New-York tribune., 1919-01-07
' all Says U. S.
Does Not Seek
10 Own Wires
Letter Expresses Opinion
Economic Combination
Is the Governments Aim

The government IS not working
toward absolute ownership of tele-
phone and telegraph lines, but rather
toward combination of all existing
companies, in the interest of efficiency
and economy, under Federal direction.
This is the opinion expressed in
letter, made public yesterday, written
by Theodore N. Vail, head of the
American Telephone and Telegraph
Company, to Representative John A.
Moon, chairman of the House Commit
tee on Postoffices.
Through the combination of al
systems, Mr. Vail contends. an almost
perfect system of electrical communi-
cation can be established throughout
the United States. This Will be. his
letter says:
"Onc system, intcrdepcndent and in
tcrrelating, with a single or coord-
mated responsible control over all
similar utilities and over all the factors
that make for operation, for continuity,
for permanence, for efficiency and sue
cess
L. S. Policy Thought Outlined
Special interest is attached by wire
authorities to this letter of Mr. Vail's
slncc 1t is known that he had been
frequently IN conference with repre-
sentatiNes of the government. it is
believed by many that he, in his letter.
IS explaining what Mr. Burlcson's
course is TO be-
ne letter refers to House R,ll 36S,
winch IS the government control meas
urc. The letter follows, in part:
under the present status OF gov
crnmcnt operation and control. little
can be done toward the ultimate so-
lutlon which must take place, which
W'll not have to be undonc when Tho
period Of control ends.
There is, however, in my opinion.
. poss'nlllty OF simple, complete and
Hausfactory solution.
Chance for Constructive Work
"lhcre is without doubt an omar
tunity for a great piece of beneficial
ana constructive work by combining
and cocrdinating all The various exist
ing ullilty services, or those that arc
complementary and supplementary
INTO ono or more we'll balanced
systems, the extent cf which shouId
bc determined by the nature Of the
service by the extent Of tho service
fcndered, and by commercial, rco-
graphlc. economic reasons; and by COM
plh'hg IN direct manner and as far
as possible divorced from political ar
PARTISAN or class influence, the rcnui
site power and authority Of the Federal
foVcrnmont expressed in a mandate to
equlilDratc revenue, operating costs
and capital charges, with an operatin,-
organization adapted to the require
ments OF the service and based on thc
methods which experience, ENTERPRISE
and operation in tho industrial world
nave shown TO be effective, efficient and
economical.
L. 5. Control Needs Cure
Government control and regulation
and restrictions need the same cure
that our utilities do combination. co
ordination, cooperation one svstcn,'
nterdepcndent and nterrelating, with
single or coordnated responsible con
troll over all similar utilities and over
al the factors chat make for opera
ton, Tor continuity, for permanenco
for efficiency and succcss, and above
All there must be recognition OF the
tact that neither labor, management
nor capital is independent Of tho
others, and that neither can pcrma
nently get any benefit at the sacrifice
Of the others and that permanent
maintenance of operating organization
depends upon reasonable rewards for
lne actual contribution of each to tho
work.
Single Control Coming
The wire system of the future will
DC one nationwide system, under
single control, by o. over which direct
connection can be established between
any two places for the electrical trans
mission Of any communication or Of
the spoken word; and every individual
place VIII be the centre of the system
for transmission III any direction to the
limit of transmission.
Whatever the status of wire sys-