The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1913-12-25
WOULD BUY OUT
ALL WIRE LINES
Postmaster General BurleSon'S
Annual Report.
THE P. O. SELF-SUPP0RTING
Declares the Government Should
Also Take Over the TeIe-
graph and Telephone
Lines.

ton in favor OF the principle OF gov
eminent ownership of telephone and
telegraph lines and an assertion that
the Postal Service now is self-support-
ing for the first time since 1888, are
features of the annual report of Post
master General Burleson, transmitted
to Congress.
Concerning the acquisition of tele-
phone and telegraph lines, Postmaster
General Burleson says that the gov
eminent has demonstrated its capacity
to conduct public utilities, and, from
his present information, he is inclined
clearly to the taking over by the Post
Office Department of the telegraph
lines and possibly, also, of the tele-
phone lines. Discussing that the Post
master General says:
"A study of the constitutional pur-
poses of the postal establishment leads
to the conviction that the PostofiCe
Department should have control over
all means of the communication of in
telligence. The first telegraph line in
this country was maintained and oper-
ated as part of the postal service,
and it is to be regretted that Con-
gress saw fit TO relinquish this facility
to private enterprise. The mOnopol-
istic nature of the telegraph business
makes it Of vital importance to the
people that it can be conducted by
unseldsh interests, and this can be
accomplished only through govern
ment ownership.
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. 1t has
been competently decided that tele-
phone message and telegram are
the same within the meaning of the
laws governing the telegraph service
and therefore it is believed that the
statute enabling the government to
acquire, upon the payment of an APP
raised valuation. the telegraph lines
Cf the country will enable the gov
eminent to acquire the telephone net
work of the country.
1t is gratifying to report" says he,
that 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 $3,S41 ,906.7S: and that the
postal service is now for the first
time since 1883 self-supporting
AS to his general financial policy
Postmaster General BurIeson says:
The dominant policy of the pres
ent administration will be to conduct
the postal service for the convenience
of the public and not Tor profit. The
prime consideration in perfecting the
personnel Of the postal service shall
be to recognize efficiency and to eli
inmate craftsmanship
Notable recommendation to Con
gress for the enactment of additional
legislation to facilitate and extend the
operations of the postal service are
made. Among the more important
are the following:
That the Postof1ice Department be
selection of the sites for public build
ings to be used wholly for postoffice
purposes, and joint authority with the
Secretary of the Treasury in the selec-
ton of sites for federal buildings to
be used jointly by the postal and other
branches Of the government service
To amend existing law in order to
allow $4,000 indemnity for accidental
death Of any officer or employee of the
postal service or for death within one
year as the result of injuries sustained
in the service in the line of duty"
The elimination of surety bonds
now required Of postal officers and en-
plOyes and the substitution of
guaranty fund established and main
tanned by assessments prescribed by
the Postmaster General to contract for
experimental aerial eral
ITO authorize the removal of the
limitation on the amount of postal
savings deposits with the provso that
interest shall not be paid on more than
$1,000. This will permit postal saw
ings depositors to deposit any
amount"
The report indicates that the growth
of the parcel post business has been
phenomenal. The experience gained
in the operation of the system under
the revised rates and weights has
shown that q further reduction of
rates and increase of weight limit is
a
eral"