Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1913-10-10
l. S. TO MOAOPOLIzE
TELEPHONE BUSINESS
Of THE WHOLE COUNTRY


vet proposed by the Wilson Admin
istration is now being planned and
is about ready for submission to
Congress. 1t is proposal that the
Government acquire and operate
all long-distance Interstate tele-
phone lines
Just how and when the seed was
sown of this new phase of the old
agitation for Federal ownership
and control Of wire communications
has not been disclosed 1t appears,
however, from what has been as
certained from inquiry in Washing
ton that it is development Of the
idea underlying the parcel post sys-
TEN that has been emphasized in
the mind of certain officials and
legislators by investigations con-
ductCd by the Interstate Commerce
Commission7 and the Department
Of Justice into the methods of tele-
phone companies.
In its original form the establish
mert of a parcel post system by the
postotliCe department contemplated
merely the carriage through the
mails Of comparatively light pack
ages of merchandise. Recently
however the weight limit OF pack
ages has been extended for limited
areas to 20 pounds and Postmast-
er General Burleson is anxious to
obtain a still further increase in
the weight limit to 100 pounds. A
limited competition between the
Postoftice Department and the pri-
vately owned express companies
were established by the legalization
Of parcel post system with a
weight limit of II pounds on pack
ages.
The 2O-pound limit increased
this competition materially snd the
proposed 100 pound limit would
tend to seriously curtail private
expires companies business. The
enthusiasm Of some Administration
officials over the success of the par
Gel post as a competitor Of the cx-
press companies now finds EXPIRES
sion in predictions that ultimately
the Government through this -om-
petition will control the express
business Of the country which means
that the express companies will
retire from the field.
Out Of this enthusiasm the idea
of governmental ownership Of the
telephone instead of the telegraph
seems TO have been largely develop
ed. The tremendous expense in
yolved in the purchase of private
ly owned telegraph lines would be
staggering. But means out Of
the financial embarrassment seems
to have been suggested to those
who favor government ownership
by the idea that the Government
through the extension Of the par
Gel post system may acquire the Cx-
press business Of the country bS
the simple process Of forcing nut
the EXPRESS companies through
competition which the companies
would not be able to meet.
If the Government is able to get
all the express business Of the
country through taking off the
weight limit of the parcel post and
hXinG rates with which the express
companies cannot compete. why
should not the Government get con-
troll Of wire communication byiac-
curing and utilizing long distances
~'Nb'NheS lllCb W CbnUtle tNllu
the telegraph companies? That
question puts in nutshell the
problem that is.now being consid-
cred IN its preparatory stages with
a.Vicw to determining the cnaract-
tr and scope Of contemplated lcgis-
lation for Government acquisition
and operation Of electric wire com
munications.
There are reports that President
"llson has given his sanction to
The plan Of Government ownership
OF tclcgrapbs.
10 what extent the Administra.
TONS inclinations toward policy
OF government owncrship of wire
communi alton has developed has
Dot been definitely asccrtaincd but
u is known that the trend OF opin-