Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1919-11-27
PEOPLE TO PAY A
LARGE TELEPHONE DEFICIT

The Republican Publicity Assoc
citation, through it's president, Hon.
Jonathan Bourne, Jr., Monday gave
out the following statement from its
Washington headquarters:
"a few months ago the postmast-
er general was strong advocate OF
government ownership and operation
of the telegraph and telephone sys-
tens, in which respect he followed
humbly the lead of former Con-
gresham David j. Lewis, of Mary
land. Lewis had been the arch
champion of government ownership,
and was always ready to present
enormous tabular statements which
were alleged to demonstrate that
private ownership was wasteful and
excessive. Burleson swallowed the
Lewis propaganda, hook, line and
sinker.
Acting under his war powers,
and without any real war necessity,
the president took over the telegraph
and telephone lines and placed them
under the control of Postmaster
General Burleson, who, in turn,
placed them under the control of
Lewis. Lewis, it should be re-
membered, was defeated for re-eiec-
ton by his congressional district, in
Maryland, was appointed to the tar
iff commission, and thence transfer
red to the management of the tele-
phone and telegraph systems. We
had a year of experience with gov
eminent operation of the wire sys-
TENS and the experience is about to
cost the government some 100000
900, or the amount of the deficit.
"It can scarcely be denied that
the demonstration is complete. Mr.
Lewis and his democratic followers
in the socialistic movement, conf
IDENTIFY asserted that immense saw
ings could be effected and rates great
ly reduced under government man
agement. They were given full
and absolute control. They were
dictators in the offices of the wire
companies. They could and did re-
move supervisory officers at will.
Almost the first act of their manage
ment was an increase in rates and
their last act will be call upon the
treasury for an appropriation to
pay for their deficits.
cit is true that in some respects
the wire companies were embarrass-
ed by war conditions, but in other
respects the war was an advantage
to them. 1t gave them the largest
business in their history-the gov
eminent alone using the wire to an
extent that is almost appalling.
During the war period the wires We're
never idle, nor were the employees
of the company They were earn
ing revenues every moment Of the
day and night.
eff it had been true, as alleged by
Lewis and apparently endorsed by
Burleson and President Wilson, that
there were enormous wastes under
private management which the gov
eminent management could avoid.
the savings in that respect should
have been great enough to cover in
creased expenses, and make increas-
ed rates unnecessary But the saw
ings were not effected. as inferential-
ly promised. Expenses were in
creased, charges were increased,
service was curtailed, efficiency was
sacrificed. the business was demon
allied, and. in the end, there is a
deficit to be paid.
"But there is one consolation.
Although It will cost the people of
the country $14.000,000, together
with the increased charges, to learn
by practical demonstration what
government management means, the
lesson is probably worth what 1t cost.
We shall never again be troubled
with the complicated tabulations in
telligible to no one. by which Mr..
Lewis claimed to be able to demon
strate the superiority of government
management over private manage
ment. Mr.. Lewis, like many other
impractical theorists, will probably
retain an honored position in the
Wilson administration until 1921.
Then he and all the rest of the cost
ly bunch will GO He will deserve
the thanks of the nation for having
demonstrated the unsoundness of his
teachings"