The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1917-01-08
Senator Norris Declares U. S.
Control Would Mean so Per
Cent Decrease.
PLANS FOR EARLY HEARING
Convinced That Government
Eventually Should Control
All Lines.

| phones in the District as provided for
In the Lewis-Pomerene bill would re.
duce the cost Of this necessity by at
least one-half," said Senator George
W. Norris. of Nebraska, today.
Senator Norris is an earnest advo-
cate of the Government ownership
measure and announced his intention
to support it in every possible way.
Wants Early Hearing.
At the Capitol today is was under
stood that an effort will be made to
hold a hearing on the bill at an early
date and have 1t reported to the
House and Senate.
Senator Norris believes the Govern
ment should own all the telephone
lines in the United States and that
Washington, the nations capiaI, is the
proper place to make a beginning.
MinimiEes Use.
He IL convinced that private owner
ship Of telephones and consequent
high prices minimizes the use of
telephones in the District and
throughout the States.
There are approximately $4,000
homes in the District of Columbia and
only 10000 telephones installed In
them," said Senator Norris. There
isn't but one answer and if is that
telephones cost too much for a great
majority Of the people to afford.
All Not Rich Here.
faCnnfrorxv g. L..
walls in many sections of the country,
Washington is not populated by in
dependently rich people.
There are q few retired million
aires and capitalists here, but the
great mass OF the population is made
up OF Government employees on moder-
ate salaries.
THE cost of living is something ter
rife in Washington and telephones
cannot be afforded.
Twenty thousand telephones for
$4,000 homes shows an economic loss
of three-fourths or 20 per cent
q . Month Rate.
"If the Government owned the tele- |
phones It could make, Q rate not to
exceed 81 a month and not only pay
expenses. but make money.
This rate would increase the num-
Der of telephone subscribers to 10000 |
or 10000 instead of 10000. The teIe-
phone is no longer q luxury; II is a |
necessity in practically every bust |
ness establishment and home. The |
prices charged by the private corpor. |
atoms keep this means of COM
munication from a great majority"
Has Caused Cuts.
Senator Norris pointed to the fact
that Government ownership in France,
England, Australia, New Zealand,
and other countries had most ma
teriaIly decreased the price and popu-
larized the use of telephones.
"In addition to bringing the tele-
phone within the reach of a maximum
percentage of the population of the
District, Government ownership is
most highly desirable for the Govern
ment's own purposes, he said.
Government Greatest User.
THE Government is by far the
greatest user of the telephone In the
District
IAN enormous amount of money is
paid for the use OF telephones. The
Government has already paid TO the
private owners several times what II
would have cost to buy the entire
system here.
at would not only be economical,
but II would promote efficiency for
the Government to own the lines.
No Party Propaganda.
THAT Government ownership is not
a party propaganda is shown by the
fact that Postmaster General Hitch
cock, a Republican. and Postmaster
General Burleson, a Democrat, both
made exhaustive Investigations into
the desirability of the Postoffce De-
partment controlling the telephone
systems and both strongly recon- {
mend it. {
"washington is the logical place to !
try Government ownership OF tele- )
phones for here its workings can be
watched by Congress and Govern
ment officials.
Would Mean stimulus.
"Tf Ut proves a success. as 1 con- I
hdently believe 1t will the fact that I
II accomplished all that was claimed 6
for 1t in the National Capital would
be a tremendous stimulus for its adop-
ton elsewhere" !
Senator Norris believes the tele-
phone equipment in Washington is :
adequate to serve all of the $4,000 :
homes here and that a maximum
price is charged because the cost
keeps the number OF subscribers at
/ minimum.
Only Three Phones.
Take for instance a block in which I
here are twelve houses" said Sem I
ator Norris. According to the sta l
.istics there are only three telephones
n that block. The other nine families ,
nave no telephones because of the
cost. :
Right in front OF those nine houses.
however, is the necessary trunk line =
with which to establish communities !
ions.
History Would Repeat. :
"If the Government owned the lines
Ind increased the number of subsctib
,rs to q maximum and reduced the
cost TO a minimum, all that would be F
necessary would be to connect those d
line homes with the main line Just u
,uside he door. a
That is the history of Government I,
81