The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-12-23
Land Grant Railroads Telegraph


hAhA
Lines.
WASHINGTON, December 22-The
bill reported from the Committee on
Pcstofiices and Postrosds today, by
Mr. Wsrner, OF Ohio, relative TO the
construction and maintenance OF tele-
graph lines by land grant RAILROADS,
provides in its first section that oil sub
sidiz I'D railroads shall forthwith and
henceforward, by and through their
own officers and employees, construcv
and operate, for railroad, & )vernment
and commercial and all other pur-
poses, telegraph lines aad exercise by
themselves alone oil the telegraph
fianchises conferred upon and obligs-
tons assumed by them under the
grantirg acts.
eecSion 2 provides that whenever
any telegraph company which shall
have accepted the provisions of
the Revised Statutes shall extend
its line 10 the eastern terminus,
or to any station or Office of
a telegraph line belonging to any OBJ
of the sad railroad companies, it shall
have the right 10 connect with the tel
egraph line of the railroad company
at the point where the liues meet, for
the prompt exchange of tslegrsphic
communication between the two COM
panies. The railroad companies are
required to operate their telegraph
lines 30 as to sford equal facilities to
all, without any discrimination in
favor of or sgsinst any person, COM
pany or corporation.
Section 8 provides that in the event
OF the failure or refusal of any rail-
road company to construct, maintain
and operate iis telegraph line without
discrimination, any person or connect
ing company may apply for relief to
tha 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 bs
made in particular case, and by this
order the railroad company is bound
to abide. l 10 made the duty Of the
Commissioner OF Railroads. to gee that
the order is properly aud efficiently
carried into effect; and, if necessary,
enforce by maudsmus or other legal
proceeding
Section 4 makes it the made duty OF
the Attorney General TO prevent any
unlawful interference with the rights
and equities of the United States
under this act, aud to have all con-
tracts and provisions OF contracts set
aside and annulled which have been
unlayIully entered into by the rail-
roid companies and any other person,
company or corporation.
Section 5 provides that any officer
of a railroad comp any who refuses to
operate the telegraph lines in the
manner provided in this act shall be
deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, snd
fined not excseding $1,000 and impris-
onment rot less than ak months The
agerieved psrty is authorized TO bring
action for damages against the guilty
officer.
Section 6 requires the officers of
thu railroad company, within sixty
days after the passage of the act,
to f.e with the Commissioner of Rail
roads copies OF ell contracts aud agree
ments existing between it and every
other person or corporation in refer
ence to the ownership, possession,
maintenance, control, uss or opera.
ton OF any telegraph line on their
railroad, and also report describing
the telegraph lines and property be-
longing 10 it and the manner OF its use
and other particulars.