OCR Text |
Show OWNERSHIP OF THE TELEGRAPH LINES Washington, Dec. IS. The propo ?.iiion looking to government owner Ship and control of (he telegraph and (eh-phone lines of the country Is approved ap-proved by influential members of the senate committee on postotfices and post roadw, before whom the recom mendations of the postmaster general vIJl be referred for action. Among expressions gathered today were the lollowing : Senator Martine of New Jersey I have been in favor of this plan for irary years. 1 advocated it on the stump and in letters to newspapers. It is desirable from every point of view. This great government should absolutely control all means of communication com-munication between the people of the United States. I favor It also Iron an esthetic point of view. We are spending millions of dollars annually an-nually for good roads, planting trees along our highways and in the streets of our towns and villages that add to their beauty and to the comfort of the people. The private monopoly that now controls the Ires that ram if y the entire country destroys or damages these trees and performs acts of vandalism wherever they go it these natural decorations happen to interfere with their wires. The grcal benerit- of public ownership should be the legacy of our people The system could be operated practically prac-tically at cost It would Increase tho educational advantages of our people stimulate business and add to the general prosperity . I favor the freest possiMe interchange of communication com-munication hetween the American people, and for that reason I gle public ownership of the telegraph and of the telephone my heartiest indorse mont Senator Hale of Oregon I am favorable fav-orable to federal ownership of these tv, o great public utilities, if we do not have to pay too much for them Fairly appraised and with all the wa tered stock squeezed out. it v. ould be a good thing for the government and for the people. Senator Chilton of West Virginia If the government can obtain tho wires of both these corporations at a lair valuation and be fairly dealt vlrh f vv ould be favorable to tak ing over both the telegraph and the telephone and giving the public benefit bene-fit of the reduced cost that surely would follow. Of course, there would have to be a thorough valuation of all the properties and the interests of both the government and the present owners considered. Senator Keuyon of Iowa Public ownership of the telegraph and telephone tele-phone companies would meet with my approval. Properly safeguarded, the transaction would be beneficial to our people We should have to see to it carefully that the government govern-ment obtained the real and not the liclltious value of what it bought t would be a good thing. Senator Brlstow of Kansas I favor the general principles The only thing that would make me hesitate is the fact that under the administration of the Is st two postmasters general, the postofflce has been a political machine. ma-chine. If by legislation we can create cre-ate and enforce In the postal department depart-ment a genuine civil service like they have In England, government ownership owner-ship would be a blessing to the country coun-try Representative Cary of Wisconsin 1 have been urging government ownership of telephone and telegraph i'ne for several years I appro1, e the report of the postmaster general in this particular -Representative Lewis of Maryland fl I favor government ownership and operation of the telephone lines ot the country. " Representative McGllilcuddy, Matne I --The people in my section of the country look with approval on the ! plan of government ownership of tele- '" graph and telephone systems. I think that It would be a good thing for the ? country and for the postal depart-nient. depart-nient. i Representative Robert, Massachu- ij sett I look with distrust on too S much government patronage, and it lr may be that the time is not yet ripe for government ownership of tele- !" phone and telegraph. |