Daily Los Angeles herald., 1884-03-22
A Hung Jury.
EASTERN.
The Postal Telegraph Bill.

The Postal Telegraph Bill
| WAsHINoTos, ID. c., March 2l.-The
ub-committee on PostofIices and Post.
Roads having several postal telegraph
bills under consideration formulated and
caused to be printed, as embodying the
views Of the majority of the sub-com.
mittee, bill providing that the Post
master General shall establish telegraph
offices at all postoffices on the telegraph
circuit 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. The charges for the
transmission OF kilograms shall be pre-.
paid by telegram stamps or by postal
Telegraph cards, and the maximum rates
for kilograms of twenty words or less
shall be as follows:
THE COST OF TELEoRAMs.
When tho distance is 1000 miles or
under, 20 cents; when over 1000 miles or
under 1000 miles, 40 cents; for all greater
distances, so cents: for kilograms directed
to be transmitted by night, under 1000
miles, 10 cents; for greater distances, rs
cents; all words to be connted; and for
every additional twenty words or less,
onc-f fifth additional rate TO be charged.
Government business shall have priority
in transmission, without prepayment,
and at rates to be annually fixed by the
Postmaster General. All other tele.
grams to be transmitted in the order
received, except night messages.
NEWSPAPER MESSAGES.
The charges for the transmits sion Of
special kilograms TO newspapers and
commercial news associations, for each
one hundred words or less, for each cir.
cuit of 1000 miles. shall not exceed fifty
cents, il sent at night, and one dollar
during the day. But when copies of
the same telegram are dropped off at one
or more offices. the rate for each office
shall not exceed fifty cents at night and
seventy five cents during the day, and at
the same pro rata rate for each word in
excess. Where special kilograms are de-
livered at the same office to two or more
newspapers, ten cents additional shall
be charged each for one hundred words
or less. Manifoiding for each newspa.
per receiving the same kilograms shall
be privileged communication in law to
the same extent as sealed letters now
are.
TELEGRAPH CARDS.
The Postmaster General shall cause
to be issued Postal Telegraph cards of
the demo omination of l5 cents, 20 cents,
25 cents, 40 cents and so cents, on one
side OF which word.spaccs shall be ruled
for writing postal telegraph messages.
Such postal telegraph messages may be
posted in any letter post box at Post
Office where there is postal telegraph
in connection, or in any letter post box
which is or may be fixed on letter car
eier route, and shall be dispatched by
postal telegraph.
TELEGRAPH MONEY ORDERS.
The money order system existing and
now in operation in the Postofiice De.
partment, shall, as soon as practicable,
be adopted to the postal telegraphs and
the charge for transmitting money or.
ders by postal telegraph within the
United States, wherever money order
offices are now or may hereafter be es-
tablished, shall be the rates charged
upon money orders transmitted by mail
in addition to the regular charge for
postal kilograms, but no postal telegram
or money order shall exceed one hundred
dollars.
PROPOSALS TO BE ADVERTISED FOR.
The Postmaster.G General is hereby au-
thorised and directed to advertise for
three months in two daily newspapers
published in each of the cities of Wash.
ington, Baltimore, Philadelphia. Boston,
Chicago, New York and St. Louis, for
sealed proposals from any telegraph
| l.
incorporated for the transmission of
correspondence by telegraph accord
ing to the provisions OF this act and
shall contract with the lowest responsi
BILE bidder or bidders to perform in
whole or in part telegraphic service,
said contract or contracts to be entered
into for ten years, terminable at the op-
tion OF Congress. The contracting com.
pany shall have the right to construct
lines on all post routes and shall pro.
vide lines of telegraph to every postal
telegraph office on the request OF the
Postmaste r. General, and may at
their own expense establish telegraph
offices in addition to those established
by the Postmaster.G G eneral The Post.
master-G General is authorized to adver-
tise for sealed proposals either to sell
existing telegraph lines and franchises TO
the government or to construct new tele-
graph lines for the government, so To-
Gated and arranged as to connect the
North, Eastern, Northwestern, Western
and Southwestern and Southern points
of the United States with the city of
Washington; and if upon investigation
any such proposals, either to sell exist
ing lines or construct new lines for the
government, are deemed fair and reas-
enable the Postmaster-Gen eneral will re.
port the same to Congress at its next
session for acceptance or rejection.
PROVISION FOR FAILURE OF BIDS.
In the event of no satisfactory propo-
sitlon to sell or construct lines being
submitted before November 25, 1884,
then II board consisting of the Secretary
of State, the Secretary OF War and tie
Postmaster General shall locate and ar
range for the four said trunk lines of
Postal Telegraph to be constructed and
kept in repair under the direction OF the
Secretary Of War. through the corps of
engineers.
The Secretary of War is also authorized
to purchase the right of way for such
lines. In addition to this, the Secretary
of War is authorized and directed, with
the approval of the President, to con.
struct and take and use all such ma
chinery appliances and material, not
including telegraph lines, not owned
by persons or corporations whether
patented or not, and shall be deemed
necessary for the convenience and sue.
cessful establishment and operation of
said lines. Two million dollars are to be
appropriated for the purpose of tho act
for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1885,
the lines are to be under the direction of
the Postmaster General and form part of
the Postoffice Department.
The bill has been submitted to the
full committee and will be taken up for
consideration in few days.
Getting Even on the Pork ProhI-
billion.
WASHINGTON, d. c.. March 2l.--The
House Committee on Commerce consid-
cred the bill authorizing the President
to prohibit by proclamation the importa-
tion OF articles OF food or drink, when
satisfied the some are adulterated in a
manner injurious to health, and to pro-
hibit the importation of such articles as
he deems improper. from any country
which exercises an unjust discrimination
against American products. 1t was de-
cided to postpone voting on the measure
until next Friday, but there was an un-
derstanding that the committee should
report to the House bill substantially
of this character. Instead. however, OF
l,uniftna tho anaro t,np of tba ont 90 1907