The Washington times., 1918-07-17
NJ. 0. CHANCE MAY
Be PHONE CHIEF
FOR WASHINGTON
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two methods OF communication in a
series of small bites at the big cherry.
His repeated declarations to Congress
have been that all communication should
be controlled by the Government and
that all communication should be rem
dered to the public upon the cheapest
possible basis.
Eventual Government ownership Of
telephones and telegraphs will be on
trial from the very beginning Of this
experiment Private capital amount
ing to something like 2.000.O000O0 has
failed to utilize opportunities for com
bining in the interest Of cheaper and
better service. Mr.. Burleson will quick
ly be able to demonstrate what could
have been done under one management
and especially what the Government can
do.
Just at this time the Governments
motive in getting into this business
was the protection OF its own in
terests while war is waging. 1t must
be in position to guard against spies
and Germanic influences that might
at some stage or other be able SER
iously to hamper the American cause.
1t wished to guard against Interrupt
ton of communication, and this 1t
will now be able to do.
The Western Unions greatest ex-
ecutive, Vail, once called attention to
the useless waste of copper wire by
reason OF separate telephone and
telegraph lines, and said it was Just
as sensible as a man hiring two auto
mobiles to transport him to his des-
tination.
Lewis May Aid BurlesOn.
There was widespread belief today
that former Congressman David ].
Lewis, now Of the tariff commission,
will be. requisitioned by Mr.. Burleson
as his chief assistant in handling the
wire problems of the country. Mr.
Lewis has been the chief adviser of
Mr.. Burleson on these subjects for
years. He made a close study OF all
the correlated problems when a mem
Der of the House. and steadily tried
to get Congress to have the United
States take over teIegraphs and tele-
phones. Both President Wilson and
Mr.. Burleson have great faith in Mr..
Lewis and in his knowledge.
Mr.. Burleson had a long talk with
President Wilson at the close Of the
Cabinet meeting. Their discussion is
believed to have concerned princi-
pally the scope OF the Governments
first steps, which will be disclosed in
the proclamation soon to be made by
the Chief Executive.
Washington Telephone System.
II the decision of the Government
is to take over everything at the
beginning, that win, of course, include
the telephone lines of the Chesapeake
and Potomac Telephone Company Of
this city, and will at once take from
the Public Utilities Commission Of |
the District further consideration Of |
the application OF the local company |
to increase its rates
The Governments communications |
In Washington are too important TO |
be intrusted much longer to private |
hands. and Postmaster General |
Burleson, as known to all readers Of |
The Times, has been directly and |
deeply interested in the local situa- |
tion, to such an extent that he sug-
gested months ago that the local lines |
be put under Government control.
With the Washington system in the |
hands of the Government, the prob
abilities are that NJ. o. Chance. post
master of this city, will be put in !
charge here because OF his knowledge
Of the local situation and of tele-
phone matters generally.
1t is generally believed that one OF
the first moves in Washington will
be progressive installation of auto
matte phones. Mr.. Change has for
years been gathering data concern
ing automatic equipment.
There is every reason to state that
the Government does know what the
cost of installation would be, and that
With the faith Of Government officials
in the great superiority of automatic
over manual equipment. little time
would be lost in trying the automatic
system in Washington.
The further extension Of this sys-
-em to other places in the country
Inder Government coptrol would de-
pend upon the outcome of the expert
nent here and upon the final decision |
II Congress. after the war has closed,
whether the Government shall con-
-inue to own and operate telegraphs
Ind telephones.
TUHT TIVE nUrn UTTnro