Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 174, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 August 1918 — U. S. MAY CURB USE OF PHONES [ARTICLE]

U. S. MAY CURB USE OF PHONES

Washington, D. C., July 31. Americans probably will be asked to do less talking over the telephone soon after Uncle. Sam takes charge tonight. They’re great little talkers now, with a grand total of more than 15,000,000,000 telephone conversations each year. Out on the Pacific coast-they talk most, and in the eastern, south central states the least. The big talkers will have to cut down, and maybe little talkers also. The telephone companies are just like boys who have outgrown their clothers. They’re toe big for their “britches.” And as the United States is at. war and’it isn’t possible right qway to build a new outfit to properly clothe the telephone companies, Uncle Sam is going to have them put on a diet and make them reduce to fit their old plothes. It wouldn’t surprise any one connected with the companies nor with the postoffice department if one of the first acts of Postmaster General Burleson’s committee would be to abolish the unlimited service and make all service limited, possibly making it metered. When the government took over the railroalls its economy ‘program made it more difficult to travel except on business. Joy rides over the country are almost impossible now. The food administration is making it difficult to eat too much. The fuel administration is making it hard to waste coal. So why not cut out the joy of talks? *