Title 47 — Telegraphs, Telephones, and RadiotelegraphsRelease 119-73

§12 Interference with liens of United States

Title 47 › Chapter CHAPTER 1— - TELEGRAPHS › § 12

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Requires the U.S. Attorney General to go to court to protect the United States' legal claims on telegraph lines that railroads and telegraph companies had to build and that lawfully belong to them, and to make sure those lines are used and run under sections 9 to 15 and other federal rules. The Attorney General must stop illegal interference, have courts sort out any claims by people or companies over the lines, land use, or control, and cancel any contracts the companies made beyond their legal power.

Full Legal Text

Title 47, §12

Telegraphs, Telephones, and Radiotelegraphs — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

In order to secure and preserve to the United States the full value and benefit of its liens upon all the telegraph lines required to be constructed by and lawfully belonging to railroad and telegraph companies referred to in section 9 of this title, and to have the same possessed, used, and operated in conformity with sections 9 to 15 of this title, it is made the duty of the Attorney General of the United States, by proper proceedings, to prevent any unlawful interference with the rights and equities of the United States under all acts of Congress relating to such railroads and telegraph lines, and to have legally ascertained and finally adjudicated all alleged rights of all persons and corporations whatever claiming in any manner any control or interest of any kind in any telegraph lines or property, or exclusive rights-of-way upon the lands of said railroad companies, or any of them, and to have all contracts and provisions of contracts set aside and annulled which have been unlawfully and beyond their powers entered into by said railroad or telegraph companies, or any of them, with any other person, company, or corporation.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

47 U.S.C. § 12

Title 47 — Telegraphs, Telephones, and Radiotelegraphs

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73