The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1918-12-07
POSTMASTER GENERAL
MAKES ANNUAL REPORT
He Recommends That Government
Ownership Of TeIegraphs and Tel.
ephones Be Not Delayed.

@ftN'~e - wv RNial
Washington, Dec. 5-Telephone and
telegraph lines of the country, now
under government control should be-
come government owned at the con
clusion of peace and the expiration OF
the provisions OF the act under which
the utilities are now controlled, Post
master General Burleson declares In
bis annual report made public today.
The war has shown that government
ownership OF telephones and tele-
graphs SIS not only sound but practi-
cable" the postmaster general says,
in repeating the recommendation
which he has made in previous re.
ports but which he makes for the first
time as head of the government
agency controlling the land communi.
cation lines.
The experiences as result OF the
present war have fully demonstrated
that the principle Of government own
ership of the telephones and tele-
graphs is not only sound but practi-
cal" Mr.. Burleson says. 1T has
been necessary as a war measure for
Congress to consider legislation all-
thorizing the president to assume con-
troll of the telegraph and telephone
! system of the country While such
( control is temporary and will exist
only until the ratification Of the
4 treaty of peace, yet the best results
can be obtained only when these sys.
tens are owned by the government,
made part OF the postal establish
ment. and operated solely with view
/ to serving the public and not making
! profits or guaranteeing returns on the
I investment. 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 postofiice depart
ment for the fiscal year ending last
June 80 resulted in surplus of re.
ceipts over expenses Of s19,979.79S.
( according to the report. Approximate
1 ly $44,5000 900 additional was paid over
TO the treasury from the increased
postal charges imposed for war re-
venue. Total revenues of the depart
ment from all sources during the year
are given as S3SS,975. .962, against
| 1929, ,726,ll5 for the 1917 fiscal year.
Total expenditures are reported at
| 1924, 1893, ,72S against S3l9.S3S.71S in
1917 Disregarding the increased pos.
tai rates effective November under
! the war tax bill. the actual increase
in postal service business during the
year is placed at 4.47 per cent, while
expenditures increased 1.56 per cnt
Mr. Burleson for the first time Of
fclally reports upon the use of air
planes for transmission OF mail. and
gOvernment-owned trucks for the op-
Grafton OF rural parcel post routes.
I disclosing plans for wide extension Of
both facilities He also renews his
previously made recommendations
that postmasters now appointed by
| the president should be selected un.
der competitive civil service examin-
atoms. and that the four assistant
postmasters general and the purchas.
ing agent should be likewise selected.
The volume of mail carried during
the year was greater than ever before
says the report, in commenting upon
the surplus earned. which ii places at
more than double the greatest profit
ever found by the department pre-
viously War activity in private bus
mess not alone grew but the govern
ment itself put tremendous burden
OF matter into the malls from the new
efforts which II built up. Posmas-
ters and postoiIice facilities alike
we're used for war service that rang
ed from the registration of aliens TO
the sale of thrift stamps and govern
ment bonds.