Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-12-23
WIRES ALONG TIE RAILS.
AN IMPORTANT SCHEME LAID
BEFORE THE HOUSE.

Every SuDsidtzrd Railroad REQUIRED By
the Provisions of the Measure to Con-
struct and Operate Tels graph Line
Along its RoadwAy-Othrr Lines CoEns
pei ed to Take its business
WASHINGTON, Dec. 22-The bill re-
ported from the Committee on Post Offices
and Post Roads to-day by Mr.. Warner, OF
Ohio, relative to the construction and
maintenance Of telegraph lines by land
| grant railroads, provides in its first sec
tion that all subsid Zed railroads shall
forthwith and hencelOrward, by and
through their own officers and employees,
construct and operate, for the railroad.
government, commercial and all other
purposes, telegraph lines, and exercise.
by themselves alone, all the telegraph
franchises conferred upon and the obli-
cations assumed by them under the
granting acts.
CONNECTION WITH OTHER LINES.
The second section provides that when
ever any telegraph company which SHAT
nave accepted the provisions OF article e.
OF the Revised Statutes shall extend lLs
lines to the eastern terminus or to anv
station or Office of telegraph line be-
road companies it shall have the
right to connect with the telegraph
line OF the railroad company at the point
where the lines meet TOR prompt ex-
change OF telegraDhic communication be-
tween the two companies. Railroad COM
panies are required to operate their tele-
graph lines 20 as TO afford equal facilities
to all without discrimination in favor of
or against any person, company or COR
pOratlOn.
RECOURSE AGAINST DISCRIMINATION.
Section provides that in the event oe
the failure or refusal OF any railroad COM
pany to construct, maintain and operate
It's telegraph line without dIscr minatiou,
any person or connecting company may
apply Tor relief to the Commissioner OF
Railroads, who il directed TO ascertain
the facts and r. port them to the Secre-
tary OF the Interior. The Secretary shall
order what arrangement is proper to DO
made In the particular case, and by this
order the railroad company is bound to-
abide. IL is made the duty of the Com
missioner OF railroads to see that the or
DR. Is properly aud efficiently carried into
enect, and n necessary enforced by man-s
damus or other legal proceedings.
RIGHTS OF THE UNITED STATES.
BY section IL is made the duty OF tha
Attorney General to prevent any unlaW-A
Iul interference with the rights and,
equities Of the United States under thls
act and TO have all contracts and provis-
ions OF contracts set aside and annulled
which have been unlawiully entered into
by railroad companies and any other per-
son, company, or corporation.
Section 5 provides that any officer OF q
railroad company who refuses TO operate
telegraph lines in tue manner provided in
this act shall be emed guilty of mis-
demeanor and fined not exceed ing 81 900,
and imprisoned not less than six months.
The aggrieved party Is authorized 10
bring action for damages against the
guilty officer.
REPORTS ON PRESENT CONTRACTS.
Section requires the ofiicars OF rail.
road company within sixty days after the
passage OF this act to die with tie Com
mssIOuer Of Railroads copies of all cou-
tracts and agreements e% sting between
IL and every other person or corporation
in reference TO the ownership, possession,
maintenance, control, use or operation OF
any telegraph line on their railroad, and
also report describing the telegraph lines
aud property belonging TO it, aud the MAJ
Der OF its use and otner particulars.