Title 47, Telegraphs, Telephones, and RadiotelegraphsRelease 119-102
§12 Interference with Liens of United States
Title 47 › CHAPTER 1 — TELEGRAPHS › § 12
Summary
The Attorney General must bring court actions to protect the United States’ liens on telegraph lines that railroad and telegraph companies were required to build. He must stop illegal interference, have courts decide any claims of control or interest in the lines, rights-of-way, or property, cancel contracts those companies made that were unlawful or beyond their power, and make sure the lines are used and operated under sections 9 to 15.
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
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102