Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1912-01-16
STATEMENT FROM
WHITE HOUSE
Rumor of Friction Between the
President and Postmaster Gen.
eral Are Flatly Denied.
HITCHCOCK LOYAL TO TAFT
Would Not Remain in Cabinet if He
We're Not.
ABOUT TELEGRAPH INCIDENT
Recommendation About Purchase Of
Lines Drafted Last Year.
WILL BE SENT TO CONGRESS
Ii Had Not Been Submitted TO Pres
ident-win Not BE Presented
as an Administration
Measure.
HITCHCOCK LOYAL TO TAT
Would Not Remain in Cabinet if He
We're Not.
ABOUT TELEGRAPH INCIDENT
Recommendation About Purchase of
Lines Drafted Last Year.
WILL BE SENT TO CONGRESS

WASHINGTON, Jan. lj.-After Post
master General Hitchcock had been in
conference with President Taft for more
than an 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 latters proposed recommenda-
tion that the government acquire and op-
crate all telegraph lines as an adjunct of
The postal system.
MFR. Hitchcock had been summoned TO
the White House shortly before noon and
there had been reports that the president
was annoyed over the publication at this
time Of the matter. 1t developed, how
ever, that Mr.. Hitchcock had called the
matter to the presidents attention q year
ago. but TO make more complete investi-
cation a delay had been decided on.
RumSr of Friction Denied.
one report abroad today was that Mr..
IIitcheocks action meant break with
President Taft. and probable alignment
Of the postmaster general with the ad-
vocates OF Colonel Theodore Roosevelt for
president. This was specifically denied,
Friends OF Mr.. Hitchcock declared that
THE latter was most loyal to President
Taft in every way and would not continue
in the cabinet for minute II he were not.
II was also said that the postmaster
generals Recommendation would go to
congress according 10 schedule to receive
such consideration as the leaders of the
house and senate saw fit and without
comment by the president.
The statement given out at the White
House follows:
Statement from white House.
"A Recommendation by the postmaster
general that 1t would be well for the gov
ernment to buy the telegraph lines and
incorporate them In the postoffice system
appeared In an earlier annual report sub
mitted by him to the president. After
some discussion 1t was decided at the
suggestion of the president 10 postpone
reference to the matter to another year
: and not 10 bring It forward then because
OF the recommendation OF many other I'm
portant changes. Including the postal saw
ings banks and the parcels post, These.
II adopted. would take up all the energy
Of the Postoffice department In making
the necessary changes.
The postmaster general intended to
bring this matter to the attention Of the
president before the publication In ad-
vance OF this part Of his report. After
having made preparations for publication
he was suddenly called out OF town with
out having done so.
Ills conclusion as TO the wisdom Of
taking over the telegraph lines had been
reached only after full investigation and
consideration. As the report containing
the recommendation has not yet been sub
mitted to the president IL has not yet been
considered by him or by the cabinet with
a view to presenting It to congress as an
administration measure" 4
Opinion of Senators.
Discussing the postmaster generals
plans, Senator Cullom Of Illinois said:
'on the theory that the telegraph is a.
part Of the mails. II seems to me that It
would not be out Of place for the govern.
ment to own the telegraph lines"
Senator William Alden Smith Of NIiehi-
gan said:
las a natural appurtenanee to the pos
tai system l have felt that the telegraph
could be more appropriately operated by
the government than any other branch Of
individual business"
He said he had long opposed the gov
ernment ownership Of public utilities,
however.
The question Of government ownership
- gu q a