Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-03-28
A POSTAL TELEGRAPH BILL.

| Just now, it looks as though the agitation
for postal telegraph system In this country
was likely to bear fruit in the near future.
The subcommittee OF the Senate committee
on postofflces has framed a BILL made up of
the cream Of several bills submitted for that
purpose, which Is 80 comprehensive. sensible
and practical in all its provisions, that we do
not see how anything more feasible for the
purpose could be devised. The bill provides
that the postmaster. general shall establish
telegraph offices at all postofliccs on tcle.
graph circuits, and at all other postofiices
within ten miles OF any such circuit where
the salary of the postmaster is not less than
$500 per annum
Thla practically cJntcrs the advantages of
the system upon all communities which
would be likely to require any continuous
telegraphic facilities
The bill provides that the charges for all
ltelesrams, except service and government,
dispatches, shsll he prepaid in the same
way that mail matter is prepaid, by regu.
lar telegram stamp, or by postal telegraph
cards aud the following table OF maximum
rates, for kilograms of twenty words or less.
is recommended: When the distance of
transmission 10 1000 miles or uuder. twenty
cents; when over 1000 and under 1000 miles
forty cents; for all greater distances, fifty
cents; for kilograms directed to bc trans.
mitted at night, under 1000 miles, fifteen
cents; for greater distances twenty five
cents AL words shall be counted, aud for
every five additional word, or less o1e.frth
additional rates shall be charged
Special provision is made for the transmits
sion OF news to newspapers and commercial
news associations. The charge for each 100
words or less for each circuit of 1000 miles
shall not exceed 80 cents if sent at night and
81 during the day, but when copies Of the
same telegram are dropped off at one or mole
offices the rate for each office shall not ex-
coed 80 cents at night and IS cents during
the day, and at the same pro rata rate for
each word in excess.
| The method of sending dispatches is ex-
ceedingly simple and convenient, as provid.
ed by The bill under discussion. The Post
masler-General shall cause TO be issued postal
telegraph cards Of the denomination of IS
cents, 20 cent?, rs cents, 40 cents and 80
cents, on one side of which word spaces
shall be ruled, and for the writing of postal
telegraph messages. Such postal telegraph
cards may be deposited in any letter post
box at poslotfice wherrtherc is a posi- al tele
graph connection, or in any letter post box
which Is or may be fixed on a letter carriers
route. If the plumber Of words written on
postal telegraph card so deposited as above
does not exceed The limit prescribed by this
act, these words, composing message, shall
be despatched by the postal telegraph.
The bill provides that the money order
system now In operation in the postOfilce de.
partment shall be adapted to the postal telc-
graph, and that the charge for transmitting
money orders by the postal telegraph within
The United States shall be substantially az at
present
The trainers OF th bill recommend that
the Government, IN the first place, authorize
the Postmaster General to advertise for three
months In two Of the daily newspapers pub
lished in each of the cities of Washington,
Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York, Boston,
Chicago and b. Louis for sealed proposals
from any telegraph company or companies
Tor the Transmission OF correspondence by
telegraph according to the provisions above
stated and that the contract shall be given
TO the lowest responsible bidder. la the
second place, the bill recommends that the
Postmaster General be authorized to adver-
tise for sealed proposals either to sell ex-
listing telegraph lines and franchises to the
Government, or TO construct four new tele
graph trunk lines for the Government, so
located asd arranged as to connect the
northeastern, Northwestern, Western and
Southwestern and Southern parts of the
United states with the city OF Washington.
and if upon investigation any Of such pro-
posals either TO sell existing lines or to con-
struct new lines tor the Government are
deemed fair and reasonable the Postmaster
General will report the same to Congress at
its next session for acceptance or rejection.
In the event OF no favorable contract being
made In accordance with the above pro-
visions, the bill provides for the establish
ment OF postal telegraph system in the fol-
lowing manner. We quote from the bill
board consisting OF the secretary of State,
the secretary OF war and the Postmaster Gen.
| eral shall cause to be located aud arranged
four trunk lines Of said postal telegraph CON
Meeting the Northeastern, the Northwestern,
the Western and S uthwestern aud the
Southern parts of the United States with the
city Of Washington; sail lines OF postal tel
egraph Shall RECONSTRUCTED aud kept in re-
pair under the direction and superintendent
The secretary OF war and through the corps of
engineers. The secretary Of war is hereby
authorized and directed to acquire by purchase
subject to the approval OF the President of
the United States, the right of way for the
construction II said postal telegraph lines
ami their extensions from time TO time, and
said secretary. with such approval is an
ihorized and directed TO locate such lines
and to take and use for that purpose sucn
lands, tenements and Entertainments as shall
be necessary for the purpose and pay such
compensation therefor as shall be deemed
reasonable, and in case an agreement cannot
DE made with the persons or corporations
whether municipal or other, ia respect to
such compensation, such person or corpora
ton is hereby authorized to file petition for
the ascertainment OF such Just compensation
10 the court OF claims Of the United States
The secretary of war is hereby authorized and
directed, with the approval Of the President
OF the United States, to construct or take
and use all such machinery, appliances, de-
vices and materials, not including telegraph
lines owned by persons or corporations,
whether patented or not as shall be deemed
necessary for the convenient and successful
establishment AID operations Of said lines.
The Board Of Civl-Service Commissioners
shall cause examinations to be made
of the fitness of all clerks, electrl-