The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1914-01-31
POSTAL BODY N
RECOMMENDATION
Universal Service, Lower.
Rates and Better Service,
Would Result. -
UNITED STATES
IN LONE CLASS
Is Only One Of the Great Nations tl,ae
Has Not Taken Position Of Owner.
ship in Conducting all Branches of
Intelligence Handling.

washington, Jan. 31.-POstmaster
General Burleson today submitted to
the senate recommendations Of the
departmental committee appointed by
him to investigate the practicability Of
government ownership OF telephone
and telegraph lines.
The report declared the "only way
to afford to the people complete, mod
ern postal facilities that the constitu-
zion makes it the duty Of government
to provide" is by carrying out the
following suggestions:
Declare Government Monopoh.
1. That congress declare a soy-
ernment monopoly over all telegraph,
telephone. radio communication and
such other means for transmission OF
intelligence as may hereafter develop.
:. That congress acquire by pur-
chase at appraised value the COM
merclal telephone network, except
the farmer lines
3. That congress authorize tho
postmaster general to issue. in his
discretion and under such regulations
as he may prescribe. revocable n
censes for operation. by private in
dividuals and corporations. such parts
OF the telephone service and such
parts Of the telegraph service as may
not be acquired by the government.
Committee Unanimous.
The recommendations are signed by
Daniel c. Roper, first assistant post
master general; Merritt c. Chances.
chief clerk Of the postofflce depart
ment; John c. Koons, superintendent
OF the division of salaries and allow
ances. who composed the committed.
The recommendation are accom-
pRnied by statistical information col
l0Ctad after NJ hn -
Give Investigations ever ,indertak ken 1y:
the postof1ce department.. The repurt
states that the United States is alone
OF leading nations which has left 10
private enterprise the ownership and
operation of telegraph and telephone
facilities"
Vail Shows Necessity.
Also that practically all economists
who treated the subject agreed that
telegraph and telephone facilities
should be controlled by the govern
ment.
The committee declared further
the American Telephone and Tele-
graph company, by his statement that
The telephone business must be under
common CONTROL" and Sufficiently
strong to constitute practically one
system, accommodating. inter-
dependent. universal" himself pointed
out that the most efficient telephone
service can be attained only under .
condition Of monopoly.
No Incentive for Private Monopoly.
The report then points out that
private monopoly has no incentive to
extend facilities to Improbable terri
tory. while the government will serve
all The people by equalization of rates.
Also the money taken by private
monopoly in big profits will be turned
back to the people through medium
of truly universal service and reduced
rates.
Delay Means Greater Cost.
The declaration is made that It is
obvious that the longer the govern
ment waits for the acquisition OF these
facilities, the greater will be the cost
1t states that the economic waste
would permit private enterprise to
build up vast properties that eventual
ly must be taken over by the govern
ment at cost out of all proportion
to the value Of the parts Of such prop
critics that may be utilized to advan-
tage in the postal system.