Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1912-01-15
HITCHCOCK
SURPRISES TAFT
Advocates Government Own.
ership of Telegraph and
Telephone Lines
OFFICIAL WASHINGTON STIRRED
Postmaster General Summoned
to White House to Explain
to President.

(By Special Leased Wire to New Mexican)
Washington, D. c., Jan. 15,-Post-
master General Hitchcock who last
night gave out statement saying he
would recommend to Congress, gov
eminent ownership and operation OF
al telegraph lines, was summoned to
the White House by President Taft
shortly after II o'clock this morning.
The pronouncement in favor of gov
ernment ownership and operation of
telegraph lines as an adjunct of the
pcstoffice department, stirred official
tive acts have in recent years.
News at White House.
The postmaster generals statement
was news to the White House and is
said to have caused the greatest sur
prise there. This was evident when
efforts were made late last night to
recall the announcement. These eff
forts however, did not come from
Hitchcock. He was out of the city
when the statement was released and
dio not return until late last night.
Then he went Immediately to his
apartments and would not be disturb
ed.
Senators and Representatives gen
orally did not learn of the proposed
recommendation until they read the
papers today. When they reached
the Capitol all were discussing the
matter and many divergent views
were expressed
Pressure Against Recommendation.
Most generally discussed of all the
reports early today was one that pres
sure might be brought to bear on
Mr.. Hitchcock not to make the recon-
mendation. So far the matter has
not progressed beyond a declaration
By the Postmaster General that he
would make such recommendation
to Congress with statement by him
giving reasons for the proposed ac-
quisition of the telegraph lines.
No Friction.
Washington, D. c., JAM 15.-After
Postmaster General Hitchcock had
been in conference with President
/ Taft for more than hour today, an
authoritative statement was made at
! the White House that there had been
no friction between the President and
! the postmaster General over the lat
! ter's proposed recommendation that
the government acquire and operate
tall telegraph lines as an adjunct of
the proposed system.
Government Ownership.
The postmaster general was late in
reaching his office this morning, al
though there were many urgent calls
| for him. There was no disposition at
the Capitol today to avoid any serious
consideration of the proposed plan.
| THE question of government owner
ship of public utilities is a great
one that needs long and careful
consideration said Representative
Neon O. Tennessee, chairmaE Of the
Postoffice Committee. "If Po;tnas-
| ter General Hitchcock's planc are en-
bodied in a bill to be introduced in
| Congress and the bill comes to this
C9m!nittee it certainly will b. gwen
Thorough investigation. Such a pro-
Tbcsal never has been before Congress
Ithat | know Of
May Mean Break With Taft.
There was a disposition among some
senators today to credit the report
that Mr.. Hitchcock's action might
mean a break between him and Pres
ident Taft and an alignment of Mr..
Hitchcock with those who are urging
the candidacy of Colonel Theodore
Roosevelt for the Republican presi-
Dental nomination. This, however
was but one of half hundred theories
discussed about the capitol.