The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-12-18

Washington, Dec. 1S.-A sweeping | declaration Of the principle of govern nnent ownership of teTephone and tele- graph lines and an assertion that the postal service now is self-supporting for the first time since 1883 are fea- 1 lures of the annual report of Postmas- | ter-Genera1 Burleson, transmitted to I Congress. Concerning the acquisition Of telephone and telegraph lines, Post master-Genera1 uBrlegon says that the government has demonstrated its ca pacity to conduct public utilities, and, from his present information, he is in c1ined clearly to the taking over py | the post office department of the tele- graph. Hnes,~ and possibly also of the telephone lines.
 Discussing that, the postmaster gen. era1 says:
 "A study of the constitutional pur- poses of the postal establishment leads to the conviction that the post office
 department should have control over all means of the communication of in
 telIigence. The first telegraph line in this country was maintained and op-
 erated as a part of the postal service,
 and it. to be regretted that Congress saw fit to- reIi-sa uishz shis .facilitsE tn private enterprise The nonopoistie nature of the telegraph business m 1alxes
 it of vital importance to the people
  ests, and this can be accomplished only through government ownership.
 tsTfae successful operation Of the par eel post has demonstrated the capacity of the government to conduct the puR- lie utilities which fall properly within
 the postal provision of the constitu- ton.
 AS TO TELEPHONE LINES / '.Every argument in favor of the government ownership of telegraph lines may be advanced with equal logic and force in favor of the government ownership of telephone lines It has been competently decided that a tele- phone message and a, telegram are the same within the meaning of the laws governing the telegraph service, and thtrefore it is believed that the statute enabling the government to acquire, upon the payment of an appraised val uation the telegraph lines of the coun- try will enable the government to ac- qutre the telephonic network of the country.
 While it Is true that the telephone companies have not complied with the requirements of section 5267, Revised Statutes, this cannot be held to nulllfy the intent of the law. since the nonuse on the part of the government of any of it's constitutional privileges in no wise surrenders the right to exercise these privileges whenever the best in terests of the nation demand
 ''In June last a committee was ap-. pointed to make an investigation CT this subject to determine the prelimi- nary steps necessary for the govern ment to take toward the acquisition Of the telegraph lines of the country III accordance with section 5267 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 Sat later date"
 FINANCIAL OPERATIONS.
 PostnasterlGeneral Burleson pre- eents an elaborate statement of the financial operations of the post ofnce department, including a discussion or inc methods of bookkeeping, which he has changed. '"It is gratifying to re- port'' says he, t'that the total expenses of maintaining the postal service for the fiscal year ended June 30 1913, IS found to be exceeded by the revenues for the same period; that there is an actual surplus of s, S41, ,S06.78; and that 1 inc actual postal service is now for the | first time since 1883 se1f-supporting"
 As to his general financial policy, | Pos tmaster- General Burleson says: | ''The dominant policy of the present 1 administration will be to conduct the | postal service for the con postal service for profit.
 ELIMINATES PARTTZANSHIP.
 '"The prime consideration in perfect | ing the personnel of the postal service l shall be to recognize efficiency, and to eliminate partisanship.
 Notable recommendation to Con- Eress for the enactment of additional l to facilitate and extend the | operations of the postal service are made Among the more important are the following:
 *tThat the postof1ce department be given exclusive Jurisdiction over the selection of the sites for public builGi- Ings to be used wholly for postoffice purposes, and Joint authority with the secretary of the treasury in the se- lection of sites for federal buildings to be used jointly by the postal and | other branches of the government ser vice.
 ITO amend existing law in order to allow $2, GOO indemnity for accidental 1 Heath of any officer or employe of the postal service or for death within one