Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1884-03-25
POSTAL 1elEGRApnY.

A Bill Prepared by the Senate Sub-Com-
nittee which Covers the Case.
Washington, March 21.-The sub-com.
mittee of the senate committee on post.
Offices and postroads, having several
postal telegraph bills under considers.
tion, have formulated and printed as
embodying the views OF the majority of
the subcommittee bill providing that
the postmaster-general shall establish o
telegraph omcein all postof6ces on tele.
graphic circuits. and all other postoftices
within ten miles of such circuits where
the salary of the postmaster is not less
thar $500. The charges for the trans.
mission of kilograms excepting service
and government kilograms shall
be prepaid by telegram
stamp. or by postal telegraph
card, and the maximum rates for
kilograms Of twenty words or less shall
be as follows: When the distance of
transmission is 1000 miles or under, 20
cents; when over 1000 miles or under
1000 miles. 40 cents; for all greater dis
tances. so cents; for night kilograms un-
der 1000 miles, Is cents; for q greater
distance, 20 cents; for every FIVE addi.
tional words or less, one.fifth additional
rate to be charged. Government busi-
ness is tohave priority in transmission
without prepayment, and at rates annu.
ally fixed by the postmaster. general, oil
other kilograms to be transmitted in the
order received. except night messages.
The charges for the transmission of
special kilograms to newspapers aud com.
mercial news associations for each 100
words or less for each circuit of 1,OO0
miles shall not exceed SO cents If sent at
night and ST. during the day; but when
copies of the same kilograms are
dropped off ut one or more offices for
each Office the charge shall not exceed
SO cents at night and rs cents during the
day, and at the same pro rata rate for
each word in excess. Where special
kilograms are delivered at tue same Office
for two or more newspapers 10 cents ad-
ditional shall be charged for each 100
| words or less for manifolding for each
newspaper receiving the same, and said
kilograms shall be privilege communica.
| tions in law to the extent that sealed let.
ters now are.
The postmaster general shall issue pos.
tul telegraph cards of the denomination
of Is, 20, 25, 40 and so cents, one side of
which shall be ruled for writing the tele.
gram, and such cards may be deposited
in any letter post-box, at postoffice, OF
elsewhere where there is postal telegraph
connection, and be transmitted.
The money order system now in opcr.
alton shall soon particularly be adapted
to the postal telegraph, and the charge
for transmitting money orders by postal
! telegraph within the United States
wherever money order Office is now es.
tablished, shall be the rates charged M.
on money orders transmitted by mail, in
addition to the regular charges for postal
telegrams; but telegraph money order
shall not exceed 500.
The bill authorizes and directs the
postmaster.genera to advertise for three
months for sealed proposals. from any
telegraph company, now or hereafter in.
corporated, for the transmission of cor.
respondence by telegraph, according to
the provisions of this act, and shall con.
tract with the lowest responsible bidders
to perform in whole or in part, the tele.
graphic service, said CONTRACTOR con.
tracts TO be entered into for ten years,
terminal at the option Of congress
The contracting company shall have the
right to construct lines on all post routes
and may establish telegraph Offices in
addition to those established by the post.
master general.
The postmaster general is authorized
to advertise for sealed proposals either
to sell the existing telegraph line and
franchises to the government. or to con.
tract for new telegraphio lines for the
government, so located and arranged as
to connect the northeastern, northwest.
ern, western, southwestern aud southern
ports of the United States with the city
of Washington. II, upon investigation,
any proposals either to sell existing lines
or to construct new lines for the govern.
ment are deemed fair and reasonable, the
postmaster general will report the same
tofcongress at the next session. In the
event that no satisfactory proposition to
sell or construct lines be submitted be.
fore November IS, 1884. then board
consisting Of the secretary Of state.
secretary Of war and postmaster general
shall locate and arrange for said trunk
linss Of postal telegraph, TO DO construct.