Law no. 604 of 5 May 1862, (the so-called Postal reform), created a national and centralised organisation for postal service by introducing a unique general fee to pay for services, postal stamps, throughout the entire territory of the newly formed kingdom of Italy. Subsequently, with Royal Decree 5973 of 10 March 1889, the Directorate General of Posts and Telegraphs was separated from the Ministry of Public Works and thus turned into the Ministry of Posts and Telegraphs. It was commissioned to create a network of offices in Italy to forward and receive mail and telegrams, make and receive telephone calls, carry out financial transactions and manage assets. It also worked as branch offices for the nascent electric services for a time.