Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1913-12-26
Would Buy Up Wires.

features of the annual report of Postmas
ter-General Burleson, transmitted to Con
sress. The Postmaster-General goes farthe
than Congressman Lewis, who wants tn
government to acquire only the telephone
lines.
Concerning the acquisition of telephone
and telegraph lines Postmaster Genera
burleson says that the Government ha,
demonstrated its capacity to conduct pub
lie utilities. and from his present informa
ton he is inclined clearly to the takin,
over by the Postoffice Department of tn,
telegraph lines and possibly also of the
telephone lines. Discussing that the Post
master-General says:
"A study of the constitutional purposes
OF the postal establishment leads to the
conviction that the Postoffice Department
should have control over all means of the
communication of intelligence. The first
telegraph line in this country was main
tanned and operated 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 monopolistic ma
ture OF the telegraph business makes it of
vital Importance to the people that it be
conducted by unselfsh interests and this
can be accomplished only through Govern
ment ownership.
THE Act of July "a. 1855. providing for
the Government acquisition of the tele-
graph lines upon payment of an appraised
valuation, and the Act of 1902, directing
the Postmaster-General to report to Con-
gress the probable cost of connecting a
telegraph and telephone system with the
postal service by some feasible plan, are
evidences of the policy of this Government
ultimately to acquire and operate these
electrical means of communication as pos
tai facilities. as is done by all the princi-
pal nations, the United States alone ex-
cepted.
The successful operation of the parcel
post has demonstrated the capacity of the
Government to conduct the public utilities
which fall properly within the postal pro-
vision of the Constitution.
Every argument in favor of the Govern
ment ownership of telegraph lines may be
advanced with equal logic and force in
favor of the Government ownership of tele-
phone lines. 1t has been competently de-
cided that telephone message and tele-
gram 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 appraised valuation the
telegraph lines of the country will enable
the Government to acquire the telephone
network of the country.
in June last a committee was appointed
to make an investigation of this subject,
to determine the preliminary steps neces-
sary for the Government to take toward
the acquisition of the telegraph lines of
the country in accordance with Section
5267. of the Revised Statutes. This COM
mittee is now engaged in preparing its
report, and if the findings
justify such action proper recommended
ton will be made by the department at a
later date"
Postmaster General Burleson presents
an elaborate statement of the financial
operations of the Postoffice Department,
including discussion of the methods of
which he has changed.
1T is gratifying to report" says he, that
the total expenses of maintaining the pos
tai service for the fiscal year ended June
80. 1918, is found to be exceeded by the
revenues for the same period; that there
is an actual surplus of 1854, 9O6.78, and
that the postal service is now for the first
time since 1888 self-suppOrting.
AS to his general financial policy, Post
Burleson says:
THE dominant policy of the present Ad-
will be to conduct the postal
service for the convenience of the public
and not for profit.
THE prime consideration in perfecting
the personnel of the postal service shall be
to recognize efficiency and to eliminate
In the extension of service
and in the imposition of charges the Gov
eminent must be guided not by the con-
sideration of profit but by the needs of the
people"
Notable recommendations to Congress
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 Postoffice Department be given
exclusive Jurisdiction over the selection of
the sites for public buildings to be used
wholly for postoffice purposes and joint
authority with the Secretary of the Treas
ury in the selection of sites for Federal
buildings to be used jointly by the postal
and other branches of the Government
service.
ITO amend existing law in order to al
low $4,000 indemnity for accidental death
of any officer or employe of the postal
service or for the death within one year
aa . ha raeult of iniuriaa Susto inad in the