South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-01-19

ephone companies have introduced
measures calling upon the postoffice
department for all information sup
Elementary 10 that contained in that
annual report. These resolutions
without exception have been referred
10 the postOffice committee. There
they have been pigeOnhOled and there
they remain at Ine present time
Would Use Surplus.
Postmaster General Burleson, it is
stated. believes telegraph and tele-
phone lines can be taken over at an
initial cost of $25O,OOO,OOO and that
the surplus made by the postoffice
department on the parcel post III the
coming fiscal year will be sufficient
to pay the per cent interest on the
transaction.
The postmaster general, according
10 his friends, is a believer in the use
of any surplus arising in his depart
ment for the improvement Of the pos
tai service.
Facts in Mr.. BurlesOn's possession
show that the telegraph and telephone
companies are at the present time
grossly Overcharging for the service
they render. IL is p, hted out that
in the United States one telegraph
message is sent for every eight sent
in New Zealand. Furthermore, it is
stated that 40 per cent OF the physical
valuation of the telegraph and tele-
phone companies is in their buildings
which the government would not have
TO acquire.
Government profits and savings to
the public would enSue by the elimi-
nation of red tape and the economic
distribution of work among the en-
plOyes of the postoffice department.
Statements. il is said, would take the
place of the long reports which are
now required on messages. Officials
I'm the postoffice department would
be given supervision over the work.
The employees of the department
would also be utilized wherever posi-
BILE.
Complete Argument.
Officials of the postoffice de-
partment who have access to
the postmaster generals statistical
tables declare they represent the most
complete and convincing argument
they have ever seentn support of any
proposition. fables of cost and pro-
fit from all of the great European
New Zealand and from independent
lines operating i'm the Orient are en-
bodied in the data.
For one thing the data explodes
the idea prevalent IN congress that
the proposition is so gigantic that il
cannot be attempted in this country.
The information includes figures
which show that the department
would take over the workable appa-
ratus of the companies and consoli-
date il into one service at a relative
Is small cost.
IL is understood among other things
the suggestion is made that govern
ment bonds be exchanged for the
stock now in the possession Of the
companies.
This statistical information" said
a high pOstoffiCe official Sunday, lis
of the greatest Importance 10 con-
gress. II is known TO me that Post
master General BurlesOn had his
corps Of workers engaged with IL for
ten months in the hope that congress
would see fit to call upon him for 1t.
And il has been a bitter disappoint-
ment 10 all Of those who are interest
ed in the project that congress has
ignored this valuable acquisition TO
the information in its possession
Coneressmen favoring the immedi-
ate acquisition OF telephone and tel
egraph lines declare that if this in
formation can be brought 10 light
they will use il in congressional fights
next year and will commit democrats
10 the proposition.