The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1913-12-18
Government IS
FIT TO HANDLE
q. %!!!!'RE " R: BUSINESS s!
cp
Postmaster Genera Burle-
son Favors Principal of
Federal Ownership.
DEPARTMENT ON
SUSTAINING BASIS
Contends That Isig Mistake WAS Made
When Private interests were Per-
mittcd to Gain Control of telegraph
and Telephone.
DEPARTMENT ON
SUSTAINING BASIS

Washington, Dec. 1S.--A sweeping
declaration in favor Of government
ownership Of telephone and telegraph
lines and an assertion that the Postal
Service now Is self-supporting for the
first time since 1883, are features Of
the annual report Of Postmaster Gen.
eral Burleson, transmitted today to
congress.
Concerning the acquisition OF tele-
I'hone and telegraph lines. Postmas-
ter General Burleson says that the
government has demonstrated its ca
pacity to conduct public utilities. and.
from his present information. he is
inclined clearly to the taking over by
the postofice department of the tele-
graph lines and. possibly, also of the
telephone lines. Discussing that the
postmaster general says:
"a study Of the constitutional pur-
poses Of the postal establishment
leads to the conviction that the post
over all means Of the communication
Of intelligence. 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 relinquish this fa-
cility to private enterprise. The mon
opolistic nature Of the telegraph busi-
ness makes 1t of vital Importance to
the people that it be conducted by un-
complished only through government
ownership.
The act Of July "a, 1856. provid-
ing for the government acquisition of
the telegraph lines upon payment of
an appraised valuation and the act Of
1902 directing the postmaster general
to report to congress the probable
cost Of connecting telegraph ami
telephone system with the postal SER
vice by some feasible plan are evil
dences OF the policy Of this govern
ate these electrical means Of COM
munication as postal facilities, as is
done by all the principal nations, the
United States alone excepted.
THE successful operation of tho
parcel post has demonstrated the ca
pacity Of the government to conduct
the public utilities which fall PROPER
ly within the postal provision of the
constitution. ~. - ~ . 3 :.
EVERY argument in favor Of the
government ownership Of telegraph
lines may be advanced with equal
logic and force in favor Of the govern
ment ownership of telephone lines. It
has been competently decided that
telephone message and a telegram are
the same within the meaning Of the
laws governing the telegraph service
and therefore it is believed that the
'1tatute enabling the government 10
praised valuation. the Telegraph lines
Of the country will enable the govern
ment to acquire the telephone net
work Of the country. While it Is true
that the telephone companies have
not complied with the requirements Of
section 5267. revised statutes, this can
not be held to nullify the intent Of
the law, since the non-use on the part
Of the government of any Of Its con-
stitutional privileges in no wise sur
renders the right to exercise THESE
privileges whenever the best interests
Of the nation demand.
"In June last committee was ap-
pointed to make an investigation OF
this subject. to determine the pre-
liminary steps necessary for the gov
ernment to take toward the acQuisi-
tion Of the telegraph lines of the
country in accordance with section
5267 of the revised statutes. This
committee is now engaged in prepar-
findings Justify such action proper
Recommendation will be made by the
department Mt a later date"
Postmaster General Burleson pre-
ssnts an elaborate statement of the
financial operations Of the postofttce
department, including discussion
Of the methods Of bookkeeping, which
he has changed.
at is gratifying to report" says he,
chat the total expenses Of maintain
ing the postal service for the fiscal
year ended June 80, 1913. is found to
be exceeded by the revenues. for the
same period: that there is an actual
surplus of s3,s41, ,906.7s: and that the
postal service Is now for the first time
since 1883 sclf-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
efficiency by the complete standardi-
zation Of the service, which will be
attained by harmonizing equipment.
FAD adjusting the personnel. and securing