An Act Amending Act Numbered One Hundred and Seventy-Five, Entitled "An Act Providing for the Organization and Government of the Insular Constabulary, and for the Inspection of the Municipal Police," So As To Provide for the Maintenance of the Present Telegraphic System in the Archipelago, so Far as may be Desirable and Practicable

September 15, 1902

ACT NO. 461

AN ACT AMENDING ACT NUMBERED ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-FIVE, ENTITLED "AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE ORGANIZATION AND GOVERNMENT OF THE INSULAR CONSTABULARY, AND FOR THE INSPECTION OF THE MUNICIPAL POLICE," SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF THE PRESENT TELEGRAPHIC SYSTEM IN THE ARCHIPELAGO, SO FAR AS MAY BE DESIRABLE AND PRACTICABLE

SECTION 1. The Chief of the Philippines Constabulary is hereby authorized and directed to take charge of all telegraph or telephone lines heretofore operated by the Signal Corps of the United States Army, Division of the Philippines, which have been abandoned by that Corps or which may hereafter be abandoned or turned over to him by it, so far as in his judgment it may be in the public interest to do so, and may be feasible and practicable. He is authorized to change telegraph lines into telephone lines or vice versa whenever it is desirable in the interest of economy so to do. He is also authorized and directed to receive and receipt for all telegraph and telephone lines, or other telegraph or telephone property, which may be turned over to him by the Signal Corps.

SECTION 2. In order effectually to operate and maintain these telegraph or telephone lines, he is authorized to employ the necessary number of experienced telegraph operators, and to appoint them inspectors of Constabulary, and to assign them to duty in the telegraphic division of the Philippines Constabulary, which is hereby created. It shall be within his discretion to appoint them first, second, third, or fourth class inspectors and sub-inspectors, and to promote them from one class to another, as he may deem best in the public interests. He is also empowered to enlist, as privates, corporals, or sergeants, telegraph and telephone operators, to be employed as telegraph or telephone operators, or in any other capacity connected with the operation and maintenance of telegraph and telephone lines, and to fix their compensation subject to the approval of the Secretary of Commerce and Police. He is also authorized to use such of the Philippines Constabulary as are available and as he may deem necessary and desirable in the construction, repair, and maintenance of telegraph and telephone lines. He is further authorized to transmit messages over either the telegraph or telephone lines under his control for private persons or corporations, charging reasonable compensation therefor, and shall make and publish a tariff of charges for such service to be approved by the Secretary of Commerce and Police, and the money received therefor shall be accounted for by him and covered into the Insular Treasury as other public funds are accounted for and covered into the Treasury. He is hereby directed to make a separate quarterly report, through the Secretary of Commerce and Police, to the Commission, showing the number of inspectors and enlisted men in the division of telegraphs and the probable increase for the ensuing quarter, the amount received by him from the general public as tolls for messages transmitted, and such other information as may be deemed of interest.

SECTION 3. The public good requiring the speedy enactment of this bill, the passage of the same is hereby expedited in accordance with section two of "An Act prescribing the order of procedure by the Commission in the enactment of laws," passed September twenty-sixth, nineteen hundred.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on its passage.

ENACTED, September 15, 1902.