Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-03-05
The Postmaster Generals Response

Postmaster General Burleson's re-
sponse to the Senate resolution of in
quiry in regard TO his offer or proposal
to take over the telephone system in
the District embraces, as was stated yes
tcrdav on the floor of the Senate. an ar
gumeRt for that procedure as q solution
of the present telephone service prob
lem. Whether the response is full or
too full a com uliance with the Senate'S
request is a matter for that body to
determine and of no particular public
moment The point of interest is that
the Postmaster General reiterates his
declaration that under government man
agement it will be possible TO maintain
the telephone service without increased
charge to the patrons, without reducing
the salaries of employees, and with all
improvement and 4 more extensive use
of the phone. He interjects q new eie-
ment into the matter by pointing to the
fact that there is hardly a government
engaged in the present war which III
trusts It's official secrets and correspond
ence to unofficial and private carriers"
There are two questions in this mat
ter, one whether the government can
manage the telephone system more sat
isfactorily than can private corpora
ton. and the other whether If can main
tain good service without increased costs
to subscribers. The Postmaster General
declares that both can be done. Pre-
sumably such a service could be rem
dered al cost. with no surplus charge TO
serve as sinking fund against purchase
price. On this basis unquestonably,
conceding efficiency OF management, the
public would get more benefit from the
phone system at less expense than at
present.
This matter of rate is Immediately in
evidence, inasmueh as the Postmaster
Generals proposal was elected by the
company's request for increased COM
pensation. But the question of service
is involved. The Postmaster General
proposes no reduction of service by
abolition of the fiat rate and conse-
quent imposition of a monthly maxi
num- On the contrary, he argues for a
wider use of the telephone, more uni
versal utilization of this mode of COM
munication. A table presented with Mr..
Burleson's response is instructive, show
ing that Washington's annual calls per
telephone were in 1914 the lowest for any
city in the United States, with the high
est charge for completed calls, with one
exception. In 1917 the number of calls
had risen and the cost per call had de-
creased. This increase was undoubted-
y due not to a general advance In the
rate Of telephone use, but in excessive
advance in government use. Practically
all of the additional burden now borne
by the telephone system has been placed
upon it by the federal service, and the
present proposal of the company is to
force the individual subscribers TO pay,
In higher rates and decreased use, for
this national utilization of the system.
The Postmaster Generals proposition
is now before Congress. Legislation
must be had to accomplish it. The Pub
lie Utilities Commission has waived
jurisdiction temporarily pending action.
The matter cannot be postponed, as the
telephone situation demands correction
and conditions are growing worse in
stead of better continually.