The daily sentinel., 1913-12-18
WILSON NOT
PUSH PUBLIC
OWNERSHIP
Democratic Congress TO Con-
slider Buying Telegraph and
Telephone Lines.
Associated Press.

Associated PreSS.
Washington, Dea 1S.-Postmaster
General Burleson's declaration for
principle government ownership of
the telegraph and telephone compan-
les, is outlined in his annual report,
which will undoubtedly be followed
by a democratic caucus in the house
in January, which will decide Just
how far the project will be made an
administration policy.
The president has been giving the
project much careful study and the
administration men say that they be-
lieve he has not pressed it upon con-
gress at this time because of the enor-
nous expense involved.
Concerning the acquisition of tel
ephone and telegraph lines, Postmas-
ter General Burleson says that the
government has demonstrated its ca
pacity to conduct public utilities, and
from his present Information, he is
inclined clearly to the taking over by
the postoffice department OF the tele-
graph lines and, possibly, also, of the
telephone lines. Discussing that the
postmaster general says:
"A study of the constitutional pur-
poses of the postal establishment
leads to the conviction that the post
l bll ltt nave EOH-
troll over all means of the communica-
tion of Intelligence. The first tele-
graph line in this country was main
tained and operated as a part of the
postal service, and it is to be regret
ted that congress saw fit to relinquish
this facility to private enterprise. The
monopolistic nature of the telegraph
| business makes ii of vital Importance
| to the people that it be conducted by
unselfish interests, and this can be
accomplished only through govern
ment ownership.
"The act of July "a, 1866. provid-
! ing for the government acquisition
of the telegraph lines upon payment
of an appraised valuation and the act
of / 902 directing the postmaster gen.
eral to report to congress the proba-
BILE cost of connecting telegraph and
| telephone system with the postal SER
vice by some feasible plan, are evil
dences Of the policy of this govern
ment ultimately to acquire and ope-
rate these electrical means of commu-
nication as postal facilities, as is done
by all the principal nations, the Unit
ed States alone excepted.
1.-The successful operation of the
parcel post has demonstrated the ca
the public utilities which fall proper
ly within the postal provision of the
constitution.
every argument in favor of the
government ownership of telegraph
! lines may be advanced with equal log
| ic and force in favor of the govern
ment ownership of telephone lines.
1t has been competently decided that
a telephone message and a telegram
are the same within the meaning OF
the laws governing the telegraph SER
vice and therefore 1t is believed that
| the statute enabling the government
| tc acquire, upon the payment of an
appraised valuation, the telegraph
lines of the country will enable the
government to acquire the telephon-
ic network of the country. While 1T
is true that the telephone companies
have not complied with the require
ments of section 5267, revised sta
tutes, this can not be held to nullify
the intent of the law, since the nom
use on the part of the government
of any of it's constitutional privileges
in no wise surrenders the right to ex-
ercise these privileges whenever the
best interests of the nation demand.
''In June last a committee was ap-
pointed to make an investigation OF
this subject, to determine the prelim-
mary steps necessary for the govern
ment to take toward the acquisition
of the telegraph lines of the country
in accordance with section 5267 OF
the revised statutes. This committee
is now engaged in preparing its pre-
liminary report, and if the findings
justify such action proper recommen-
dation will b made by the department
at later date