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would greatly decrease cost of operation. (d) The service would not be open to the Sports System.

Brief for the negative.

W. E. COBB and E. R. COFFIN.

Best general references: Hadley in Political Science Quarterly III: 373. Hadley in Nation 49: 85. Means in North Am. Rev. 139: 51. Public Opinion 4: 55-399.

I. Government ownership of telegraph lines is bad, since (1) Presumption is against centralization of private interests in the hands of the government. (2) All the people would be taxed for the benefit of the comparatively small number that would use the telegraph. (a) Probable inefficiency of government management. (b) Clamor for extension of lines to an unprofitable extent. (3) It creates a vast number of federal offices, resulting in an extension of the "Spoils System." (4) It exposes political secrets to the use of the party in power.

II. The government should not take immediate steps toward assuming ownership of the telegraph, for (1) Civil Service Reform must precede any such action. (2) Western Union Co. is giving cheap and efficient service. (3) Other alternatives must first be examined. (a) Establishment of government postal telegraph offices, and the letting out of contract for carrying messages to telegraph companies. (b) Government control of telegraph by interstate commission.