Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-02-01
WIRE:
OWNERSHIP BILL
CONGRESS
Postmaster General Urges That
Government Monopoly Be De
clared on All Network"
.EXEMPTS FARMERS LINES
Asserts Communication Facilities
Could Be Run by U. S.
Much Cheaper.

WASHINGTON, Jan. S1.-Postmas-
ter General Burleson's plan for Gov
eminent ownership of telephone and
telegraph services was sent to the
Senate to-day 1t follows:
That Congress shall declare a Gov
eminent monopoly over all telegraph,
telephone and radio communication
and such other means of communica-
ton as may develop in the future.
That Congress acquire by purchase
at appraised value the commercial
telephone network, except the farm
ers' lines.
That Congress authorize the Post
master General to issue, in his discre-
Ion and under such regulations as
are necessary, licenses for the opera
ton Of wire services by private indi-
viduals, thus assuring Governmental
supervision.
Norris Gets Action.
The report was made to Congress
after Senator Norris had threatened
to take his resolution calling for the
data out of the hands OF the Commit
tee on Postofffces and Postroads and
carry the fight to the floor of the Sen
ate. This action was prompted by
the statement that the Postmaster
General believed Congress was delib-
erately trying to ignore the state
ments made in his report.
AS was stated, the Postmaster Cen
eral points out that the Government
can manage these services at a less
cost than private individuals, and,
while paying all expenses, can reduce
the public's bills by So 1-S per cent
In outlining his plan of Govern
ment ownership the Postmaster Cen
eral proposes that the telephone COM
panies alone be considered
1t is a simple matter, the report
states. to add Geographic system to
the $4,000, 900 miles of wire now con-
trolled by the allied Bell companies.
Big Growth in Business.
He points to the fact that the SUI
perimposition of telegraph systems to
the telephone wire could be done at
the cost of the telegraph instruments
themselves. The telegraph wires,
being useless for this double service,
might continue ar independent serv-
ice under Government supervision.
In support of this contention the
Postmaster General calls attention to
the fact that the telephone calls have
increased from 100000 in 1900 to
%, 600, 900 in 1910, an advance of 2S7
per cent. The telegraph lines have
remained relatively stationary. Their
messages have increased in ten years
from $4,000, 900 to 100000, or IS per
cent. -
Two hundred and fifty million dol
lars in Government bonds, the Post
master General declares, would be
sufficient to guarantee the Govern
ment monopoly.
Expenses Estimated.
The lines would then be run at
cost including the interest on the
bonds and the sum necessary for their
retirement when due.
The report points out that this ex-
pense would be less than was required
to finance either the United States
Steel Corporation or the Panama Ca
nal. He declares that cooperative
work between the Government and
smaller companies including some
now running Independently, could be
easily managed.
In drawing the distinction between
a public and private monopoly the
Postmaster General calls attention to
the fact that one is run for the pub
lie interest, while the other must
to a small group of investors"
Part of Postal Service.
He cites that Congress, while ad-
mittin gthat telephone and telegraph
lines were part of the postal service
in that they are used for purposes
of communication-did not care !. in
the beginning to risk financial loss
by undertaking their operation.
He cites authorities in this country
and abroad to prove his contention
that wire services are uniformly
recognized as part of the postal SER
vice system.
The Postmaster General proposes
that all real estate holdings now
owned by the Bell telephone corpo-
ration shall be left to them and that
the Government shall leace buildings
until it can move the offices into the |