Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-12-18
NATIONAL WIRES
BURLES0N'S PLAN
Postmaster General Says Tele
graph Is Monopoly Which
Public Should Own.
TAKES UP TELEPHONES, TOO
Declares Congress Has Laid Basis for
Taking Over Both the
Systems.

Washington, Dec. 1S.-A sweepin.
declaration in favor of the principl,
Of government ownership Of telephone
and telegraph lines and an assertion
that the postal service now is self
supporting for the first time since
1888 are features of the annual repOr
of Postmaster General Burleson
transmitted TO congress yesterday
He urges that he be authorized to con
tract for experimental aerial mail ser
vice and says his department has sub
mitted a request for $4,000 to use for
that purpose.
Discussing the policy of government
ownership of telegraph and telephone
lines. Mr.. Burleson says:
"A study of the constitutional pur
poses of the postal establishment
leads to the conviction that the post.
Office department should have contro
over all means of the communication
of intelligence.
The first telegraph line in this
country was maintained and operated
as part of the postal service. and it
fit to relinquish this facility to private
enterprise. The monOpolistic nature
OF the telegraph business makes it Of
vital Importance to the people that 1t
be conducted by unseltish interests.
and this can be accomplished only
through government ownership.
The act of July "a, 1866, providing
for the government acquisition of the
telegraph lines upon payment of an
appraised valuation and the act of
1902 directing the postmaster general
to report 10 congress the probable
cost of connecting a telegraph and
telephone system with the postal SER
vice by some feasible plan are evi-
dences of the policy OF this govern
ment ultimately to acquire and oper-
ate these electrical means of COM
as postal facilities, as Is
done by all the princiapl nations, the
United States alone excepted.
Lauds Parcel Post.
The successful operation of the
parcel post has demonstrated the ca
pacity of the government 10 conduct
The public utilities which fall properly
within the postal provision of the con.
stitution.
Every argument in favor of the
government ownership of telegraph
ines may be advanced with equal
ogic and force in favor of the govern.
nent ownership of telephone lines. II
las been completely decided that a
telephone message and telegram are
yt-ffT Of
avs governing the telegraph servics
ma therefore it is believed that the
statute enabling the government 10
acquire, upon the payment of an ap-
praised valuation, the telegraph lines
f the country will enable the govern !
ncnt 70 acquire the telephone network /
f the country.
Inquiry Now in Progress.
In June last committee was ap-
ointed to make an Investigation of .
his subject, TO determine the prelim-
nary steps necessary for the govern !
leHt TO take toward the acquisition of |
he telegraph lines Of the country in /
ccOrdance with section 1861 OF the
eyised statutes. This committee IS
Ow engaged in preparing its prelim-
nary report, and if the findings justify
uch action, proper recommendation
i'll be made by the department at
ster date"
Postmaster General BuTlesOn pre-
snts an elaborate statement OF the
nanciaI operations Of the postofIicc
apartment including a discussion Of
le method OF bookkeeping, which he
as changed.
1T IS gratifying 10 report" says he,
hat the total expense OF maintaining {
le postal service for the fiscal year {
nded JIne 80. 1913, is found 70 be !
gcaeded by the revenues for the same !
eriod; that there is an actual surplus !
S3,s4I, ,906.7s; and that the postal {
srvice is now for the first time since {
383 self-supporting." /
In the course Of his discussion of