Omaha daily bee., 1912-01-15
WILL URGE PLAN ON CONGRESS
Economy and Lower Rates Expected
to Be Made Effective.
VALUES MAY BE APPRAISED
Method for Purchase Already Pre-.
seribed by Law.
BETTER FACILITIES POSSIBLE
Cost of systems Proposed 10 he Ae-
apired approximately Estimated
at Two Hundrad and
Fifty Millions

WASHINGTON, Jan. H-Acquisitiou oe
tho telegraph lines OF the United States
by the government and their operation
as part OF the postal service will be
recommended to congress In a short tirna
by Postmaster General Hitchcock.
For a year or more Mr.. Hitchcock has
had this recommendation under consider
alton. After q thorough study OF the
operation of sovsrnment-controlled lines
and pcstal-telegraph systems OF foreign
countries he has decided to urge the
matter upon congress.
SHOULD this recommendation bs
adopted" Mr.. Hitchcock said tonight In
a statement Of his intention. II am con-
WINGED II would result In Important
economies and inmaterially lower tele-
graph rates than now arc exacted. In
approximately fifty countries Of tho world
notably In Great Britain. France. Ger
many. Austria. Italy. Spain. Russia and
Japan-government controlled teiesraphs
now are in profitable operation. In many
Of the countries they are operated In con-
nection with the postal service. These
tslegraphs serve an aggregate population
Of sSoooo.ooo and in every instance they
have been found 10 be OF immense prse-
teal benefits TO the people. In both
promptltude and cost Of the service.
would Improve Facilities.
''In this country postoffices are main
tained In numerous places not reached
by the telegraph system. and tho proposed
consolidation. therefore. would afford n
favorable opportunity for the wide ex-
tension Of telegraphlc facilities. In many
small towns where the telegraph COM
panles have offices the telegraph and mail
business could be handled readily by tho
Same employees. II is evident that the
separate maintenance Of the two services
under present conditions result In a need
less expense.
"Tho first telegraph In the United
States was operated from 1874 to 1871 by
the government, under authority from
congress. and from many viewpoints it
is desinhis that goyemmsnt oantroi
should be resumed. A method for the ac-
quidtion Of telegraph lines is prsscribed
in section sess Of the revised statutes.
which provides that for postal. military
or other purposes the government NAV
purchase telegraph lines. operated. in tho
United States, at an appraised value.
Plan Reasonable.
MY view Is that every reason for tho
transmission Of mail under government
control can be urged with equal force
for the transmission Of communications
by telegraph.
Because OF the more extensive organi-
Eation maintained by the postal service
and the freedom from taxation and other
charges to which private corporations
arc subject. the government undoubtedly
could afford greater facilities. at lower
rates. than are afforded by companies
now conducting the telegraph businees.
Next 10 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 oportunlty for the
profitable extension OF the nations pos
tai service"
II is not Mr.. Hltehcock's purpose 10
recommend the acquisition OF telephone
lines except possibly, In instances where
they are operated a. telegraph lines and
are an integral part OF definite telegraph
systems.
The latest census figures available in-
dicate that about 10000 people are con-
nected with the telegraph companies ot
the United States. The appraised value
of the systems proposed TO be acquired
would be purely conjectural. but 1t Is
said 1t would approximate sLSolce@