The Mena weekly star., 1912-02-29
TAFT Don't WANT
TELEGRAPH LINES
In Submitting Postmaster General
IIitchc0ck's Report TO Congress
President Objects to Govern
ment Ownership Idea.

Washington, Feb. 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 an adjunct of the
postal system. Mr.. Taft said that if
lit 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
lother features of Mr.. Hitchcock's
administration of affairs, Mr.. Taft,
in transmitting the postoffice de-
lpartment's report to congress, said
today:
There is but one recommended
ton in which cannot agree-that
lis one which recommends that the
Telegraph lines of the United States
should be made a part of the postal
system and operated in conjunc-
tion with the mail system. This
presents a question of government
ownership Of public utilities which
Iare now being conducted by private
enterprises under franchises from
1.-THE government.
7 believe that the true principle
! is that private enterprises should
be permitted to carry on such pub
lie utilities under due regulation as
10 rates by proper authority rather
THAN that the government itself
lshould conduct them. This princi-
lple | favor because I do not think
lit in accordance with the best pub
Tic policy thus greatly to increase
the body of public servants.
"Of course, if it could be shown
that telegraph service could be fur
Inished to the public at a less price
Ethan ii is now furnished to the
public by telegraph companies and
with equal efficiency, the argument
might be a strong one in favor of
the adoption Of the proposition. But
II am not satisfied from any evil
ldence that if these properties were
taken over by the government they
Ic0uld be managed any more econ
Iomically or any more efficiently, or
THAT this would enable the govern
Ement to furnish services at any
smaller rate than the public are
now required to pay by private
companies.
"More than this. it seems to me
Ithat the consideration Of the ques-
ltion ought TO be postponed until af-
tier the postal savings banks have
lcome into complete and smooth OPP
Ieration and after a parcels post has
lbeen established. not only upon the
Irural routes and city deliveries hni
Ials0 throughout the department. It
Twill take sometime to perfect these
additions to the activities in the
|postoffice department, and we may
well await their complete and sue
Icessful adoption before we take on
d new burden in this very extended
department
The president found much, he
said, to commend in Mr. Hitchcock's
department. Il cannot speak with
ltoo great emphasis. he said, "of
1.-The Improvement in the postofllce
department under the present man
Iagement,n said the president. He
showed that there was surplus of
I$2i9,iiS.i2 at the end of the last
fiscal year, compared with q deficit
lof si7,479,770.47 two years before.
This was not to be accounted for,
1.-The president pointed out, by re-
lductions Of force or numbers of
lpostofiices or salaries, but by scien-
ltific economy.
Mr.. Taft approved the adoption
of a parcels post recommended by
Mr.. Hitchcock: said that the plac-
ling of assistant postmasters in the
leivil service should be followed by
placing under the classified service
OF postmaster and commended the
POSTAL savings system. Prepare
tons are being made TO establish,
Inc said. this system Of about 10000
c....fl. .1r~A nff4aa