Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-12-23
ANTI WESTERN UNION.
Tho Bill Before the House 10 Take the
Telegraph Lines Of Subsidized Rail-
ways from jay Gonld.
Tho Commissioner of Railways TO SEQ that
the BIN II Properly and Ehciently
Carried into Eject.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 22--The bill re-
ported from the committee on postoiilces
and postroais to-day by Warner of Ohio,
relative TO the construction and mainten.
ance OF telegraph lines by land-grsnt rail.
roads provides in its first section that all
subsidized railroads shall forthwith and
henceforwatd and through their own Of
fcers and employees construct and oper-
ate for railroad, government, commercial
and all other Purposes telegraph lines,
and exercise by themselves alone oil tele.
graph franchise conferred upon and obll-
cations assumed by them under the grant
ing acts.
The second section provides that when.
ever telegraph company, which shall
have accepted the provisions OF title,
60, II. s., shall extend its line TO the
Eastern terminus or any station or office
OF telegraph line belonging to any one
OF said railroad companies, 1t shall have
the right to connect with the telegraph
line of the railroad company at the point
where lines meet, for the prompt exchange
of telegrHphic communication between
the two companies. The railroad COM
panies are required to operate their tele-
graph lines so as to afford equal faclliti, 8
10 all without discrimination In favor of
or against any person, company or cor
poration.
Section provides that IN event of the
failure or refusal of any railroad company
to construct, maintain and operate its
telegraph lines without discrimination,
any person or connecting company may
apply for relief to the commissioner OF
railroads, who is directed to ascertain the
facts and report them to the secretary OF
the interior. The secretary shall order
what arrangement is proper TO be made
in particular cases, and by this order the
railroad is bound to abide. II is made
the duty Of the commissioner of railroads
to see that the order is properly and ell
cienlly carried into effect, and, If neces.
sary, enforced by mandsmus or other
legal proceedings.
BY section 4, 1t is made the duty of the
attorney general to prevent any unlawful
interference with the rights and equities
OF the Uuited States under this act, and
to have all contracts and provisions OF
contracts set aside and annulled which
have been unlawfully entered into by
railroad companies and any other person,
company or corporation.
The tifth section provides that any OFF,
Ger or railroad company who refuses to
operate telegraph lines In the manner
provided in this act shall be deemed guilty
OF misdemeanor and fined not excet ding
$1,000 and imprisoned not less than six
months. The aggrieved party is author
lied to bring action for damages against
the guilty officer.
The sixth section requires the officers
OF each railroad company within sixty
days after the passage OF the act to file
with the commissioner OF railroads con. es
OF all contracts and agreements existing
between it and every other person or cor
poratlon in reference to ownership, pos
session, maintenance, control, use or
operation of any telegraph line on their
railroad, and also report describing the
telegraph line and property belonging to
1t and the manner of its use and other
particulars.