The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-08-13
WE WILL NEVER KNOW.

| A correspondent OF The Gate City expresses
concern over the prospect that under govern
ment ownership the telephone and telegraph
business will be so intricatey merged with post
al business that it will be impossible to tell
whether or not the wire system is sef-support-
ing In this our correspondent is quite likely
correct The postofice department never has
had a complete and correct system of account
ing Even when the parcel post was established
and it was provided that at first special stamps
should be used so that the amount of revenue
from parcel post business could be determined,
this regulation was abolished and it is now I'M
possible to tell how much is derived from this
iextended postal service stamp system Will
be used on kilograms, and quite probably, the
distinctive stamp will soon be abolished and the
regular postage stamp used, as a matter OF con-
venience, and there will be no means Of deter
mining the revenues from the wire service.
Whether a distinct stamp shall be used or not,
lit will be impracticable to segregate the &C
counts of the mail and wire services, for the
telegraph offices will soon be stationed In the
postofices, it is reported. Approximations and
estimates are all that will be possible. All the
public will ever know defnitel y will be whether
government operation results in higher or lower
charges
In view of the admiration the advocates of
government controlled wires have always
pressed for the British system, it may be ex-
ipected that they will adopt that system,
which requires the patron of the wire service
to pay for the address and signature. The
American system has always been considered
best by businessmen for it encourages the use
of full names and thereby avoids mistakes and
delays 1t is to be hoped that the fears OF the
correspondent of The Gate City are lll-found-
ed but in view Of past experience 1T will not be
surprising if his predictions come true.
What the chief of Germany's admiralty says
about inability of the U-boats to sink our trans
ports will make glad the anxious hearts of pa
rents wives and friends Of our soldiers embark
ing for the front. 1t is frank confession OF
failure made to seem the more sincere because
good reasons are given for failure. Our trans
ports sail from different ports, they are so
strongly conveyed that U-boats find the risk of
attack perilous and the result is an increasing
loss to the German submarine power without
any compromising damage to the enemy. 1t
we could but convoy transports on return trips,
the losses so far as conveying our troops are
concerned would be negligible. And with the
large number of destroyers which we are build
ing the time will come when we can provide
convoy both trips.
Nobody has accused the postofice depart
ment of Intentionally delaying the soldiers
mail 1t is entirely matter of inehiciency-
lack of ability to organize and manage success
fully the largest government service aside from
the military establishment itself
The chief danger at this present moment
seems to be that the o-Britsh-American
troops may wear themselves completely out try
~