Morris tribune., 1884-03-26
RRIS, MIMI, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 1884.
p0o.AL TELEGRAPHY.
Features of the Bill Agreed Upon by
the Senate Committee
Scheme for an Extended Service-.s
Existing Lines To BE Given q
Chance to Perform the Work
or Sell Out.

| WASHINGTON City, March 22.-The sub
committee of the senate committee on post
offices and post-roads to whom was referred
the various bills providing for the estab-
lishment of system of postal telegraph,
has agreed by a majority vote upon bill
which will be submitted to the full committee
for action at its meeting early next week.
The measure is entitled "a Bill to Promote
the Rapid Transmission of Correspondence
by the Establishment of Postal Telegram
| System" 1t authorises the post
master general to establish telegraph
offices at all postoffices on telegraph circuits,
and at all other postoffices within ten miles
of any circuit, where the salary of the post
master is not less than $500 per annum, as
well as at such other places as, in his judg-
ment. the wants of the public may require.
The bill creates the office of fourth assistant
postmaster general and the duties of that
officer are to exercise supervision of the en-
tire system.
The charges for the transmission of tele-
grams are to be prepaid by Telegram stamps"
OF by ''postal telegraph cards." and the
maximum rates for kilograms of twenty
words or less are to be as follows: When the
distance of transmission is 1000 miles or
under, 20 cents; when over 1000 or under
1900 miles, 40 cents; for all greater dis
tances, 80 cents. For kilograms directed to
be transmitted by night Under 1900 miles,
Is cents; for greater distances, 25 cents. All
words shall be counted, and for every five
additional words or less, one-ffth additional
rates shall be charged
The bill fixes the following charges for the
transmission of special kilograms to news
papers and commercial news associations:
,1,, e., -
1000 miles, not to exceed so cents if sent at
night, and 81 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 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 the same
office for two or more newspapers, 10 cents
additional shall be charged for each 100
words OF less for manifolding for each news
paper receiving the same. Provision is also
made for the issuance of postol telegraph
cards of different denominations, which
may be deposited in letter boxes to be dis
patched from..the central offices, and for the
transmission of postal money orders.
In order to furnish facilities to put the
proposed system in operation, the postmaster
months in two of the daily newspapers pub
lished in each of the cities of Washington,
Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York, Boston,
Chicago and st. Louis, for sealed proposals
from any telegraph company or companies
now or hereafter incorporated, for the trans
mission of correspondence by telegraph ac-
cording to the provisions of this bill, and to
contract with the lowest responsible bidder
or bidders to perform, in whole or in part,
the telegraph service or services at or within
the maximum rates before mentioned; the
contract or contracts to be entered into for
the term of ten years, terminable at the
option of congress. The bill allows con-
tracing companies to establish and maintain
telegraph offices in addition to those con-
templated by the bill.
The postmaster general is also directed to
advertise for sealed proposals, either to sell
existing telegraph lines and franchises to the |
government, or to construct four trunk lines |
for the go oVernment, so located as to connect |
the northeastern, northwestern, western and |
southwestern and southern parts of the |
United States with the city of Washington, |
and to report such proposals as aresdeemed |
fair and reasonable to congress at its next |
session, for acceptance or rejection.
The rates to be charged under this system |
are to be from time to time established by a |
board consisting of the secretary of state, |
secretary of the treasury and the postmaster
general. The working and operation of these
trunk lines and subsequent extensions are to
be under the charge and direction of the
postmaster general, and part of the post
office establishment of the United States.
The last section of the bill provides THAT
nothing in this act shall be construed to pro-
hibit Individual or corporation from carrying
On the business of operating telegraph lines"