The Cairo bulletin., 1912-02-23
Message to Congress. Says Telegraph
Line. are Matter for
Private Enterprise
RECOMMENDS PARCELS POST.
Postal Savings System is 70 Be- Ex-
tended. Deficit Wiped Out
for First Time

X
Washington. Feb. 22.---President
Taft today informed Congress that
he did not approve OF Postmaster
General Hitchcock's suggestion that
the government buy and operate all
telegraph lines as an5adiunct of the
postal system Mr.. Taft said that IT.
it could be shown that the public
would benefit by receiving service
at less price than is now paid he
might think differently of the plan.
but that he was not convinced such
would be the effect.
After referring, to the practical
wiping out of the postal deficit and
other features of Mr.. Hitchcock's
administration of affairs, Mr.. Taft.
In transmitting the Post Office De-
partment's report to Congress today
said.
" Difference Stated.
here IL only one Recommended
IN which | cannot agree--that
which recommends that the
"A ph lines III the United States
std be made d part of the postal
syst1 bnd operated In conjunction
with f mail system, This, presents
a qlestibh az aoser6ment Swherssisp
of pubIi4 utilities which are now
being hducted by private enter
prise Rier franchises from theFGov-
ernIs = ~ eeisH3
ieye@ that hestrue principle
ASsIA private enterprise should he
peTAzAaed TO carry ON such public
ydiifRsyppder. due regulation as to
ratfsEhy proper. authority rather
.thaa that the sGoyernment should
itself conduct Them. ,.Thls principle
i favor because Il do 4not,think itsi1
accordance with the best public
palicy thus greatly to increase the
body OF public servants. ,.l.
"Of course. 4. It could be shown
that telegraph. service could be fur-
nished to the public, at a less pri d
than 1t rs now furnished Ito the pub
llc'byssteisgfapA dompanfes, 4 and
with, davaE eincieneyi the argument
might be a strong one In, favor of
~the. adoFtten OF Tire proposition, B'tt
am not satisfied feon, any evidence
that If these properties were taken
over, by the, Gdvernment they could
BIG managed any more economically
or any. rfofsseffFtlently, or that this
would enable the Government to
furnish service at any smaller rate
than the public are now required to
pay by private companies. ..,s,
"More than this It seems, to. me
that the consideration of the ques-
ton ought to BE postponed until af-
ter, the postal savings banks havt
come. into complete and smooth
operation and after a parcels !, post
has been, establHhed,5 not only upon
the rural routes and the city de.
lfyeries itutsaisb ,fhfdhsltontt tthe de.
partmenteal Id will take some atimes te
perfect these additions to,ths;actiyt
ties Of the post office department
and we mky swelIsa i,theirY ,cein,
plete and successful adoption before
we take ION a new burden In this
very extended department" t5C
a. 1ga' Commends Department. N Y I.
TrFhes PTesident found much, he
said. tosSommend in Mrl Hitehcock's
dspartpepf. cannot speak With
too great emphasis" he said. "of
the improvement In the Post, 0ffie.'
Dstartment under the present man
agemcnt," said they Presiaent,' He
howedsrthat thereswas "a surplus 81
$21s;Atsae at, the end of the e'.las'
iiscsl year compared with a deficit
Of .sI717s,770.{7' two years Before
This was not to be accounted for
the President pointed out. by.treduc
tte9s Ri tores or @ plumbers " y, ,.:e ;of pest
offices .of salaries but BY ssyaentifi'
economy, VII ,.s,fel- 5s
MrsTaft approved the adoption oi
a parctlsSudst recomm ended w Mr.
HITCHCOCK; said that TIA piacing O
assistaht pcssnast ststssi ntthe, sivil ser
vice should be followed by placing
HSdsfi t&sbtlaSsiasd sefvtce sof most.
master and eommended the postal
savings system. Preparations ars
bxinE mlde. No said " establiat
q tAia: t aboat \ \ o.osc Ig fourth
% AsII1III VI E.su ~. ~