The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1913-12-18
BURLESON FAVORS
government
ownership
POSTMASTER GENERAL ENDORSES
PRINCIPLE IN REPORT TO
CONGRESS.
POSTAL SERVICE IS PAYING
That Department Is Now Selfsupport-
ing Advanced AZ Good Reason for
Taking over Of Telegraph Lines and
Possibly Telephone Lines.

Washington, Dec. 18.-A sweeping |
declaration in favor of the principle
of government ownership of telephone !
and telegraph lines and an assertion
that the Postal Service now is self
supporting for the first time since 1883
are features of the annual report of
Postmaster Burleson, transmitted to
Congress.
Concerning the acquisition of tele-
phone and telegraph lines Postmaster
General Burleson says that the gov
ernment has demonstrated its capaci-
to to conduct public utilities, and, from
his present information, he is inclined
clearly to the taking over by the Post
office Department of the telegraph
lines and, possibly, also, of the tele-
phone lines. Discussing that, the post
master general says:
"a study of the constitutional pur-
poses of the postal establishment leads
to the conviction that the Postofflce
Department should have control over
all the means of communication Of in
telligence. The first telegraph line in
this country was maintained and op-
Grated as a, part of the postal service,
and it is to be regretted that Congress
saw fit to relinquish this facility to
private enterprise. The monopolistic
nature of the telegraph business makes
it of vital Importance to the people
that it be conducted by unselfish in
terests, 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 to Congress the probable
cost of connecting a telegraph and tel
ephone system with the postal service
| by some feasible plan,' are evidences
of the policy of this government ulti
mately to acquire and operate these
electrical means of communication al
postal facilities, as is done by all thu
principal nations, the United States
alone excepted.
| "The successful operation OF the par
eel post has demonstrated the capacit!
OF the government to conduct the pub
|, llic. utilities which fall properly with
J IN the postal provision OF the const
t tuition.
. Every argument IN favor Of tn
government ownership Of telegrap
lines may be advanced with equa
logic and force in favor Of the govern
ment ownership of telephone lines
1t has been competently decided tha
d a telephone message and a telegral
;. are the same within the meaning of tn
laws governing the telegraph service
n and therefore il is believed that tn
statute enabling the government
acquire, upon the payment of an a
praised valuation, the telegraph lint
of the country will enable the COVER
ment to acquire the telephone ne
work of the country.
''While it is true that the telephol
/. companies have not complied with Il
requirements of section 5,267, Revis
Statutes, this cannot be held to null
" fy the intent of the law, since the ne
use on the part Of the government
any of its constitutional privileges
nowise surrenders the right to ex
Continued on Page Five.)