Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-12-14
the service for that year. and the re-

the service for that year. and the re-
port adds: Sax
"0n this basis. the revenues for tho
fiscal year ended June 80, 1914. are
found to exceed by S3.56e,6S7 the ex-
penses FOR maintenance during the
same period. While the announcement
esta blishes confidence in tho fact that
the service Is being economically ad-
ministcred. 1t must be borne in mind
that OF tho convenience and benefit
provided tho public which must, be
secured irrespective of the financial
outlay required
REDUCTION OF RATES
NOT WARRANTED NOW
THE surplus. for the year Just closed,
though substantial in amount neces-
sarily represents an approximate adj
1u5tment OF revenues and dlsburse-
inents. made possible by economies in
administration; compared with the vol
ume of transactions: It is believed
therefore. that 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-Generalr enews the
recommendation embodied in his last
annual report that Congress seriously
consider the question of declaring
government monopoly over all utili-
Ties for the public transmission of in
telliGence. and that steps be taken
as soon as practicable to incorporate
Into the postal establishments the tele-
graph and telephone systems of the
country.
In that report reference was made
10 the anomalous condition in this
country under which the telegraph and
telephone utilities, being vehicles for
the public transmission of intelligence
infringe upon function reserved by
the Constitution to the national gov
ernment. They inherently. as we'll as
constitutionally, belong to the postal
service. The firm conviction of the de-
partment Is here reiterated that tcIe-
graph and telephone service Is inevi-
tabiy monopolistlc. and. when opera ted
under private control, does not render
the maximum of public service at the
minimum cost TO the whole people.
1T is an interesting fact that
whereas policies OF government have
been advocated and some adopted, the
constitut.onality of which have been
seriously questioned. the principle Of
government ownership and control Of
the telegraph and telephone finds its
greatest strength in the Constitution.
This opinion has been shared by prac-
ttcally all Postmasters-General OF the
United states. who have held that the
welfare and happiness of the nation
depend upon the fullest utilization of
can only be accomplished through gov
eminent ownership.
CONDITIONS IN TERRITORIES
FAVORABLE TO CHANGE
1T is also recommended TINT the
telegraph and telephone facilities, Of
Alaska, Porto Rico and the Hawaiian
Islands be at once taken over and on
Grated by the Post office Department
This recommendation is based on an
exhaustive investigation, which dis
closed that the conditions in these tor
ritortes are generally such as to favor
the change. y large part OF the prop
erty involved Is already government
owned and operated In Alaska by the
War Department and in Porto Rico by
the insular government. The services
are so detached geographically rs to
preclude complicated relationships with
neiEhboring systems and are yet suf-
hcient in extent to afford valuable ex-
per!mental demonstration for the pos
tai service looking to the administra-
ton eventually of n complete national
service. This action will have the ef-
feet of strengthening the national gov
eminent In It's outlying territories. and
Is specially recommended because, OF
the expediency of taking over. the pri-
vate ownerships before elaborate and
costly extensions and Implications of
| service have BEEN built up
Defining the general policy he has
pursued, Mr.. Burleson says:
The service has been administered
for the convenience OF the public, not
for profit; to promote efficiency by
standardizing and simplifying proceed