The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-12-18
UNCLE SAM TO OWN
TELEGRAPH SYSTEM.
SCHEME FAVORED BY Mr.. PAYNE
Ne1ly-Appointed Postmaster Cen
eroI SaEa to Advocate Gov
ernE.seH3 Control of
the Wires.

An interesting report is in circulation
/ at the Capitol today to the effect that
/ Henry c. Payne, the newly appointed
Postmaster General. is in favor OF the
Government ownership OF teiegraphs.
/ whether this be true or not, it is more
than possible that he will re called upon
10 handle the subject during his term IN
his new Office
This Congress IS going TO devote much
time to the serious consideration OF this
matter and 1t is undeniably true that
| there IS a great and growing sentiment
among the members of beth the House
| and Senate in favor of taking over this
| proverbiaI telegraph business, which 50
intimately Affects all Of the people, and
| making it an adjunct of the Postal De
| partment
Eject of Pacific Cable Matter.
4 new impetus has been given the idea
| by recognized necessity for a Pacific ca
/ bic 10 connect the United States with
| Hawaii. Guam, the Philippines. and ia
| pan and China A bill for the construc-
ton of this cable by the Government will
| probably be passed by the House at this
| session. If the Government is to Own
the ocean cable, advocates of the propo-
sition say. why not the land lines TO cor
meet with it also?
In twenty-five years it is pointed out
the Government could own, free OF cost
practically. the most valuable ana elab
crate Geographic system in the world
The subject has been discussed before
in Congress. bus 1t is taking a concrete
|
Not s. Party question.
Republicans ana Democrats are inter
lested in TIE movement. Including members
OF tEa Postofficc committees Of both Senate
and House. The adherence to the scheme Of
good many Republicans who have here
tcforc frowned upcn Government owner
ship Of the teIegrapIis lends color 10 the
rcD5rt that there is weii-formulated
| plan on the part Of the Government 20
take over ali the telegraph and cable
lines
It Is said that during the past summer
the Mckinley Administration sounded
som. Of the largest stockholders and OH
GERS OF both the Western Union and Pos
/ tai CcnUsnies as 10 their willingness 10
: sell oat and the price at which il would
be possible TO obtain their properties
would soon Pay for Themselves.
The lines. 1t was calculated. would earn
q surplus over and above this interest
"a v.,ept which would in twenty-five years
= nav the entire original cost. thus giving
he Government possession at the end OF
5 that time practically for nothing
| That the Government has ample author
5 ;tv to proceed 10 the acquisition Of the
] telegraph lines II It secs fit &c do so IS
2 shown b. the Revised Statutes referring
20 the postal laws. Section % says:
. Before any telegraph communication
shan exercise any CT The powers CT priv
{ leges conferred by Law, such company
: shall file their written acceptance with
@ the Postmaster General CT registration
= and obligations required BY law
{ The Right Of Purchase.
q section SO says. tTBe Cnised state.
NAV. fer POSTAL, military. or other par
poses. purchase all the telegraph lines
> proreTtv. and effects of any or all com
panies acting under the provisions of th'
ACT tc aid IN the construction Of TELEGRAPH
z lines at an appraised value. to be asce--
tanned by FIVE competent. disiRtercs5et
persons. two of whom shall BE- selected
b. the Postmaster General OF the Eaite'
States, Two By the company Interested
and enc by the four so previously Sc
Iected-
e Beth the Western Union and the Post&
= Telegraph Companies fled their accent
> aaees ard subscribed TO these conditions
n The enIy bill that has been Introduce
u thus far Al aiiis session on the subject i
IS by Representative Jackson OF Kansas, bu
Il il IS understood that others VIII be Of
ID fered after the holidays. Mir Jackson
bill provides for the establishment OF
le commission whose members VIII BE- caIle
u upon b. Law to a:.praise the value Of tn
= telegraph companies
u Tkey are 10 report within year and ar
& to receive salaries of SO i day while &C
/ tualIy employed After Congress Ia
10 adopted their report. and bought III
X lines. the latter arc 10 be operated i
IS connection with the Postofice Department
le under the name OF the United States Tel
IN egraph-
AIr. Jackson says that he thinks tina
5 Congress will take action upon the sub
n 5ect during this session. He says he Ia
i been surprised al the extent Of the senti
IT r1.ent thar exists in Congress in favor c
! Government ownership of these lines. III
"a bill, he calculates would not call for d
!. expenditure CT more than coo or see
ID Gee. and because it follows the course {
> procedure laid down by law. he believe
D that lis chances are favorable.
s.
/ steps the Cough
u and works Of the Cold.