The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1913-10-11
UNCLE SAM MAY OWN IN
s.5, TELEGRAPH SYSTEM

Ell iss., Continued Efsn Pags l.,
referred the matter to the commits
sion, Jan. % last. ## 5tr +
!. What the probable recommends
tons Of the commission may be are
not known. But 1t is known that
several Of the interstate commission
ers-probably a majority Of them
are in favor Of government owner
ship and operation, rather than gov
eminent regulation. The Significance
Of this situation lies in the fact that
there Is already /. on the statute
books-although known to but few
people-an old law under which the
federal government actually has
authority which could be used to
purchase the telegraph lines. This
Is an act Of Aug. z. 1888. which
amended. an earlier act Of July "a,
1865, entitled: IAN act to aid in the
construction of a railroad and tele-
graph line from the Missouri river to
the Pacific ocean, and to secure to
the government the use Of the same
for postal, military and other pur-
poses" ri;
Government Can Purchase. =.
A provision Of this act makes it
possible for the government at any
time to purchase the lines Of any
telegraph company to which has been
granted by the government "any
subsidy in land or bond or loan or
credit" The act provides that the
government shall have the power to
appraise the properties of "such
companies as file acceptance of the
act with the postmaster general"
If thew do not file such acceptance
they are trespassers on post road
railroads which carry mail are post
roads, under the decision Of the
courts. AS a matter of act, all the
telegraph companies have filed such
acceptance and so are subject to
condemnation and purchase by the
government at any time.
The provisions of this act undoubt-
eddy would also apply to any tele-
phone company whose lines are also
| used for telegraphing purposes, as
| many are. In addition to this, it is
seriously contended that this act also
aplies to other telephone companies,
inasmuch as the interstate commerce
law groups together telegraph, tele-
phone and cable companies whether
wire or wireless)." 1t is believed
this law makes a telephone, cable
or wireless company synonymous
with a telegraph: company, and
| therefore that the act would apply
to all of them equally.
Telephone Most Important.
AS a matter Of fact, it is probable
that whatever action. is taken in con-
! gress on this matter will look rather
to the acquisition of telephone lines
than the telegraph. The telegraph
! is quite likely. to be: displaced as a
commercial proposition by, wireless.
Telegraph companies are :enorm ously
! over capitalized and the government
would be buying aAquantity Of water
| In taking them A6ver. II In : addition
to this. many telegraph wires: are, Of
iron,. which fast rotting away,
while all telephone wires are Of cop
per and cannot rust out. Then,
too, telephone wires can be used
for telegraphing, while a telephone
conversation Is going on. A number
Of messages can, be sent over a single
wire at the same time. The examin-
| alton made by the commerce COM
mission, while not yet official, SENS
to show that telephone capitalize
ton is much nearer representing real
values than telagraDh
But. however, these questions
may finally be determined, it is al
most a certainty that with major
ity of the housed. postoffice icom-
| mittee about ready to favor the
! project Of government ownership
! and operation. and with a practical
! majority Of the interstate commits
! sioners unofficially in favor of the
same thing this country will see the
| plan in effect in reasonably short
time. It may, be-, predicted without
! reservation t:lat one or more bills
! to this end will be introduced at the
coming short session which convenea
| IN