Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-12-18

government ownsrship Of telegraph
lines may be advanced with equal logic
and force In favor Of the government
ownership Of Telephone lines. 1t q
been eompstsntly decided that a tele-
phone message ana Q telegram are the
Same within the meaning Of the laws
governing the telegraph service and
therefore It II believed that the stat
ute enabling the government to &C.
Quire, upon the payment OF an APP
praised valuation. the telegraph lines
OF the country will enable the govern
ment to acquire the telephone network
Of the country. While 1t Is true that
the telephone companies have not COM
piled with the requirements OF section
1857. revised statutes, this can not be
held to nullify the intent Of the law.
since the nonuse on the part Of tho
government Of any Of Its constitutional
privileged In no wise ~surrenders the
right to exercise these privileges
whenever the best interests of the ma
ton demand.
I'm June, last, a committee was APP
pointed to make an investigation Of
this subject to determine the prelim-
mary steps necessary for the govern I.
ment to take toward the acquisition OF
the telegraph lines Of the country in
accordance with section 1851 OF the re-
vised statutes. This committee is now
engaged, in preparing Its preliminary
report, and, if the findings justify such
action, proper recommendation will be
made by the department at a later
date"
Revenues Exceed Expenses.
Postmaster General Burleson pre-
sents an elaborate statement of the A.
nancial operations of the p%ostoffice de-
p~artnent, including a discussion OF the
methods of bookkeeping, which he has
changed.
1T Is gratifying to report" says he,
that the total expenses Of maintaining
the postal service for the fiscal year
ending June 80, 1918, is found to be ex-
ceeded by the revenues for the same
period, that there is an actual surplus
of So, S41, 906.7S and that the postal SER
vice is now for the first time since 1888
self-supporting."
AS to his general financial policy.
Postmaster General Burleson says:
The dominant policy Of the present
administration will be to conduct the
postal service for the convenience OF
the public and not for profit. Its con
trolling purpose will be to promote eff
ficiency by the complete Standardized
ton Of the service. which will be at.
tanned by harmonizing equipment, adj
justing the personnel, and securing the
greatest possible cooperation in every
quarter.
"The prime consideration in perfect
ing the personnel of the postal service
shall be to recognize efficiency, and to
eliminate p~artisanship. In the extern
sion of service and in the imposition OF
charges the government must be guided
not by the consideration Of profit. but
by the needs Of the people, who have a
right to expect the most efficient postal
service administered in the most eco
nomical manner possible, and made
available to them at rates involving,
for the service as a whole, no element
of taxation. The service should be
extended, with due regard for the ext
gencies Of public rSveff1e. where Its
benefits. commercial and social. war
ram the expenditure necessary, ire
spective Of whether or not the revenue
from each extension will defray the
cost thereof"
Makes Numerous Recommendation.
Notable recommendations to, congress
for the enactment Of additional legisla-
ton to facilitate and extend the opera