Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-01-17
TAFT AhaERED At HITCHCOCK.
issues Statement Attempting 20 White
wash Statement on ownorship.

wash StatomOnt on Ownership
Washington, Jan. 16.-Regarding the
Recommendation of Postmaster General
Hitchcock IL government ownership
Of telegraph lines and the feverish ef-
fort Of the administration to sidestep
that same issue there is no "colored
person concealed In the cordwood," ex-
cept politically.
The announcement by the postmas-
ter general, the hurried attempt at re-
call by the White House, and finally
the typewriter statement issued from
the White House attempting to white
wash the whole affair, are the results
Of a Misunderstanding in the interior
of the administration. All these mani
festations mean only that the altruis-
tic ideas Of President Taft have been
put in operation without governor.
At the time he was to make his last
report thru the president to congress
Mr.. Hitchcock proposed the govern
ment ownership Of telegraph lines. At
that time Mr. Taft told Mr.. Hitchcock
he thought that with the parcels post
and the postal savings banks the trou-
BILE over second class mail matter and
economics the postoffice department
would have enough to d. so he blue
penciled the telegraph scheme.
In the meantime Mr.. Taft, on a high
moral. ethical and altrustic ground, an
nounced to his cabinet members that
he regarded each of them as the best
ever. or he would not have appointed
them; that he held each responsible
for his department and that he (the
president). would not interfere nor ex-
pect to be consulted on department af-
fairs unles the cabinet member thought
it necessary.
Under this open door order secre-
tary Meyer Of the navy made public in
advance of his report his ideas on navy
reorganization; Secretary Fisher of the
interior department told in a speech in
Chicago of his views on Alaska: Sec
rotary Stimson, with the aid Of Gener-
al Wood, has told Of his ideas of a
new army, and Secretary Macveagh Of
the treasury has put has stamp Of ap-
prevail on the Aldrich, currency plan
all without official or unofficial Q. X.
from the White House.
Following this idea Mr.. Hitchcock
announced he would recommend TO
congress the taking over by the gov
eminent Of the telegraph lines OF the
United States. Attic the prepared and
issued typewriter statement at the
White House today says the announce
nent was made in the absence Of Mr..
Hitchcock the postmaster general said
that 1t was made with his knowledge
and at his order.
The statement issued from the White
House says:
"a recommendation by the post
master general that 1t would be we'll
for the government to buy the tele-
graph lines and incorporate them in
the postoffice system appeared in an
earlier annual report submitted by him
60 the president. After some discuss
sion 1t was decided at the suggestion
of the president, to postpone reference
to the matter to another year and not
to bring 1t forward then, because of
the Recommendation Of many other
important changes, including the post
al savings bank and the parcels post.
These. II adopted. would take up all
the energy Of the postoffice depart
ment In making the necessary changes.
THE postmaster general intended to
bring this matter to the attention of
the president before the publication in
advance Of this part of his report. AZ
ter having made for pub
location he was suddenly called out of
town without having done So
Ills conclusion as to the wisdom Of
taking over the telegraph lines had
been reached only after full investiga-
tion and consideration. AS the report
containing the recommendation has not
yet been submitted to the president,
1t has not yet been considered by him
or by the cabinet with a view to pre-
senting 1t to congress as an admins
tratton measure"
Postmaster General Hitchcock says
that he knew when he left the city
that his Recommendation would be is
sued during his obsence and that he
had arranged for the issuance Of the
press draft.
This, friends Of the president and
postmaster general say, is friction of
the real kind and none of them hesi-
tates to say he IL apprehensive Of the
result.
The friends OF the president say the
action OF the postmaster general is
characterization OF the worst kind.
oiesx City Gets Poultry Show.
I. Des Moines. Jan. i1.-ssss.oGS CITY CITY
lets THE next annual meeting of the
Iowa state Eoultfy show. It viii bs-
held - - flfst KeS4k t3