New-York tribune., 1884-03-22
THE QUESTION OF A POSTAL TELEGRAPH.
GEORGE D. ROBERTS APPEARS FOR HIS CO

GEORGE n. ROBERTS APPEARS FOR HIS COMPANY
A BILL TO BE INTRODUCED IN THE SENATE
WASHINGTON, March 21.--George ID. Roberts,
OF the Postal Telegraph Company was heard before the
House Committee Post Offices and Post Roads, IN re-
gard the proposed contract between his company anu
the The contract read and he said that
twonld the Government postal telegraph with
out expense without the necessity OF the employment OF
a telegraphic force. without putting the Government
In the position Of competitor with private enterprise
which would give for a term OF years cheap system
under the control Of the Government He denied that ne
had ever said that he could raise upon the
proposed contract No persons interested in other com
panes had any share In this.
The Postal Telegraph subcommittee OF the Senate
Post Office Committee has embodied the views OF the ma
ority In bill which provides for the placing OF Telegraph
offices Iost Offices within ten miles OF circuit ~here
the salary of the postmaster is $500 or more year
and creates office of Fourth Assistant Postmaster
General TO filed by sklful electrician. Tie charges
of transmission be twenty cents for 1000 miles or
less forty cents for 1000 miles. and fifty cents for all
greater distances; the night rates 10 be respectively III
teen and twenty-five cents. These rates are Tor as
patches Of twenty words one-fifth addluonai 10 DC
charged for each additional five words. Inc
rates cover delivery by mail or carrier. Govern
ment dispatches are to have prory at raes 70 De an
Dually fixed by the Inc charges 70 20
ffty cent for a circuit OF 1000 miles night and 81 In
the day time for eacn 100 words The cnare Tor nan
|
each copy made Telegram stamps and stamped paper IL
TO be provided by the Postmaster General Telegrams
are to have privileges accorded to sealed
letters All the telegraphic lines operated under the
provisions of this act are 70 be made posroutes Postal
telegraph cards be issued Of the denomination OF
fifteen cents twenty cents twenty-five cents forty cents
fifty cents upon which may be written and
deposited In letter-carrier boxes to be sent by
telegraph. The bill provides for the adoption OF
the money-order system, and for advertising I'D I'D
the newspapers of Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia
New-York Boston, Chicago and St. Louis for proposals
from graph under the act the contract
10 made with the lowest and best bidder: II no COM
pany makes proposals. before November. then the lines
be built by the Government Board consisting
OF the Secretary of State the Secretary or War and the
General shall TO be arranged four trunk
lines connecting the northeastern the northwestern the
the and southwestern and southern parts or
United States with the City of Washington The con-
strucon and repairs TO be done by the Corps OF En-
gneers under direction Of the Secretary OF War; who
Is be authorized to the right OF way, and the
OF all the necessary appliances Employees are to be
chosen upon examination by the Civil service Commits
sOneIs The working Of the lines part OF the postal
system is under control OF the Postmasterden-
era The bill appropriates 81, 100000
The bill been submitted tO the fu committee and
will be taken up In a few days.