The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-01-15
postmaster General Hitchcock Wou's
Like to See Government Owner
ship Of all Wires In the
United states.
WOULD COST MILLIONS
Government Could Run the 5uslness
Cheaper and Give Good Ser
vice at one.Thlrd Pres
ent Rates.

United Press Leased Wire Service
WASHINGTON, Jan. 15.-Political
Washington gasped with surprise to-
day when 1t digested the declaration
of Postmaster General Hitchcock rec
ommending government ownership of
all telegraph lines.
Every effort was made at the white
house to find the postmaster general
and recall the statement, but Hitch
cock could not be found. He left for
New York. Friday and persons at his
Office and apartment said they did
not know where he was.
g.When he returns. he will be in for
assession with the president, accord
Ing to reports here.
Both in the departments and a,
the capitol Hitchcock's recommends
ton was the subject of discussion.
His scheme contemplated the pay
ment of something like quarter OF
billion dollars for the telegraph
lines OF the country and the addition
OF one hundred thousand employees to
the government rolls. The postma,
ter general asserted snat the govern.
ment could run the lines cheaper and
give the public service, at about one
third less than the present rates.
In formal statement issued this
afternoon, the white house declared:
The recommendation by the post
master general that 1t would be well
Tor the government 20 buy the tele-
graph lines and incorporate them in
the postoffice system appeared in an
eal, Ter report submitted by him to
The president. After some discussion
It was decided at the suggestion OF
he president, to postpone reference to
The matter to another year and not to
bring it forward then, because of the
recommendation of many other i'm
portant changes, including the postal
savings banks and the parcels post.
These. if adopted. would take up all
the energy OF the postoffice depart.
ment in making the necessary
changes. The postmaster general in
tended to bring this matter to the at
tention of the president before the
publication in advance Of this part OF
his report. After having made prep
aration for publication, he was sud
denly called out OF town without hav-
Ing done SO.
His conclusion as to the wisdom Of
the taking over the telegraph lines
has been reached only after full in
vestigation and consideration. AS the
report containing the recommendation
has not yet been submitted to the
president, it has not yet been consid
cred by him by the cabinet with {
view to presenting its conditions al
an administration measure.
Representative Victor t. Berger, tn,
Wisconsin socialist. was enthusiastic
over Hitchcock's plan. There is nj
doubt but that Postmaster Genera
Hitchcock is sensible in his plan" h
declared. HE says he could get bet
ter service from a government-ownet
telegraph for less than one-third o
the present rates. might add tha
the government would pay much bet
ter wages.
What holds good for the TELEGRAPH
however, undoubtedly holds good 70
the telephone. As a matter of fac
the same wires could often be use,
for both purposes and thus afford
still greater saving"
Berger favored government owner
ships of all utilities
1T is simply question whethe
big business is to own the govern
ment or whether the government is t
own big business, . he declared
have prepared bill for the nations
ownership OF the telegraph. telephone
express companies, railroads and cos
mines"
That Hitchcock's advocacy of th
government Ownership plan may caus
serious outbreak between Presider
Taft and his former campaign man;
ger, was indicated when 1t becam
known later in the day that the whit
house had called on the postoffice d
partmsnt for the manner in which th
Hitchcock plan was made publ
When Hitchcock left the white hous
after conference he declined to di
cuss his recommendation.
The president is better talk,
Than ! am. 80 guess he had .bett,
tell you about IT," he declared Il e
pect him to issue a statement this a
leTnoon. ! can't discuss the matt'
further