El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-02-25
RETURN
Of WIRE LINES
Commissions Unite In A
Strong Petition To the
President.
(Continued nom page ~

CContinued from page II
ing in mind that nigh standard Of
Z efficiency must be maintained IT
! his address at the annual convention
Z of our assertion on November 10. 1918
he stated the controlling consideration
T viii be that the government IS TO give
I the largest and best service possible
+ at the least cost-it is our purpose
I in the management OF these systems
I TO unity them and so 70 adjust the
I rates as to be able 70 take care OF
/ the increased volume OF business, and
I when that has been done. Il is our
| earnest hope that we viii be able 20
adjust these rates as to bring about a
Z substantial reduction OF them
Worse Service. Higher Cost.
"On December "a, the postmaster
[ general issued bulletin No. p, pre-
scribing a schedule of standardized toll
4 rates effective January %. 1919. which
I greatly increased the charges TO the
/ public. Although the schedule had
this result he announced that "the ef-
feet OF this uniform Or basic rate OF
station TO station service is to reduce
or not affect most of the rates. though
necessarily slightly raising about 80
] percent in the process OF standardiza-
ton. The net result OF six months Of
operation by the postmaster general
Of these wire systems is inferior serv-
ice and very substantial increases in
chargest to the public.
No Reason Now For Control.
I'VE feel that these properties
should be returned No military neces-
sity can now be pleaded in support OF
government control The quality Of
the service in many cases has deterior-
ated. Rates and charges have been
greatly increased without giving the
patrons or public an opportunity to be
heard as to the reasona bleness or the
Justice thereof, though the principle
was long ago settled that important
changes shall be submitted for public
consideration before the coming e.
fective- These rate changes are appli-
cable upon state as interstate offices
and have thereby caused widespread
dissa tisfaction with federal operation
which is evidenced by the fact that
judicial protection TO prevent the col
lection OF said excessive charges has
been sought by the states o. New
York. New Jersey. Florida Mississippi.
Louisiana. Kansas, Nebraska. Illinois,
Indiana. Michigan, Minnesota. Wis
consin and California. and Is contem-
plated BY several others This toll
rate order also prescribed a new and
untried system. which has esulted in
general confusion among operating
officials and the patrons throughout
the country.
Causes Serious Disturbance.
Fundamental changes are being
made in the operation OF these sys-
toms, which probably could not be le-
gally done under private control and
which upon return TO private manage
ment may cause serious disturbance IN
the relative status OF the different
wire systems Federal operation has
also disrupted service and resulted in
interfering with many OF the esrao-
Hshed practices in several states Of
h. l. al NJ
turn TO private operation will result
in securing improved service, the
restoration Of reasonable rates and
charges and the giving OF adequate
protection TO both the public and cor
poraIons-
Higher Pays Decreased Morale.
The postmaster generals recent
declaration that employees engaged In
the public service should receive high
er compensation than those engaged
in private service OF a similar kind.
which as a matter OF fact can be &C
complished only through rate in
creases. has caused a demand BY the
employees Of the wire systems for
largely Increased wages and has re-
suited in a decreased morale and e.
ficiency until such demand is COM
piled with.
Unsatisfactory operation Is result
ing IN a broadcast public feeling that
the wire systems should be returned
Immediately 10 private operation In
fact there are now no advocates Of
government control except the COM
pauies who now receive or expect 10
receive benefit therefrom and those
who favor government ownership Of
the wire systems.
Bell Company Fnvored-
Under the provision OF the Law that
the president fix just compensation
FOR government use the postmaster
general accepted the proposal O. the
Bell system. which contained pro-
visions very satisfactory TO the com
pany with respect to guaranteed re-
turn, recognition OF securities as a
basis Of value. reservation OF property
by that system. the assessment OF
taxes and increased expenses. In this
connection. however. II may be pointed !
out that CORE spending contracts pro-
posed by the postmaster general to I
other companies contain elements &
much more protective Of the public in +.
Jerest and are so Indifferent that they 4
constitute a discrimination in favor .
Of the Bell system other companies or 4
systems. Neither the advantage ac-
corded TO the Bell system through its /
Agreement nor other forms OF agree
nent have been offered In whole or IN 1
part 70 the thousands of small COM
1anies confronted by existing financial
operating and tax problems
The American people are welded 20 I
the doctrine of local regulation Of To-
al utilities and they earnestly feel
that their interests can be more prop
srly safeguarded in that way than By
my system OF federal operation Hence
he widespread demand for the early
return Of these properties.
Very respectfully,
Nn IL