The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1918-12-13


come government owned at the con-
clusion of peace and the expiration
of the provision of the act under
which the utilities are now controlled,
Postmaster General Burleson declares
in his annual report made public to-
day. The war has shown that gov
ernment ownership of telephones and
telegraphs sis not only sound but
practicable the postmaster general
says, in repeating the recommenda-
tion which he has mad1 in previous
reports but which he makes for the
first time as head of the government
agency controlling the land commun1-
cation lines.
"The experiences as a result of the
present war have fully demonstrated
that the principle of government
ownership of the telephones and tele-
graphs is not only sound but practi-
cal," Mr.. Burleson says. "It has been
necessary as a war measure for con-
gress to consider legislation authoriz-
ing the president to assume control
of the telegraph and telephone sys-
TENS of the country. While such con-
troll is temporary, and will exist only
until the ratification of the treaty OF
peace, yet the best results can be OBJ
tanned only when these systems are
owned by the government, made a
part of the postal establishment, and
operated solely with a view to serv-
ing the public and not making profits
or guaranteeing returns on the invest
ment Government ownership OF the
telegraphs and telephones should not
longer be delayed, and the action OF
congress in this matter is urgently
recommended"
Operations of the postoffice depart
ment for the fiscal year ending last
June 80 resulted in surplus OF re-
ceipts over expenses of S19,979, ,798,
according to the report. Approx
mately S44, 100000 additional was
paid over to the treasury from the
Increased postal charges imposed for
war revenue. Total revenues of the
department from all sources during
the, year are given as 1888, ,975 ,962,s
against $329,726,115 for the 1917 f1s-
cal year Total expenditures are re-
ported at S324,833,728, against $3l9,-
838-71S in 1917. Disreparding the
increased postal rates effective No
vember 2 under the war tax bill, the
actual increase in postal service bust
ness during the year is placed at 4.4I
per cent, while expenditures increased
1.56 per cent.
Mr.. BurIeson for the first time Of
ficially reports upon the use OF ar
planes for transmission OF mall, and
government-owned trucks for the OPP
Grafton of rural parcels-post routes
disclosing plans for wide extension of
both facilities. He also renews his
made recommendation that
postmasters now appointed by the
president should be selected under
competitive civil service examinations
and that the four assistant postmast--
ers general and the purchasing agent
should be likewise selected.
The volume of mail carried during
the war was greater than ever before,
saws the report, in commenting upon
the surplus earned, which it places
at more than double the greatest
profit ever found by the department.
War activity in private
business not alone grew, but the gov
ernment itself put tremendous Dur
den of matter into the mails from the
new efforts which it built up. Post
masters and postoffice facilities alike
were used for war service that ranged
from the registration of aliens to the
sale of thrift stamps and government
bonds.
Among new facilities the report
asks is an appropriation of 81, 100000
for the construction of subway be-
tween the Grand Central station IN
New York and the Pennsylvania ter
minal office, replacing the discarded
system of pneumatic tubes and de-
yised to relieve congestion. Author
itv is also asked for the establishment
of guaranty fund within the depart
ment, with which to bond employees
handling money and valuables. This
is advocated to relieve premium
charges which are said by the report
to be excessive, and also to eliminate
delay and difficulty.
Dealing with complaint of delays
in mail for soldiers in France, both
before and after the mail service was
taken over by the army, Mr.. Burie-
sons report says that much OF 1T
was due to the handling of mail by
orderlies in military service.
"Perhaps the most serious of these
delays arose from the attitude OF the
military authorities" it says, "who
declined to reveal to civilian postal
the whereabouts of mill
tary units, in many cases until their
location had been discovered by the
enemy. There was also a good deal
Of trouble in obtaining motor trans
port, and at one time the military
authorities undertook to take from
the postal stations the small details
If enlisted men who were assisting
in the work on the ground that they
we're needed for purely military serv-
ce."
In the United States 123 branch
,ostoffices were established st camps
md environments to deliver mail to<he
,roops. Censorship boards were es-
,ablished at nearly all ports of exit
rom the United States, in connection
With military operations, and 1900
employees were engaged in censoring
125,0OO pieces of mail
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