge
shall be made, nor shall any charge be made
for delivery of any message within one mile
Of any main postal telegraph Office, or of
any branch telegraph office; but FOR special
delivery of any message beyond such limit
or for special delivery from any pystofiice
where there is no postal telegraph Office. the
charge shall be prepaid or guaranteed by the
sender of such message When by reason Of
miscalCuiatiOn Of the number of words in
any message the same has not been fully ure-
paid, such message shall be forwarded and
tho deficit collected from the addressce
thereof, unless such deficit exceed 20 per
cent of the cost of the message, in which
case such message shall be withheld and the
sender notified
Upon the prepayment of one rate addi-
tionsl to secure accuracy Of transmission and
delivery aLy message may be repeated back
from the place of its address to the place of
its origin and copy thereof delivered to the
sender together with a notice of the time OF
delivery or of the causes for non-delivery, a.
the case may be. Prepayment of answer may
also be made by the sender of any message by
depositing with the same additional stamps tC
the amount of 25 cents the difference between
such amount and the cost of such answer tc
he collected or refunded, as the case may he
on delivery thereof
Messages addressed to any Newspaper OF
press association shall be charged regular
single rates for the first 100 words or Fraction
thereof, so addressed from any one point il
any one day; for the next 400 words o.
fraction thereof the charge shall be So of
cent per word and for each additional 5Ot
words or fraction thereof the charge shall
be - cent per word. Special rates may
be made by the postmaster genera
for copies of press message
requiring only one transmission, t.
be delivered at different points along the line
Of any regular or special circuit, and prepay
ment of press messages shall not be required
but bills for the same may be rendered anC
collected monthly.
Postal telegraph lines may be leased by thu
postmaster general to newspaper proprietor
or to other persons or corporations and pay
ment of messages transmitted over lines 81
leased shall not be required, but no messages
shall be transmitted for hire by such lessees
Messages necessary to the operations o
the postal telegraph service shall be frs
transmitted without charge, and message
on the business of the United States shall
when required by an officer or agent thereo
offering the same for transmission, be givel
priority over all other than service mes
sages The sender of any message may ais
secure priority of transmission for the sam
over all single rate or insured messages b
the prepayment of double rates thereon.
Money orders, in amounts allowed by law
may be sent by telegraph between all place
where there are postal money-orGer offices, o.
prepayment, at single rates, for the necessar.
number of words in such orders and in tn
postmaster's telegram of advice, in addition
to the fee established by law or regulation 70
such orders.
The postmaster general may negotiate wit
foreign governments, or with persons or col
porations owning ocean cables or Telegram
lines in foreign countries, for the interchang
of Geographic correspondence and money OF
ders between the United States and sue
countries at such rates and upon such term
us he may deem expedient, and he shall ascel
tain and report to congress the amount 70
which cable between the United States an
some European country can be laid or pui
chTsed.
If at any time any person or corporatiO
shall transmit messages or rent lines betwee
points connected by postal telegraph at LEI
than the rates fixed by law or regulation, 8
heretofore provided, the postmaster genera
may thereupon reduce the rates so fixed to
level with the rates charged by such perso
or corporation. Provided that such reductio
shall continue in force only So long as sal
rates are maintained by such person or corps
ration.
IN, l. L 30, I1o n,