Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1913-12-18
BELIEVES GOVERNMENT SHOULD
TAKE OVER TELEGRAPH AND
TELEPHONE LINES.
P.0. IS SELF SUPPORTING
For tho First Time Sinoe 1883, the
Postal Service of the u. ). Is
solf- Sustaining Now.

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government ownership Of telephone
and telegraph lines, and an assertion
that the postal service now Ia self
supporting FOR tho first time since
1888, aro features OF tho annual re-
port OF Postmaster iurlesOn, trans
mitted today to congress.
Concerning the acquisition OF tela-
phone and telegraph lines Postmaster
General Burlesou says that the gov
ernment has demonstrated its capacity
to conduct public utilities, and, from
his present information, he is in
cliued clearly TO thu taking over hy
the postofiico department Of the tele-
graph lines, and. possibly also, Of tho
telephone lines Discussing that tho
postmaster general says.
"A study Of the constitutional pur-
poses of the postal establishment leads
60 the conviction that the postotiice de-
partment should have control over all
means OF communication and intclli-
gencc The first telegraph line In this
country was maintained and operated
as part Of the postal service, and It
is to be regretted that congress saw
fit to rellnquish this facility to private
enterprise. The monopollstic natura
Of tho telegraph business makes 1t "
vital Importance TO the people that It
be conducted by unselflsh interests
and this can he accomplished only
through government ownership
THE act OF July "a, 1865. proyid-
ing Tor the government acquisition "
tho telegraph lines upon payment OF
an appraised valuation and the act OF
1902, directing the postmaster general
10 report 10 congress the probable
cost of connecting telegraph and
telephone system with the postal SER
lNice by some feasible plan. are el-
dences OF the poncy OF this govern
ment ultimately TO acquire and oper-
ate these electrical means ot COM
munication az postal facilities. as IL
done by all the principal nations, tho
United States alone excepted.
The successful operation Of the
parcel post has demonstrated the
capacity OF the government to con-
duct the public utilities which fail
properly within the postal provision
Of the constitution.
Every argument In favor OF the
government ownership Of telegraph
lines may be advanced with equal
logic and force in favor Of the gov
ernment ownership OF telephone lines.
II has been compotently decided that
a telephone message and a telegram
are the same within the meaning Of
the laws governing the telegraph SER
vice, and therefore, Il f. believed that
the state enabling the govern
ment 20 acquire, upon the payment Of
IN appraised valuation the telegraph
lines of the country Will enable the
government to acquire the telephone
network Of the country While it is
true that the telephone companies
have not complied with the require
ments Of section 5267 revised statutes.
this cannot be held 10 nullfy the in
tent Of the law, since the non-use on
the part II the government OF any OF
It's con sttutlonal privileges in no wise
sprreuders the right TO exercise these
privileges whenever the best Interests
of The nation demand
IN June last q committee was ap-
pointed To make an investigation ot
this subject to determine the prellm-
inary steps necessary for the govern
ment TO take toward the acquisition u
the telegraph lines Of the country in
accordance with section J267 og the
revised statutes This committee Is
now engaged In preparing its prelim-
mary report, and n the findings Jus
tify such action proper recommend1-
tlou viii be- nnde by the department
AT lnter date"
Postmaster General Burle5on pre-
sants an elaborate statement " tha
financial operations Of the postoff'cs
department. including discussion -
the methods Of bookkeepius which
he has changed
"lt Is gratifying TO report" says hs
that the total expenses OF maintain
ing the postal service for the fiscal
year ended June 80, 1918. IL found to
be exceeded by the revenues for tho
same period that there is an actual
surplus " s3.S41.sO6.Ts and that 'he
postal service is now for the first
time since 1883 self supporting
IA to hi= general financial policy.
POSTMASTER General BurlesOn says.
Tho dominant policy ot the pres
ent administration will be To- conduct
the postal service for the convenience
of me public and not Tor profit ~,
controlling purpose will be TO promote
cfl.ieucy by the complete standard
lzltion Of the service. which will ba
attained hy harm mon'-ing equipment.
adjusting the personnel and securing
tho greatest possible cooperation IA
every quarter
The prime consideration In per-
footing tho personnel of the postal scr
vice shall be to recognize the eH-
cheney. and to eliminate partisanship.
In the extension Of service and I'm the
imposition OF charges the government
must be guided not by the considera-
ton OF profit but hv the needs OF tha