The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1913-12-18
DRAFT OF BILL READY
REPRESENTATIVE Lewis to Subj
nit Another Plan to
congress.
$500 600. 900 FOR PHONES
Mar, land Members scheme
Does Not Provide for Buy
iny Telegraph Lines.

NA.,u ,uToN. Dec THE Wilson Adj
m!nistration has decided to urge Gorein-
ment ownership of the telegraph and tele-
phone lines OF the United States.
This conclusion was forced upon WASH
ington by the annual report Of Postmaster
General Burleson. which was made public
Tonight. In i, lie hatly advocates Gov.
ernmcnt ownership Of the extensive wire
facilities in this country.
Mr. Eulleson has held several long con-
f.lences with the President on this subject
and his strong advocacy Of this radical
innovation would hardly have been incor-
porated in the report If it had not already
met with the Endorsement of the President
Furthermore Mr.. Rurleson now has the
draft of q bill before him designed t.
bring about the transfer of these enormous
interests from private to public hands.
It Is understood that Mr.. Burleson Is con-
sidering the question of whether or not
this bill should be indorsed by the Ad-
mlnistration or anOt her measure be framed.
The most interesting feature OF the Post.
| portant subject is his contention that the
Government has legislative authority to
take over the telegraph and telephone lines
| lie insists that this authority is contained
! in a statute passed by Congress In 1856.
| Further action by Congress would of
course be necessary to authorize the m
mems. bond issue that would be necessary
to carry out this great undertaking
! Justiaed by Parcel Post Receipts.
Postmaster General Burleson refers to
the large increase in postal receipts that
! is to flow from the parcel post business.
The indication OF largely increased
postal revenues he says. "justiiies a sell.
ous consideration at this time Of the sub
jcCt OF adding the telegraph and telephone
I a. "A part of our postal service.
3 "A study of the constitutional purposes
Of the postal establishment leads 10 til.
| conviction tina, the Post Office Department
should hav. control over all means OF the
! communication of int-liscnce. The tiiSi
telegraph line in this country was main.
ta!n.d and operated as a part of the poste.
! service, and il is to be regretted that Con
sress saw tit to relinquish this faculty -
private enterprise. The monopolistlc ma
tune OF the telegraph business makes II
OF vital Importance TO the people that II
be- conducted by unselfish interests. and
this can be accomplished only through Cow
eminent ownership.
'The act OF July -. 1866. providing
for the Government acquisition of IN"
telegraph lines upon payment oi AN ap-
praised valuation. and the act oi l'o- IL
rerting the Postmaster General to report
70 Congress the probable cost OF connect
ing a telegraph and telephone system with
the postal service by some feasible plan
are evidences of the policy of this Gov
ernment ultimately to acquire and operate
these electrical means of communication
as postal facilities. AZ Is done by all the
principal nations, the United States alone
excepted.
THE successful operation of the parce.
} post has demonstrated the capacity of the
Government to conduct the public utili-
ties which fall properly within the postal
provision of the Constitution.
Law Also Applies to Phones.
every argument in favor OF the Gov.
ernment ownership OF telegraph lines may
! be advanced with equal logic and force
in favor'of tho Government ownership Of
telephone lines. 1t has been competently
decided that u telephone message and n
telegram are the same within the mean :
ing OF the laws governing the telegraph,
service, and therefore II Is believed that
the statute enabling the Government TO
acquire. upon the payment OF an ap-
praised valuation, the telegraph lines OF
r the country will enable the Government
TO acquire the telephone network OF the
country.
, while It is true that the telephons
companies have not complied with tho re
D uu!rements of section 6o67. Revised stat
u,es, this cannot be held to nullify the
intent OF the law, since the non.perform
: nnce on the part Of tho Government OF
4 any OF its constitutional provisions in nc
o wisc surrenders the right to exercise these
r privileges whenever the best interests o,
n the nation demands.
r "S.nce June last the Department haa
been conducting An investigation to de-
i termine the desirability and practiaabihty
r Of extending the Government ownershiy
and control of means Of communications
with view to the acquisition by tn,
. Government of the telegraph and tele
a phone facilities. to he operated as AN ao
0. tunct to the postal service. Tns Post