TELEGRAPH COMPANIES
Act 123 of 1867
AN ACT to regulate telegraph companies and their agents, and individuals doing telegraph business, not incorporated by the state of Michigan.

History: 1867, Act 123, Eff. June 27, 1867

The People of the State of Michigan enact:

484.201 License and reports.

Sec. 1.

That it shall not be lawful for any telegraph company, association or individual to transact the business of telegraphing or sending messages by telegraph within this state without first procuring a certificate of authority or license from the state treasurer of this state, and before obtaining such certificate, such company, association or individual, shall furnish the state treasurer of this state annually, in the month of March in each year, with a statement under oath, of the president, treasurer, or superintendent of such company, association or individual which statement shall show:

First The name and locality of the company or association.

Second The amount of its capital stock, and how much is paid up on such stock.

Third The amount of gross receipts on their current business in this state, for the year ending December 31, next preceding such report.

History: 1867, Act 123, Eff. June 27, 1867 ;-- CL 1871, 1615 ;-- How. 3714 ;-- CL 1897, 5264 ;-- CL 1915, 6682 ;-- CL 1929, 11684 ;-- CL 1948, 484.201

484.202 Taxation.

Sec. 2.

It shall be a condition precedent to the issuing or the renewal of the annual certificate or license of the state treasurer, that the company making the statement shall pay into the state treasury a specific state tax of 2 per cent on the gross amount received by said company in this state for business done therein for the year covered by the report provided for in section 1 of this act; which said specific state tax may be recovered in any court, at the suit of this state. It shall be the duty of the state treasurer to give his receipt for all money paid into the state treasury, under the provisions of this act, and to issue as many copies of the annual certificate or license as may be desired by said company.

History: 1867, Act 123, Eff. June 27, 1867 ;-- CL 1871, 1616 ;-- How. 3715 ;-- CL 1897, 5265 ;-- CL 1915, 6683 ;-- CL 1929, 11685 ;-- CL 1948, 484.202

484.203 Permission to do business.

Sec. 3.

Any telegraph company, association, firm, copartnership or individual, complying with the requirements of this act, and receiving the certificate or license from the state treasurer of this state, shall be permitted to do business freely in any part of this state.

History: 1867, Act 123, Eff. June 27, 1867 ;-- CL 1871, 1617 ;-- How. 3716 ;-- CL 1897, 5266 ;-- CL 1915, 6684 ;-- CL 1929, 11686 ;-- CL 1948, 484.203

484.204 Penalty.

Sec. 4.

Any person or persons violating the provisions of this act, shall, upon conviction thereof in any court of competent jurisdiction, be fined in any sum of not less than 10 and not exceeding 100 dollars, for each and every act, at the discretion of the court; violations of the provisions of this act may be prosecuted in the name of the people of the state of Michigan, and it shall be the duty of the prosecuting attorney of each county in this state to prosecute for any violation of the provisions of this act.

History: 1867, Act 123, Eff. June 27, 1867 ;-- CL 1871, 1618 ;-- How. 3717 ;-- CL 1897, 5267 ;-- CL 1915, 6685 ;-- CL 1929, 11687 ;-- CL 1948, 484.204

Rendered 8/15/2025 8:03 PM
Michigan Compiled Laws Complete Through PA 5 of 2025
Courtesy of legislature.mi.gov