The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1888-01-06
EDMUNDS' POSTAL TELE.
GRAPH BILL.

Inc IOll0wing " the fuIl text OF
the Postal Telegraph Bill introduced
in the Senate by MIR. Edmunds:
A Bill to provide for the establishment of
a postal telegraph system;
Be it enacted by the Senate and
House of Representatives of the
the United States OF America in
Congress assembled, That there
shall he established, built, operated
aud carried on, in the manner and
bJ the means hereinafter in this act
mentioned, postal telegraph sys-
tenn within the United States.
Section 2. That board consist
Jug of he Secretary of State, the
Secretary OF War, and the Post
master General shall cause 10 be
located and arranged tour trunk
lines of said postal telegraph, con.
Meeting the northeastern, the north
western, the western and south
western, and southern parts of
the United States with the city
of Washington; and alOug said
trunk lines connections shall be
made and telegraph Offices estab-
lished ut such cities, towus, and
places as shall be for the public in
lerest for the time being; and the
said lines and branches thereof shall
from time to time be exteuded and
telegraph Offices established and
increased as Congress may from
time to time appropriate money
therefor.
Sec. 8. That said postal telegraph
shall be carried on and operated as
as a part OF the postal system of
the United States, and rates for the
use thereof shall bs from time to
time established by a hoard consist
ing OF the Secretary OF State, the
Secretary of the Treasury, and the
Postmaster General.
Sec. 4. That said lines of postal
telegraph shall be connected and
operated at as many intermediate
points as conveniently may be.
See, 3. That said lines of postal
le!egIa aph shall be constructed and
kept in repair under the direction
aud superintendence of the Secre-
tary of War aud through the Corps
OF Engineers, subject to the same
general provisions of law now ex-
listing aud applicable to other pubic
works of the United States under
the charge of the Secretary of War.
See. 6. That the Secretary OF
War is hereby authorized and di-
rected to acquire by purchase, sub
iect TO the approval of the Presi
dent of the United States, the right
of way for the construction OF said
postal telegraph lines, and their
extensions from time to time aud
said Secretary, with such approval,
is authorized and directed TO locate
such lines aud to take and use for
purpose such lands, teHements and
heretlIlaments AS shall be necessary
for the purpose, aud pay such com
pensatIou therefor as shall be deem
I'd reasonable and IN CASE an
agreement cannot be made with the
persOns or corporations, whether
mnuicipIl or other, IN respect to
such compensation, such person or
corporation is hereby authorized to
file ~ petition for the ascertainment
of such just compensation in the
Court Ot Claims of the United
States, which Court is hereby in-
vested with jurisdiction to bear,
try aud determine all questions re-
Iating thereto, subject an appeal to
the Supreme Court of the United
States, aud the sums of money nee
essHIy from time to lime for the
payment of such compensation so
determined by the final judgment
of said courts, respectively, is here
by appropriated out OF any moneys
in the Treasury not otherwise ap-
prOpriated; /; but no refusal by any
party owning such lands, tenemeDts
or hereditameDts, CT making any
such claim for compensation, TO re-
ceive such sum as may be proposed
by the Secretary of War, with the
approval of the president OF theI
United States, for such compensa-
ton, shall in any manUer operate TO
delay or hinder the establishment,
building, aud operating of such
telegraph lines or any part thereof
Sec. Z. That the Secretary OF
War is hereby authorized and d.
rected. with the approval OF the
President of the United States, to
construct or take and use all such
machinery, appliances, devices aud
materials, not Includiug telegraph
lines owned By persons or corpora
tIous, whether patented or not, as
shall be deemed necessary for the
convenient aud successful estab-
lishment aud operation Of said lines;
aud in case said Secretary cannot,
with said approval OF the President,
agree upOn the value OF such prop
erty, or any part thereof, or OF any
night or interest therein, the OWL
er OF owners OF such property, or of
any right OF interest therein, SHALL
be entitled to Gle n petition for just
compensation therefor ia the Court
of Claims OF the United States,
which court is hereby invested With
jurisdiction to bear, try aud deter
mine the same, subject to an appeal
10 the Supreme Court of the United
States; aud the sums OF money
necessary to pay any such dual
Judgments Of said courts, respect
lively, are hereby appropriated out