§ 12. — Interference with liens of United States.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 47USC12]
TITLE 47--TELEGRAPHS, TELEPHONES, AND RADIOTELEGRAPHS
CHAPTER 1--TELEGRAPHS
Sec. 12. Interference with liens of United States
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.
(Aug. 7, 1888, ch. 772, Sec. 4, 25 Stat. 383.)
Section Referred to in Other Sections
This section is referred to in sections 15, 601 of this title.
