El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-12-14
MINING NEWS SOUTHWESTERN DEVELOPMENT Ell PASO HERALD
BURLESON SAYS
TAKE OVER LINES
Government Ownership Of
Telegraph and Telephone
Systems Is Urged.

Washington, d. C., Dec. 14.-RecOm-
mendation that early action be taken
looking to government ownership of
all telegraph and telephone facilities is
made in the annual report of postmas-
ter general Albert S. Burleson, submit
ted to president Wilson.
The postmaster general also urges;
'sThat the telegraph and telephone
systems Of Alaska, Porto Rico and the
Hawaiian islands, including the Alas
kan cable now operated by the war de-
nartment be Immediately taken over
and operated by the postoffice depart
ETH That the postoffiee department be
LEGALLY recognized as having authority
over the selection of sites and in pass
ing upon the designs for buildings to
| be used for postal purposes
"That postage rates on second class
matter be readjusted. as heretofore
I recommended, so that the rates on pub
/ iications other than newspapers issued
as frequently as once a week be in
/ creased from one cent pound to two
For the first time since its organi-
| zation nv Benjamin Franklin. the post
! office department is on self-sustain-
| inc oasis. says the postmaster general.
q. Has Good Surplus.
| Mr.. PurlesOn features his report with
an estimate that a surplus of $3.50, 545,
! tba second of his administration, will
/ he shown for the fiscal year of 1914,
| when all claims and charges have been
| met on that showing he bases his
declaration that the department has
! been securely placed upon self-sus-
at 1T Is safe to say" the report adds,
| that unless unusual conditions should
arise. resulting in abnormal depression
| Of business, there is no danger of re-
| curing deficiencies"
The report suggests the substitution
| Of contract "star route system Tor
saIarfed rural carrier service to elm
mate $40, 10000 annual loss on rural
delivery, also postofEce cooperation
with state governments in road build
ing where improvements insure DeIteI
postal service
| Reimbursement of postmaster salaries
| on basis of changes in business handled
due to parcel post development, also is
suggested
Growth of Parcel Post.
OF the parcel post during the last
year the report says;
Rapid growth of the parcel post
vastly increased postal business during
the year The departments field Of
service has expanded at phenomena
| rate; it is still expanding. Notwith'
standing the decreases of parcel pos
/ rates authorized January 1, 1914, econ
| omies Of administration have kept eX
penses within the revenue"
| OF the departments financial condl
ton the report says;
1.-THE postal revenues for 19l
| amounted to $2S7, 934.565.67, an increas
over the preceding year Of slightly les
than eight percent. as compared Win
corresponding increase OF slightly NOR
than eight percent for 1913. The AUDIT
ed expenditures for the year amounte
to s283,543 1916, and the adjuste
losses due to fire, burglary, etc, [
S14,33346 The excess of audited rev
! enues over audited expenses and losse
is, therefore, S4.376,463.05."
Reviewing his recommendations 70
| | government ownership of telegrap
l | and telephone lines, Mr. BurlesOn says
1.-THE postmaster general renews tn
! recommendation embodied in his las
: | annual report that congress serlOusI
) | consider the question Of declaring
} government monopoly over all utilitie
| for the public transmission Of intelli
| gence and that steps be taken as 500
| as practicable to incorporate into tn
, | postal establishments the telegrap
. and telephone systems OF the country.
Authorized IN Constitution.
= TT is an interesting fact that where
as policies of government have bee
advocated and some adopted, the cor
stitutionality Of which have been 81
! riously questioned, the principle
Z | government ownership and control
the telegraph and Telephone finds i
+ greatest strength in the constitutio
+ This opinion has been shared by pra'
ticaIly all postmasters general OF II
\ | United States, who have held that u
a | welfare and happiness Of the nation d
. | pend upon the fullest utilization
I | these a agencies by the people, which ca
= ! only be accomplished through govern
= ment ownership
Much Already Government Owned.
). "A large part of the property Il
volved is already government ownt
> | and operated in Alaska by the war d
, ! partment and in Porto Rico by the II
Y suIar governments. The services are
e detached geographically as to preclul
l. complicated relationships with neigl
boring systems and one yet suffice
l. in extent to afford valuable expeI
= mental demonstration for the post
= service looking to the administrator
eventually of a complete national Sc
h vice This action will have the effe
/ Of strengthening the national COVER
v ment in its outlying territories, and
q specially recommended because or [
= expediency of taking over the priva
l. ownerships before elaborate and cos
S. ly extensions and Implications OF sc
vice have been built up.
le Afhey cIOfh-IIned weather strip kee
Y out the cold. Rathbun-Mix Co.-Adv.