New-York tribune., 1912-01-16
President, Although Not Consult.
ed by Postmaster General on
Government Ownership,
Does Not Take Issue.
IDEA DISCUSSED LONG AGO
Not Taken Up by Administration
as Other Reforms Were
Considered More Press
ing - Many Favor
the Change.
rrrom Tn. Tribune Buresu.I

From The Tribune Bureau
Washington. Jan. l5.-The President is
M, di,nosed IN make an issue Of the fact
that the Postmaster General made puo-
lie yesterday his views regarding gov
ernment ownership OF telegraph lines
without consulting the head Of the ad-
n,inistra tion, and A statement intimatins
az much was given out at the white
House to-day.
President Taft sent for Mr. HitchcocS
to-day and asked an explanation ano
was met with the reminder that wnen
several years ago Mr.. Hitchcock sus-
gested this reform the President had NOT
rejected it on it's merits, but solely be-
cause he believed that other matters de-
manding the attention Of the Postoffce
! Department were more pressing. MT.
Hitchcock also explained that after hs
had taken the preliminary steps toward
making his views public he was called
out II the city before he had an oppor-
| 4
statement he caused to be given out to-
day President Taft says that the matter
has not been submitted to him nor con-
sidered by the Cabinet.
The statement from the White House fol-
lows:
! 4 recommendation by the Postmaster Gem
! eraI that il would be well for the govern
/ ment to buy the telegraph lines and incor-
I -. h..
peared in an earlier annual report submit
| led by him 10 the President After some
! discussion. Il was decided, at the sugges-
tion of the President, to postpone reier5
ence TO the matter TO another year, ana
not TO bring II forward then, because OF the
! recommendation Of many other importsn.
| changes, including the postal savings Dahh
and The parcels post These, II sdopied.
would take up all the energy or the fost-
/ office Department In making the necessary
The Postmaster General intended to BRING
this matter TO the attention of the Prssi.
| dent before the publication in advance O.
This part OF his report At5er enn hs sVs ws, s sd
denly called out of town without haVihS
done So
ling over the telegraph lines had boe.
reached only after full investigation sRg
consideration. As the report contalblne
the recommendation has not yet Deen SUD
rnitted 10 the President, II has not yet oeen
considered by him or by the Cabinet Win
a view 10 presenting 1t TO Congress as an
administration measure.
While IL is obvious that the President
was far from pleased at the puollca-
tion Of Mr.. Hitchcock's views without
consultation with his chief, it is known
that the President holds in such high re-
gard the achievement of the Postmastef
General in converting the large and long
standing postal deficit into a surplus
that he is not disposed TO deal harshly
with what he regards as matter OF pad
Judgment rather than anything more Sc
rious.
Mr.. Hitchcock Alone Responsible.
II is also admitted that in making pub
lie this suggestion without consulting
the administration Mr.. HitchcocN
shouldered the entire responsibility for
the proposition while at the same time
he took a step which may serve pretty
accurately TO sound sentiment both in
Congress ard Of the public on the SUBJ
ject.
President Taft himself would prefer 10
SEQ material extension Of the parcels
and much needed reform, before so rad
| icaI a departure. rs federal conduct OF
telegraph lines rs undertaken especially
as the railway rate law passed during
this administration, delegates TO the gov
ernment authorit; TO regulate all charges
! for telegraph. telephone and cable SER
vice. However. II is admitted that Mr.
~ 10 sun
ciently convincing reasons In support OK
his recomm endation 10 convert the Chief
! Executive to mis- views. and the President
/ is not disposed to pass on the intrinsic
merits of the proposition until II has re-
ceiyed due consideration by himself and
! his cabinet.
Senator Cullom, OF Illinois head Of the
/ Foreign Relations Committee. aligned
himself with the Hitchcock plan saying:
ON the theory that the telegraph IL
mart of the mails Il seems 10 me that it
would not be out of place for the governs
ment 10 own the telegraph lines.
Senator William Alden Smith. of Mich
igan, said:
have steadfastly opposed the govern
mcnt ownership OF the public utilities Tor
many wears for the reason That ! nave ieiI
that these enterprises would be more sell
yiceable II initiated and carried through
bv private capital. The prestige enjoyed
nv American citizens is due TO their un-
hampered individual initiative. 8hd this
wuuld preserve, hut as natural appurts-
nance 10 the postal system. | have felt that
the telegraph could be more appropriately
oucrated by the government than any
other branch " individual business.
There was a disposition among some
Senators to-day TO credit the report that
Mr.. Hitchcock's action might mean A
hreak between him and President Taft,
and an alignment of Mr.. Hitchcock with
those who are urging the candidacy Of
Colonel Theodore Roosevelt for the Re-
publican nomination. This. however.
was only one of half hundred theories
discussed about the Capitol.
House Is Much interested.
In the House Representative Moon Of
Tennessee, chairman OF the Postofiice
Committee. announced that the matter
would be given earnest attention. lie
said:
The question OF government ownership
Of public utilities is great one that needs
long and careful consideration IL Post
master General Hitchcock's plans are en-
bodied in hill Ia he introduced In Con-
gress and the bill comes To this committee,
II certainly will be given thorough inves-
tigation Such proposal never has been
before Congress that / know OF Ks TO Tie
merits Of the proposal I could have moth
ing 10 cav until have read hill incorpo-
rating the details Of the proposed scheme.
Senator Bourne. Of Oregon Chairman