New-York tribune., 1912-01-15
Postmaster General Would Have
Lines Under His Department a
to Lower Rates and I'm I
prove Facilities.
PLAN SUCCESSFUL ABROAD
Appraised Value of Systems
$25O,000,0O0, and zoe, 600
Persons Are Employed
Authority for Acquisition
Exists in Statutes.

washington, Jan. 14.-Acquisition "
the telegraph lines Of the United States
by the government and their operation
as a part of the postal service will be
recommended to Congress in a short
time by Postmaster General Hitchcock,
1t was learned to-day.
For a year or more Mr.. HitchcocK mas
had this recommendation under consld-
Grafton. After thorough study of the
operation of government controlled lines
and postal telegraph systems Of foreign
countries he has decided 10 urge the
matter on Congress. .4
Should this recommendation be adopt
ed" said Mr.. Hitchcock tonight in 4
statement of his intention, Il am con-
vinced it would result in important
economies and in very materially lower
telegraph rates than now are exacted.
In approximately fifty countries OF the
world-notably in Great Britain, France,
Germany, Austria, Italy, Spain, Russia
and Japan-government controlled tele-
graphs now are in successful and pront-
able operation. In many OF the coun-
tries they are operated in connection
with the postal service. These tele-
graphs serve an aggregate population OF
$50, 100000, and in every instance they
have been found TO be Of immense prac-
tical benefit to the people, In botn
promptitude and cost Of the service.
Means Wide Extension Of System.
I'm this country postoffices are main
tanned in numerous places not reached
by the telegraph systems, and the pro-
posed consolidation, therefore. would af-
ford a favorable opportunity for the wide
extension Of telegraphic facilities. In
many small towns where the telegraph
companies have offices the telegraph and
mail business could be handled readiiy
by the same employees. II Is evident thar
the separate maintenance of the two SER
vices under present conditions results IN
a needless expense.
The first telegraph In the United
States was operated from 1874 to 1871
by the government under authority from
Congress, and from many points OF view
Il Is desirable that government control
should be resumed. A method Tor the
ACQUISITION of telegraph lines is pre-
scr,bed in Section 5.26T of the Revised
Statutes. which provides that for postal
military or other purposes the govern
ment may purchase telegraph lines operr
ated in the United States at an ap-
praised value.
MY own view is that every reason FOR
the transmission of mail under govern
ment control can be urged with equal
force for the transmission OF communi-
cations by telegraph. Because OF the
more extensive organization maintained
by the postal service and the freedom
from taxation and other charges to whicn
private corporations are subject the
government undoubtedly could afford
greater facilities, at lower rates. than
are offered by companies now conduct
ing the telegraph business,
Puts Parcels Post First.
Next to the introduction OF general
parcels post. for which there is strong
popular demand, the establishment OF
government telegraph system offers. In
my Judgment, the best opportunity fer
the profitable extension of the nations
postal service"
It is not Mr.. Hitchcock's purpose 10
recommend the acquisition of telephone
lines, except, possibly, in instances
where they are operated as telegraph
lines and are an integral part of definite
telegraph systems.
The latest census figures available in
dicate that about one hundred thousand
persons are connected with the telegram
companies of the United States. the
appraised value of the systems proposed
to be acquired would be purely conJect-
ural, but II is said it would approximate
$250,O00OO0.
The authorities who have figured on
the proposition are of opinion that exs
listing telegraph rates could be reduced
at least one-third TO the public and yet
make the investment in and operation OF
the lines profitable to the sovernmsnS