The Washington times., 1901-12-29

law al present on the statute book,
provides for the purchase of the tele.
graph companies by the Government. an,
all the companies now operating in thh
country have signed an agreement to sci
out to the United States at any time that
the Government may see fit to acquire
them. Further than this, the agreement
signed by the companies prescribes the
manner in which the prices to be paid for
the concerns shall be determined so that
there need be no difficulty on this score
If the decision is made by the present
Congress to exercise its right.
The Government MA, Purchase.
1t has not been remembered generally
that the compact of 1866 between the
Government and the telegraph companies
regarding the use of Government lands
and roads, and providing for the dster-
minstion of rates to the Government an
nuaily, contained also a provision that
the Government might purchase the COM
panies at any time after the expiration
of five years if il saw fit, but thus the law
reads. and it has never been repealed.
The plan provided for determining the
value of the concerns when the Govern
ment shall decide 10 purchase is very
simpla and yet entirely equitable and
feasible, it is said. committee of five
persons is to be chosen in the case of each
company. Two are to be named by the
Postmaster General, two by the telegraph
company, and one by these four 1t is
provided that all these five parties shall
be disinterested. This committee is to set
an appraisement or the value of the
concerns.
Provisions of the LAW.
On July "A, 1866, the first session of
the Thirty-ninth Congress passed an act
TO aid in the construction of telegraph
lines. and secure to the Government the
use CT the same for postal, military, and
other purposes
After stating that
Telegraph companies may maintain and
operate lines of telegraph over public
domain. along post. etc, roads. and
across nayigahle waters of the United !
States:
The lines are to be so constructed as |
not to obstruct the public highways. etc.
Materials for construction. etc. may be
taken from public lands:
Lands may be pre-empted for stations.
not exceeding forty acres for each sta
tion. but such stations shalt sot be with
in fifteen miles OF each other;
kilograms for the Government are TO
have priority of transmission Rates are
10 be fxed annually
The act continues:
And be ii further enacted. That the
rights and privileges hereby granted shall
not be transferred b. any company act
ing under this act to any other corpora
tion. association. or person: Provided,
however That the United States may at
any time after the expiration of five years
irem the Gate Of the passage Of this act.
Tor postal, military or other purposes,
purchase all the telegraph lines, property,
ana effects Of any or all of said COIN s
'anies at an appraised value. to be as
by FIVE competent, d!sinaerested ;,
persons. two q whom shall be selected !
'y the Postmaster General of the United
states. two by the company interested C
md one by the four SO previously Sc =
ected.
The act further provides that telegraph
ompanies are TO file written acceptance 4
4 this act before exercising any powers v
-ranted thereby.
Companies Have Accepted. .
The FINAL provision OF the law that all !,
shall Gle written acceptances N
I the act before exercising the privf A
'ges granted. has been complied with in n
II eases up to the present time so that : >.
be law in its entirety is stiI in force. a
OF only as to the companies in existence :,
1856 but as 10 the concerns that have
cen formed since that time
Wall Street has continued to discuss
le plan for the Government ownership
the telegraph systems during the past ~
eek. and in nearly all quarters it has pi
zen regarded with favor No doubt il %
;pressed that Government bends for the eT
irchase, to the extent Of $500 oe0 coo IL s.
'cessary. could be Goated at par And 81
ere is sim less doubt that the Govern q
cit would derive handsome revenue =, -
ON the telegraph business far in ex- Cl
IS Of the per cent interest on the al