Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-12-10
Administration Plan for Taking
Over TeIegraphs and
Telephones.
WORLDWIDE INQUIRY
is BEING CONDUCTED
Post Office Would Be Given Super
vision of Systems Should They
Be Acquired.

MultiplyinS evidences point almost con-
slusively to the administration getting
IN readiness for the government owner
ship of telephone and telegraph lines.
Those Who know what is going on and
Nhat has been going on have not the
least doubt that the present regular ses-
sion Of Congress may see bill passed
providing for the preliminary steps
toward the ownership of these utilities.
That no bill has been prepared that has
the approval of the administration is
known to be true, but the agencies are at
work that will eventually lead to one
having the stamp Of the administration
and "a majority of the democratic party
i'm Congress-
The advisability or getting "a bill
through at this session is apparent in
view of possible ovcrturns in November
next that might change the complexion
OF the House, although the democrats
are confident that they will have big
rna ioritv i'm the next House. The ques-
ton now is whether high officials OF
the administration can complete the in
NestgdtionS that are going on and put
the material they obtain i'm shape in time
for action by the middle OF next summer
Burleson's Mind Open.
Postmaster General Burleson. who was
at the White House today ON business
other than that of these utilities, spoke
Guardedly To ne aspaper reporters about
government ownership. but his remarks
were Interpreted Us tending TO the i'm
preston that the mind of the afininstra-
ton as represented by the President and
intimate advisers, is almost made up on
the subject.
Mr. Burlesou intimates that the problem
is tremendous one and that he does not
wish TO commit himself definitely until the
facts of the Investigations going
abroad and elsewhere are submitted to
him. He practically admits. however. that
everything SO far occurred is favorable to
government ownership.
The question is very broad Mr..
I;urleson said, but there is widespread
feeling that this step is the logical
successor to the parcel pos post and our i'm.
proved postal system. The people want
the best and naturally they desire the
speediest methods of communication
with each other. The United States is
ahc only nation that does not have
control. at least in part OF these
utilities.
so far as / am concerned, my mind
is open on the problem and it will re-
main open. 1 have talked the matter
over with the President, and he also has
an open mind on the subject We are
Investigating and there will be no hasty
action, but / believe that eventually we
will arrive at decision the subject
that will meet the will of the people.
Problem a Big One.
Il shall have something to say about
:his subject in my annual report For
instance, i had two long talks with
Herbert Samuels, head of the English
sostal system, on this subject. He told
ne just how they work this out over
here. We are having an investigation
IF government ownership of these
Utilities made in all other countries.
You see. when we begin to think of
;ikInS over properties valued at any
.shere from 10o,bo0,0o0 to S300.000,0 600
AID the problems that are involved in
administering them We must make haste
sloWly. When ! am ready to make a
recommendation on the subject j de-
sire to be able TO do in such d man
as will meet with the approval of
ne members of my own party who are
n control of legislation on Capitol
Hill
The phenomenal success of the par
cel post has met with the unqualified
approval of the people. This proposed
plan is considered by many as the next
step. Because of this, it calls for ac-
lion. but We will proceed slowly to
avoid mistakes
Postmaster General Hitchcock. in the
Taft administration. favored government
ownership, but along different lines from
those likely to be advocated by Mr..
Burleson. Mr.. Hitchcock did not obtain
any support for his proposition from
President Taft and there were intima-
tions at one time of a possible rupture
between the two men on the subject. Nh.
Hitchcock went out of Office with his mind
unchanged and strongly believing in gov
ernment ownership