The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-01-15
That Is, if Hitchcock s
Proposal Is Received
Favorably.
ADD SYSTEM TO
POSTAL SERVICE
Postrnaster-General Convinced
That Example of Foreign Coun-
tries Should Be Followed, and
That 1t Would Result in
Great Benefit to
People.

Washington. January li.---Aicqusi-
ton of the telegraph lines of the
United States by TIL. government AMI
their operation as part of the postal
service will be recommended to Con-
gress in short time by Postmaster
General Hitchcock.
For year or moro Mr.. Hitchcock
has had this recommendation under
consideration After a thorough atudy
OF the operation OF government con-
trolled telegraph lines and postal tele-
graph systems OF foreign countries. he
has decided to urgs the matter upon
Congress.
Should this recommendation be
adopted said Mr.. Hitchcock tonight
in statement Of his intention. II am
convinced 1t would result In important
economies and very materially loyer
telegraph rates than now are exacteh
In approximately fifty countries Of he
Fundamentally in Great Britain.
France. Germany, Austria, Spain. Rus
sia and Japan-government controlled
telesraphs now are In successful and
profitable operation. In many Of the
countries thay are operated IN con-
nection with the postal service. These
telegraphs serve an aggregate 2opu-
lation OF 9o0.00o.0o0. and In every In
stance they have been found to be Of
Immense practical benefit to the people
In both promptitude and cost OF the
service.
Present Expense Needless.
In this country post Offices are
maintained In numerous places not
reached BY the telegraph systems. and
the proposed consolidation, therefore.
would afford favorable opportunity
for the wide extension OF the teit-
graphic facilities. In many small
towns where the telegraph companies
have Offices. the telegraph ana nElti
business could be handled readily bv
the same employees 1t Is evident that
the separate maintenance OF the two
services under present conditions re-
suits In needless expense.
The frst telegraph In the United
States was operated from 1884 to iS47
by the government under authority
from Congress, and from many view
points 1t Is desirable that government
control should he resumed A method
for the acquisition OF telegraph lines
Is prescribed In section 5267 OF the
REVISED Statutes. which provides that.
for postal, military or other purposes.
the government may purchase teIc-
graph lines. operated in the United
States. at an appraised value.
MY own view Is that every reason
for the transmission OF mail under
government control can be urged with
equal force for the transmission II
communications by telegraph Because
o: the more extensive organization
maintained by the postal service and
line freedom from taxation and other
charges TO which private corporatIons
are subject, the government undonbt-
sdlE could afford greater facilities. at
lower rates, than are afforded by COM
paniss now conducting the telegram
business. Next to the introduction Of
a general parcels post. for which there
is q strong popular demand. the cstab.
ishment OF government telegraph
system offers. In my Judgment, the
best opportunity for the profitable ex-
tension or the nations postal service"
Telephones Not Included,
1t rs not Mr.. Hitchcock's purpose to
recommend the acquisition of telephone
| lines, except. possibly, In stances where
they are operated as telegram lines
and arc an integral part of definite
| telegraph systems.
The latest census figures available
( indicate that about 100 600 people arc
| connected with the telegraph COM
panies Of the United States The an
praised value of the systems p-oposed
to be acquired would be purely con-
iectural. but II is said IL would approSl-
mate s250.o00.o00. The experts who
have figured on the proposition are
of the opinion that existing telegram
rates could be reduced at least one
third TO the public and vet make the
| investment IN and operation OF the
Lies profitable TO the government