New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-12-30
b"rleson Replies
TO Criticisms bv
Clarence Mackav
Says General Manager of
Postal Telegraph Urged
Consolidation and Also
Cutting Press Service
NcW YORK; Tribune
Wa sht,lUtOu Burr0l

General Burleson TODAY rcplied TO the
statement made by representative Of
clarence II. Mackay, president of the
fostal Telegraph and Cable Company,
expressing fear that the Postmaster
General planned to merge the land
i'hes OF the Postal and those of the
western Union telegraph companies
ana threatening to contest such a
merger
Commenting on the statement. Mr.
"uileson SAID that he "was very much
surprised" at the attitude of the Pos.
Val representative in view of the
statement submitted to him in writing
oy the former general manager of tho
fostal company, who was designate
oy MIR. Mackay to confer with Mr.
ourleson shortly after the Presidents
proclamation taking over the wire svs-
TENS was issued
Burleson Quotes Postal Officials
In this statement it was said Nv
ouileson cites, "ln the past, under
competition, a great many agencies
were necessary to maintain successful
competition, and under a unified man
agement many of the agencies en-
ployed by competing companies can be
discontinued to advantage. Those who
nave been lntrusted with the conduct
OF the telegraph business heretofore.
If permitted to serve in that field under
the government, must necessarily
change their viewpoint"
MI. Bureson continued: "With ref
erence to the duplication of officers, the
general manager Of Mackay's company
SAID; Branch Offices in large cities
that have been established for no other
reason than to pick up business in a
given Locality. because the other com
pany has maintained an office in the
locality or in that building, should be
discontinued and the operators therein
sent to other Offices where their ser
vices are needed to supplement- the
present supply of operators. The Of
fces mentioned for the most part are
sending offices only, handling outgoing
business, the incoming business ad-
dressed to the patrons served by it
being delivered from fully equipped
a..
No Real Need for Hotel Offices
He recommended also that unless
1T could be shown that q telegraph of
tice in hotel is necessary to serve
the locality it should be abolished.
H said:
Telegraph offices in hotels serve
no purpose other than the collection
OF business originating with guests in
the hotels. In large cities where most
OF such offices ere operated there are
regularly established public telegraph
offices IN The immediate vicinity, and
there is no real need for local offices
IN the hotels. 1t gives the hotels pref
erential service. Unless it can be
shown that a telegraph Office in hotel
IS necessary to serve that locality. it
should be closed If not closed, no
rental should be paid to the hotel for
the space occupied
he stated that as a result of com
petition between the two companies.
messenger call wires and boxes were
furnished freely to prospective patrons
at great cost to the telegraph com
pany and without charge to the public.
ms ne SAID, was wasteful and
should be discontinued and the public
required to file their messages with
the telegraph company
lie also recommended that the prac-
tlce Of giving credit to patrons should
be discontinued and that the service
be put on cash basis; and that there
should be TO deadhead service for anv
one.
Postal Advised Cut in Press Service
MI Mackay has found the newspa-
per press of the country very service
able IN the PRONUNCIATION of his com
plants against the government opera
tlon or telegraph service, but notwith-
standing the announced policy ofVthe
postmaster General. that there will be
no cnange affecting the press-wire ser
wee except to improve it wherever DOS
sible,' the general manager of the
Postal Telegraph and Gable Company
III his recommendation to the Postmas-
ter General, suggested that the newspa
pers were enjoying special privileges
which might properly be discontinued
On this subject he said:
he principal newspapers through
out the country for great many years
have been given a preferential service
at d low rate. The United States gov
eminent, when it wishes to establish
direct wire communication with its
various departments. is required to
furnish and to pay for the operators
i
Newspapers have been furnish d
with direct wires without any charge
for installation or battery or attention
to the equipment, and in addition the
telegraph companies have furnished the
very best operators without charge to
the newspapers. The newspapers pay
the usual fixed going rate that is paid
by those concerns that receive the ben
eft of the press rate, but who do not
have the benefit of direct private wires
IN this connection it may be we'll to
question whether newspapers should be
furnished with operators free in add
ton to being given direct wires, in
asmuch as the government has TO pay
the operators working in its depart
ments.'
"This is one of the recommendations
made by the general manager of the
Postal Telegraph and Gable Company
which the Postmaster General has not
adopted.
Nothing New in Present Policy
In statement made July 90, 1918,
in connection with the Presidents proc
lamation of the 22d. directing me to
assume supervision, possession, control
and operation of the telegraph and tele-
: elal said, 81 announced the policy of
unifcation of the telegraph and tele-
phone lines. The process Of unitication
now in progress is therefore no new
development of policy to excite the ap-
prehenson Of Mr.. Mackay.
ION the 9th of August I appointed a
the extent to which branch telegraph
ofriroc choulS ho consolidated ar cO0r