The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-07-19
OFFICIAL INSOLENCE. AND
GOVERNMENT CONTROL

made in the Unitd States senate o.
July II, by Mr.. Sherman, of Illinois
n opposition to the joint resolution
o authorize the president, il time c
var, to take possession and assum
control of any telegraph. telephone
marine cable or radio system or sys
ems and to operate them for III
Duration of the war. The resolution
'eiyed the approval of the president
I have-and shall not refer t
hem more than by this brief CON
nent-the reports of the postmsste
General from 1913 to 1917, inclusive
The present occupant CT that Office
DR.. Burleson, in each one of thos
eports has recommended that III
government take over the TELEGRAPH
md telephone lines. In the repor
'ef June 80, 1917, or Of the peric
nding on that day, on page 10, IS hi
which is similar il
ointment and in verbilge TO all @
he others made by the samee officia
md by the same person. ( quot
low:
Teleeraphs and Telephones.
The postmaster general has
recommended in previous reports
that congress seriously consider
the question of declaring a gov
eminent monopoly over all util-
tiles for the transmission of in
telligence, and that steps be TAX
en- as soon as possible to make
these utilities part of the pos
tai establishment The principle
of government ownership and
. control of the telegraphs and
telephones is not only sound but
practical, and finds its creates.
strength in the constitution. That
these utilities should be made a
part of the postal establishment
has been the opinion of pracic-
ally all postmasters general of
the United States. who have held
that the welfare of the nation
will be largely contributed to by
the fullest utilization of these
services by the people. This re-
suit can be accomplished only
when they are made a part of
the postal service and operated
solely with a view to- serving the
public and not of making profit.
In Alaska the telegraph and
cable service is under the control
of the war department. AS the
reasons why it should be under
the control of that department
no longer exist, the secretary of
war has recommended its trans
fer to this department.
Recent developments have
made it all the more imperative
that government ownership of
the telegraphs and telephones
should no longer be delayed, and
action by congress in this mat
ter is again urgently recon-
mended.
Mr.. Burleson comes before the
ommittee not with an open mind but
18th an already preconceived judg
tent that forecloses any investiga
on. He says that he does not know
! any immediate emergency requir.
e the government to take these
mes, but that we do not know what
!ture sessions of congress here. Con
-ess will not end it's labors when
recesses or adjourns. 1t is body
hose activities and power are
,eval with the republic. 1t can be
,nvened in twenty-four hours, even
were a final adjournment. 1t is
ways open to the executive to as
.mble it in special session We
ave had extra sessions called here
.veral times. The mere fact that
,ngress might not be able to fore
,e the future and provide for all
nergencies is no reason for lodging
st, underlined powers in the hands
the executive.
If we leave the telegraph lines for
moment to consider the telephone
vestments and enterprises in this
untry, there are stronger reasons
a private nature applying against
e passage of the joint resolution.
round figures s2,000,0 100000 is the
operty valuation of the telephone
of this country. More
an 5000 individual companies are
und The American Telephone and
,legraph company, which is the
lding company of the Bell tele-
one, contrary to what the public
morally thinks, totals in valuation
t a little more than one-third of
e entire telephone properties of
e country There are numerous
aIler companies, small compared
tn the Bell system, companies of
m 100000 capital up TO s5,000010
ey are doing in the aggregate
immense business.
The Mississippi Valley Telephone
npany is n comparatively small
npary. and yet it serves in north
/ and northwestern Illinois and in
stern Iowa {. great number of sub
ibers at a reasonable price. lis
es or its inter changeable service
other states are carried across the
trict within tie limitations and
.ulations of interstate commerce.
~ should this company or WIZ
,uld any other company of that
d be taken over and be put into
hands of the federal authorized?
S said for the good Of the service;
government can do everything so
ch better than anybody else, than
Yate enterprise. read an article I
N Frank Crane, who formerly was !
.I