The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-11-04
Our Washington
 News Letter

CBy Congressman Clyde H. Tavenner)
 Washington, Nov. 4.-Government ownership of the telegraph, and pos sibly the telephone, will soon receive serious discussion in Congress
 It is argued that the government is in a position to operate both tele- graph and telephone at a much less cost than private companies; that 1t would save the rent private compan- fes are paying for it's 23,OOO offices by z having these stations in the post of fees; that the telegrams could be de- ivered by messenger boys already employed by the special delivery de- pertinent of the postofhce.
 The telegraph companies are capi- talized at 2OO,OOO,00O. It is claim ed that only s5O,OOO,O0O' of this sum Represents actual value, and that the lines could be duplicated new for probably $2o,00O,0Oo.
 To pay dividends on this estimated s150. 100000 of watered stock, 1t is obvious the companies must either hold wages abnorma11y low, or raise rates artihciaIly high. They are do- ing both.
 The great indictment to be brought against the private telegraph 1nOnOp- oIy of this country is that it fails to serve the public The American peo- pie have no idea of the possibilities of the telegraph-how it is possible to cheapen the service so that it can be used economically by everyone for social communications
 In the Court of Birds.
 Have you noticed, MT. Reader, that the crows in your neighborhood have been unusually noisy and Jubilant the past few days?
 Perhaps you do not know the req son
 For several weeks Mir. and Mrs. Crow, and the large family of little r. -SEs5f csi iY- lives before the Court of Birds in Washington Yes, there TealIy is such a court. It is composed of high isaIaried judges who hear all the evil ldence, and then decide whether. the bird defendants shall be extermfnated or permitted to live out their natural lives.
 Some lime ago charges were off, cialIy filed against the Crow family before the Court of Birds, of the De partment of Agriculture, and the crow was officially placed on trial for his life. A verdict of mot guilty was re- turned.
 From the minute study of the con- tents of the stomachs of a, large num- ber of the birds the court concludes that the crow consumes enough grass hoppers, cutworms, white grubs, and other injurious insects to offset his one vicions habit, that of destroying young birds and bird eggs. The one positive danger these investigators found in the crow was when he exist ed in large numbers
 Railroads Want More Pay.
 The railroads, in their present cam paign for more pay for hauling the mails, have neglected to inform the public that in addition to the pay they receive from Uncle Samuel for haul ing the mails, they are also paid sew eraI millions annually merely for the ssrentaI'' of mail cars.
 The sum which the governna ent very generously pays the railroads for rental alone in two years would buy the cars outright.
 There Is no more reason why the government should pay rent for mail cars in addition to the pay for the hauling of the mails, than that a pas senger should pay for a seat in a pas senger coach after buying his railroad ticket
 The government should not deal in roads or any other concern or indi- viduaI with whom it does business.
 The railroads should be permitted to make a sufficient income to pay high wages to it's employees, and to make a high rate of interest on mon ey actually invested: but the railroads have no right to expect the govern rnent or the people to pay exorbitant rates simply to enable them to pay dividends on the millions of dollars of railroad capitalization which rep reSeutS only water and air.