The Washington herald., 1918-02-24

Telephonei Companies Opposed
Bitter opposition to this plan was
last night voiced by telephone Of
fcials. T. R Sylvan, representing the
telephone interests in the East, stated
that the government would not be
able to conduct the business success
fully.
Il was even thinking yesterday Of
asking that the postofice officials al
low others to help them with their
business" he said.
result of an investigation Of tele-
phonic and telegraphic conditions in
this country in 1Sl3." Mr.. Chance said
last night 1T was favored by high
postofice officials, and is a working
out Of plans already drawn up"
Plans I'm Report.
The plans spoken of are contained
in a report to Congress made by the
telephone and telegraph committee to
Postmaster General Burleson under
the date Of November 25. 1913.
We would neither raise the rates
l cent nor decrease the wages OF an
employe a dollar" Mr.. Chance
stated last night
We have plans for operation al
ready drawn up and could easily
step in and take control"
Mr.. Chance. as chief clerk Of the
POstoffice Department five years
ago. served on the committee which
made the investigation into tele-
phone and telegraph conditions, and
which presented the recommends
tions that the government take over
the companies. Chance is now
chairman OF the telephone commit
tee of the Postoffice Department
and it was with the official appro-
val of Postmaster General Burle-
son that he started the ball Of gov
crnment ownership rolling yester-
day.
Aims At National Control.
Questioned regarding the national
situation he said: We would be
glad to take over all the telephone
and telegraph lines in the United
states"
President F. H. Bethel. OF the
chesapeake Telephone Company, is
out Of the city. The interests Of
this company were represented at
the hearing yesterday by Mr.. Sylvan
and Robert V. MayTe. general coun-
sci for the company.
Mr.. Sylvan quoted one OF Mr..
Chances statements yesterday to
show that the government could
handle the situation.
He told the commission" said
Mr.. Sylvan, that the government
would make up the deficit in operat-
ing expenses of the telephone COM
pany from the postoffice appropria-
ton This would be manifestly un-
fair to the class OF people who do
much mailing and no phoning. The
mailers would pay for the phoners.
The best reason in the world why
the government could not operate the
telephone company's business success
fully is that there is no one in the
Postoffice Department who has had the
least experience in the executive
handling OF the work. II you can find
me a person in the Postofice Depart
ment who can handle the business bet
ter than our own executives, send him
around to me. We need such persons.
Opposition "PatriotIe."
The reason we don't want to give
up the service is a partiotic one. We
feel that we can aid the country win
the war more in our present capaci-
ties than in any other. We can't work
any harder for the government than
We are working for the company. The
company is full and bursting with
good, red-blooded Americans anxious
10 do their duty. and doing II.
If 1 though that the Postoffice
could run the business better than
we can, I'd be over there at the de-
partment advocating it,
The commissioners will announce
their decision within a few days No
hints as to what stand they will take
were given out as yet.
One statement Of Mr.. Chances Is
regarded as an omen for government
ownership Of phones in 'he District:
Does this mean, Mr.. Chance" he
was asked. That the administration
, fayors the stand which Is being taken
BY you regarding telephones in Wash
ington?'
1T does" he answered.