Albuquerque evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1911-1914, 1912-03-21

the value. Of public utility plant
should be represented by a relatively
small percentage Of outstanding SCI
curlties calling for nxed charges"
The report shows the satisfactory
cooperation OF the legal department
with the public service commissions.
Another new feature IN q brief sum-
mary OF the important work done by
the general engineering stan at the
headquarters Tor tho benefit OF the
associated companies throughout the
shown In extonded transmission, bet
ter service and economies Of very
great Importance. II also speaks OF
the rearrangements OF the associated
companies 50 as 20 secure greater ef-
hciency and economy becaus OF their
cloeer conformity to geographical and
commercial requirements OF the
country II q clearly brought out
that the requirements OF telephone
service demanded not only the local
responsibility OF these companies but
also cooperation between them, and
that the centralized general admins
tratlon Of the American Telephone
and telegraph company Is necessary
both for economy ANA uniformity.
In speaking OF tho closer relations
with independent md opposition COM
panies. Mr. Vail reafIirms the state
ment OF policy made early in tae year,
that II an independent company f.
purchased or merged. rs connections
VIII not be cut or. and that such
changes will result nos In decreased
facilities but in Increased facilities.
lno report states tilnt the relations
Win pei inanent codes Of control anu
ieSuiaion curing the pasa year nave
Decn very Satisfactory, ana draws "a
comparison IA favor ot permanent
COMMISSIONS AS against temporary
committees.
As 70 government ownership. the
report says.
line uisoussion OF tho government
ownership cf the wire companies is
not likely TO become anything more
than academic, az least for the pres
emit
Even Il tae final conclusion should
favor government purchase OF an
wire plants. there would be no unfa-
vorablo consequences to the share
holders OF the wire companies other
than the obligatory liquidation, Any
possible award for tho property
which the security holders would be
Obliged 60 accept would give them
better than current prices FOR their
securities"
II is stated that out OF the whole
populetSa, comparatively few use the
telegraph or weuld use Il under any
conditions, as the telegraph can never
take the place OF the mails. II rates
were reduced under government own
ersaip Il would be at the expense of
tho general tax payers. There is
hardly telegraph or telephone sya-
tenn In the world now operated by any
government whioh shows a profit even
under accounting methods employed.
and not one that would not snow a
deficit under accounting methods OBJ
ligatory upon private enterprise, as
can be learned from the department
report 0f any government telegraph
system. Take the kind and quality
Of service, the extent OF territories
covered and wages to employees, there
~ no service In the world cheaper
than the telegraph and telephone SER
vice OF the United states.
The report gives In some detail the
reasons why better. broader and more
economical service can be given the
public through the cooperation OF the
telephone and telegraph systems,
There are possibilities fraught with
all sorts ~ advantages 20 the public
which can be put IN operation as fast
as physical ohanEcs crn be- made in
the plant. bat those OF the greatest
advantage. prudence would dictate
posiponing untn after business "ro-
strictions' are made clearer or moro
definitely interpreted.
The report goes very thoroughly