St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-03-22
POSTAL TELEGRAPHY.
The Matter Reaches a Definite Shape,
and the Bill Drafted.
The Charges on Messages and the Manner "a
Payment.

tee OF the senate committee on postoftces
and post roads, having the several postal
telegraph bills under consideration, form
utated and caused to be printed as embody-
ing the views of a majority of the subcom-
mittee, bill, providing that the postmaster
general shall establish telegram offices at all
postofices on Geographic circuits, and all
other postoffices 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. excepting
service and government kilograms. shall be
prepaid by telegram stamps, or " postal
telegraph cards, and the maximum rates TO,
kilograms of twenty words or less shall be
as follows When the distance of trans
mission is 1 200 miles or under 20 cents:
when over 1000 miles or under 2OOG
miles, 40 cents, and for all greater
distances so cents. For kilograms directed
to be transmitted by night, under 1000
miles Is cents, and for greater distance -
cents. All words to be counted. And for
every five additional words or less, one-ffth
additional rate to be charged. Government
business shall have priority in transmission,
without prepayment, and at rates annually
fixed by the postmaster general. All other
kilograms to be- transmitted in the order re-
ceived, except night messages. The charges
for the transmission of special kilograms to
newspapers, and commercial news associa-
tons, for each 100 words or less, for each
circuit of 100 miles, shall not exceed 80 cents,
II sent at night, and one dollar during the
day, but when copies of the same telegram
are dropped off at one ormore Offices the rate
for each office shall not exceed 80 cents ut
night and 70 cents during the dav,
and ct the same pro rata rate for each word
n excess. When special kilograms are do.
hvered at the same office for two or more
newspapers, ten cents additional shall be
charged for each 100 words, or less, for mani
folding, for each newspaper receiving the
same. kilograms shall be privileged COM
munications in law, to the extent sealed LETT
tiers now are. The postmaster general shall
cause to be issued postal telegraph cards, of
the denomination of 10 cents, 20 cents. %
cents, 40 cents and so cents, on one side of
which word spaces shall be ruled for writing
postal telegraph messages. Such postal tele-
graph messages may be depositedin any letter
post box at pOstofice where there is
postal telegraph connection, or in any let
ter post box which is, or may be fixed on 4
letter carrier route, and shall be dispatched
by the postal telegraph. The money order
system existing, and now in operation in the
postoffice Department. SHALL as soon as prac-
ticable, be adapted to the postal telegraphy,
and the change for transmitting money or
ders by telegraph within the United States
wherever money order offices are now, or may
be hereafter established, shall be at the rates
charged upon money orders transmitted by
mall in addition to the regular charge for
postal kilograms but no postal telegraph
money order shall exceed one hundred dol
lars. The postmaster general is hereby au-
thoriZed and directed to adj
vertise for three months in
daily newspapers published in each of the
cities of Washington, Baltimore, Philadel-
phia, New York, Boston, Chicago and st.
Louis, for sealed proposals from any tele-
| graph company or companies, now or here
after incorporated, for the transmission of
correspondence by telegraph according to
the provisions Of this act, and shall contract
with the lowest responsible bidder or bidders
to perform the whole, or in part, the tee.
graph service. Said contract, or contracts,
shallibe entered into for twelve years, and
terminate at the option of congress. The
contracting company, or. companies, shall
have the right to construct lines on all post
routes, and shall provide lines of telegraphto
every postal telegraph Office on the request
of the postmaster general and may, at its or
their own expense, establish telegraph offices
in addition to those established by the post
master general. The postmaster general ia
! authorized to advertise for sealed proposals,
either to sell the existing telegraph lines and
! franchise to the government, or to construct
four new telegraphic trunk lines for the gov,
| eminent, so located and arranged as to con-
meet the northeastern, northwestern, west
ern and southwestern and southern parts Of
the United States with the city of Washing
ton. And if, upon investigation, any such
proposals, either to sell the existing lines to-,
or to construct new lines
for 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 that no satisfactory proposition to sell
or construct lines "nbe submitted before
Nov. %, 1884, then the board, consisting OF
the secretary of war and postmaster general,
shall locate and arrange the four said trunk
lines of postal telegraph, to be constructed
| and kept in repair under the direction of the
secretary Of war, through corps of engi-
neers. The secretary Of war is also
authorized to purchase the right OF
way for the lines In addition to this
the secretary Of war is authorized and direct
ed, with the approval Of the president, to
construct, or take and use all such machinery,
appliances, devices and materials not in
Guiding telegraph lines owned by persons
or corporations, whether patented or not, as
shall be deemed necessary for the convenient
and successful establishment and operation
of said lines. OTwo millions to be ap-
proprated for the purpose Of this
act, for the fiscal year ending
June 30, 1885. The lines to be under
the direction of the postmaster general and
part of the postoffice department. The bill
has been submitted to the full committee,
and will be taken up for consideration in
few days.