Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-22
TAFT IS OPPOSED
TO GOVERNMENT
OWNED TELEGRAPH
DiSapproveS Postmaster Gen.
erals Recommendation in
Message Transmitting
Report.
EAV0Pc HIGHER p0cTACE
fAVORS HIGHER POSTAGE
ON SECOND-CLASS MAIL
Two Cents a Pound for Newspapers
and Magazines Rate Proposed.
REASONS BRIEFLY SET FORTH
Regulation More in Accord With
Public Policy Than Absolute
Control of Utilities, Presi-
dent Tells Congress.

dent Tells Congress.
President Taft today in a message
transmitting the report of the Postmaster
General Informed Congress that he is
opposed to government ownership of the
telegraph recommended by Postmaster
General Hitchcock and that he is in
favor of an increase of the postage rate
on newspapers and magazines from 1
cent to cents a pound. On the subject
of the telegraph the President says:
There is only one recommendation in
which l cannot agree-that is one which
recommends that the telegraph lines in
the United States should be made part
of the postal system and operated in
conjunction with the mail system. This
presents question of government owner
ship of public utilities which are now be-
ing conducted by private enterprise under
franchises from the government.
Not in Accord With Policy.
II believe that the true principle is that
private enterprise should be permitted to
carry on such public utilities under due
regulation as to rates by proper authority
rather than that the government should
itself conduct them. This principle l
favor because / do not think it in ac-
cordance with the best public policy thus
greatly TO increase the body of public
servants"
In approving the report of the commits
sion on second class mail matter and
recommending that the postal rate on
magazines and newspapers be raised from
] cent to 2 cents a pound. the President
% mission the the foiiosins foil wing ssssrsbs fsR7
Such an increase viii not, n the opin-
ion OF the commission. bring Distress upon
the publishers of newspapers and period
icals. or seriously interfere with the dis
seminati0n Of useful news or infOrma-
ton A reasonable time should be al
lowed after the rate is fixed before 1t is
put into effect. While the new rate will
be very far from compensating the gov
eminent for the carriage and handling of
second-elass matter. it will to some ex-
tent relieve the existing burden and re-
suit in more equitable adjustment of
rates"
Message in Full.
The message follows:
To the Senate and House of Representa-
tives:
In transmitting the annual report of the
Postmaster General for the fiscal year
ended June 50. 1911. it gives me pleasure
TO call attention to the fact that the
revenues for the fiscal year ended June
20. 1911. amounted TO S2i7 S13 $3.50 and
that the expenditures amounted to $751;
G6O, 1OS- As, making surplus of S219 IFS L.
For the year ended June ~ 1aa9 the
postal service was in arrears to- the ex-
tent Of S11.i79.113.4 In the interval this
very large deficit has been changed into
surplus, and that without the curta1i-
meHt of postal facilities. Indeed i'm the
same time there have been established
''.'tt new post offices. delivery by carrier
provided in 1S5 additional cities and new
rural routes established, 2.5i6 in number
and aggregating 60.t19 miles in extent
The force of postal employees has been
increased by more than 5000, and a lib
tral pol ey I'm the matter of salaries has
been followed. that the amount ex-
pended for salaries is now x1409oC0J
more than two years ago The average
salary has been increased from $3.50 TO
<sms for rural carriers. $?I3 TO 81 .O.o for
post Office clerks 81 021 to 81 Os4 for city
letter carriers and <i.l6s to 81, Is, for rail-
way postal clerks
Extending Postal Savings System.
The report shows that the postal saw
ings system was begun experimentaliy
in January. 1911. and that it has now
been extended so to include 100
presidential post Offices which includes
practically all of the post offices of that
class. Preparations are also being made
fourth-class offices. The deposits i'm
eleven months have reached a total of
$1I.GD.OOJ, distributed among 2,11O ma
tionaI and state banks.
The Postmaster General recommends as
j have done i'm previous messages. the
adoption of a parcel post. and the begin
ming of this In the organization of such
service rural routes and i'm the city
delivery service first.
The placing of assistant postmasters In
the classified service has secured great
er efficiency. II is hoped that the same
thing may be done with all the post
, masters
The report OF the Postma ster General
is full of statements of the important
improvements in the organization and
methods OF the postal service made since
the last annual report. and of tentative
drafts of legislation embodying certain
recommendations of the department
which need legislation to carry them
out.
Opposed to Government-ownedT Tele-
graph.
There is only one recommendation i'm
which I cannot agree-that is one which
recommends that the telegraph lines
in the United States should be made a
part of the postal system and operated
In conjunction with the mail system.
This presents question of government
ownership of public utilities which are
now being conducted by private enter
prise under franchises from the govern
ment. ! believe that the true principle
is that private enterprise should be per-
mitted to carry on such public utilities
under due regulation as to rates by prop
er authority rather than that the govern
ment should itself conduct them. This
principle l favor because L do not think
II in accordance with the best public
| policy thus greatly TO increase the body
Of tfc nta
he shown that telegraph service could be
furnished to the public at a less price
than II 10 now furnished to the public
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