Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-03-22
FROM WASHINGTON.
THE POSTAL TELEGRAPH.
An Abstract of the Bill as Formulated
by the Senate Snb.Committee ON
Postofices.
WASHINGTON, March 81.

WAsHrNGroS, March 2l.
The sub committee of the Senate commit
tee on postofiices, having several postal tele-
graph bills under consideration has formu-
lated bill, of which the following is an ab-
stract: The postmaster general shall estab-
iish telegraph offices at all postoffces on tel
graph circuits, and at all other postofhces
within ten miles of any such circuit, where
the salary Of the postmaster is not less than
$500 per annum. The Office of fourth as
sistant postmaster general is created, such OF
ficer, who shall be a competent electrician,
TO exercise the general power of the man
agement over the telegraph system hereby
established. The charges for transmission
Of kilograms, excepting the service and gov
ernment kilograms, shall be prepaid by tele-
gram, stamp or by postal. telegraph cards.
and maximum rates for kilograms of 20
words or less shall be as follows: When the
distance of Transmission is 1000 miles or
under, 20 cents; when over 1000 OF under
20O0 miles, 40 cents for all greater distances,
80 cents; for kilograms directed to be sent at
night, under 1000 miles, Is cents; for greater
distance, % cents. All words shall be count
ed and for every five additional words or less,
one-fifth additional rate shall be charged !;
that the charges for transmission of special
kilograms to papers and commercial news
each circuit of 1000 miles. not to exceed 80
cents if sent at night and 81 during the day.
but when copies of the same are dropped off
at one or more offices the rate for each office
shall not exceed 80 cents at night and 20
during the dav, and at the same rata for each
word in excess. The postmaster general
shall provide telegram stamps and stamped
paper of suitable denomination to be sold as
postage stamps are now sold. The post
master general shall cause to be issued postal
telegraph cards of the denomination of Is
cents, 30 cents, % and 40 cents and 30 cents.
On one side spaces shall be ruled for the
writing of postal telegraph messages. The
money order system now in operation in the
postoffice department shall be adapted to the
postal telegraph. The postmaster general is
hereby authorized and directed to advertise
for three months in two of the daily news
papers published in such of the cities as
Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New
York. Boston, Chicago and ST. Louis, for
sealed proposals from any telegraph company
or companies for the transmission of cores
pondence by telegraph according to the pro-
visions of this act and shall contract with
the lowest responsible bidder to perform in
whole or part the telegraph service or serv-
ices by this act provided for. Said company
shall have right to construct lines on all
post routes, and shall provide lines of ele
graph to every postal office in request of the
postmaster general.
The postmaster general is authorized to
advertise for sealed proposals, either to sell
existing telegraph lines aud franchises or to
construct four new telegraph trunk lines for
the government, so located and arranged as
to connect the northeastern, western, south
western and southern parts of the United
States with the city of Washington, and if
upon investigation any of the proposals to
sell existing lines or to construct lines for
the government are deemed fair and reasona-
Bile, the postmaster general will report the
same to Congress at its next session for ac-
ceptance or rejection. In the event that no
existing or hereafter organized telegraph
company will contract for the performance
of the service by this act provided for, and
at the rates herein before specified or less.
and in the event that no satisfactory proposal
either to sell existing lines or contract for
the construction of new ones for the govern
ment, shall be submitted on or before the Goth
day of November, 1884, then there shall be
established postal telegraph system
within the United States in a man
ner and by means of the following
board consisting of Sec. of State, Sec. of war
and postmaster general shall cause to be To-
Gated and arranged four trunk lines of said
postal telegraph, connecting the northwestern,
northeastern, western, southwestern and
southern parts of the United States with the
city of Washington. The secretary Of war,
with the approval of the President is author
lied and directed to locate the lines and to
take and use for the right of way such lands,
tenements, etc, as shall be necessary tor the
purpose, and to pay such compensation as
I'LL in
agreement cannot be made with persons or
corporations, whether municipal or other,
in respect to the compensation, such person
or corporation is hereby authorized to file
petition for the ascertainment of such just
in the court of claims of the
United States. The secretary of war is
hereby authorized. and directed, with the ap-
proval of the President. 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 and of said lines. The BOARD
of civil service commissions shall cause ex-
aminations to be made of the fitness of all
clerks, electricians and operators who may be
employed in said service. There is hereby
appropriated out of any money in the treas
ury, not otherwise appropriated the sum of
80 900, 900 for the purposes hereinbefore in
this act mentioned for the fiscal year ending
June so, 1885, The working and operation
of said lines as part of the postal system of
the United States. shall be under the charge
and direction of the postmaster general
Nothing in this act shall be construed to
prohibit individuals or corporations from
CARRYING on business of operating telegraph
lines.
The bill has been submitted to the full
committee and will be taken up for consider
tion in few days,
THE SHOT GUN BALLOT.