Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1914-12-14
BuRLEs0N SAYS SURPLUS
CONTINUED From Page One)

amounted to S2S7 ,93i $685.. an increase
over the preceding year of slightly less
than per cent, as compared with
corresponding increase of slightly more
than eight per cent for 1913 The au-
dited expenditures for the year amount
ed to $2S3,543.7 1926, and the adjusted
losses due to fire, burglary, etc to
$lf,3S3i6. The excess of audited rev
enues over audited expenses and losses
is, therefore s4,376, 1890
This audited surplus does not, how
ever, represent the actual financial re-
suits for the year. 1t involves com
parison of amounts that are not prop
erly comparable. 1t does not include
obligations which were incurred but
not paid within the year, while it does
include some payments on account of
| obligations incurred in prior years"
4 statement follows of revenues and
expenses based upon the reported rev
enues and the estimated expenses of
| the service for that year and the report
| adds
"On the basis, the revenues for the
fiscal wear ended June 30. 1914. are
| found to exceed by $3.569,6S7 the ex-
! penses for maintenance during the
| same period. While the announcement
establishes confidence in the fact that
the service is being economically ad-
| ministered, it must be borne in mind
tina; OF the convenience and benefit
| provided the public, which must be Sc
| cured irrespective of the financial out
| law required
| The surplus for the year just closed,
| though substantial in amount neces-
sarily represents an approximate ad-
| justment Of revenues and disburse-
ments. made possible by economies in
administration; compared with the
volume of transactions: it is believed,
| therefore that a recommendation for
the reduction Of postage rates or fees
Is not warranted at this time"
| Reviewing his recommendations for
government ownership of telegraph and
telephone lines Mr. Burleson says:
The postmaster general rcnews the
recommendation embodied in his last
annual report that congress seriously
consider the question of declaring 4
government monopoly over all utilities
for the public transmission of intelli-
gence and that steps be taken as soon
as practicable to incorporate into the
postal establishments the telegraph and
telephone systems Of the country
In that report reference was made
to the anomalous condition in this
country under which the telegraph and
| i, al g.,
! the public transmission of intelligence
infringe upon function reserved by
the constitution to the national gov
eminent. They inherently, as well as
consttutionally, belong to the posta
service The firm conviction of the de-
partment is here reiterated that tele-
graph and telephone service is newt
ably monopolistic and, when operated
under private control, does not render
The maximum of public service at the
minimum cost to the whole people.
at is also recommended that the tel
egraph and telephone facilities Of Alas
r lla, Porto Rico, and the Hawaiian Is
lands be at once taken over and oper-
ated by the postoffice department. This
recommendation is based on an eX-
, haustiVc investigation which disclosed
that the conditions in these territories
are generally such as to favor tho
change. A large part of the property
involved is already government owned
/ and operated in Alaska by the war de
: partment and in Porto Rico by the in
+ sular government The services are 81
, detached geographically as to preclude
complicated relationships with neigh
: boring systems and are yet sufficient il
extent to afford valuable experimental
demonstration for the postal servic,
looking to the administration eventu
Q ally of a complete national service
, This act will have the effect o
strengthening the national government
! lin its outlying territories, and is spec
Z tally recommended because of the ex
r pediency of taking over the private
ownerships before elaborate and cost,
extensions and Implications of service
have been built up.
The report declares newspapers ant
periodicals handled in 1914 under tn
cent q pound second class rate, tot