Omaha daily bee., 1913-12-21

Continued from Page one)
telephone TO many communities which
have long been denied It.
AS the work OF separating the two big
companies goes on, points on which they
may be in doubt win be submitted 70
Attorney General McReynolds and the
Interstate Commerce commission for de-
cision.
Representative Lewis OF Maryland, au-
thor OF tha parcel post law in the active
movement for government ownership of
telegraph and telephone lines, introduced
a resolution TO direct the house postoffice
COMMITTEES to go ahead and report bill
for government ownership Of telephone
lines, 10 be operated by the Postofflce
department
Statement of Lewis.
In a statement accompanying his reso-
luton Mr.. Lewis contended that the ac-
tion OF the Bell Telephone company 10
prevent litigation under the antitrust
law. did not affect the legislative stua-
tion at all
'"The action of the Bell company will
not reduce a single telephone or tele-
graph rate in the United States, ana so
the public necessities for legislative ac-
ton TO postalize these methods OF com
munication as they have been in nearly
all other countries are not affected in
the least" said he.
The Lewis resolution embodies a plan
by which, the telephone lines would be
appraised by the Interstate -Cofnmerce
commission and the companies might an
peal TO the United States circuit courts
the a N2rar
est at the rate OF per. cent a year would
De paid to the owners. The government
would issue per cent bonds from time
| 20 time as the acquisition OF properties
demanded.
NEW YORK. Dee. a.-rhe announce
ment from Washington that the Ameri-
can Telephone and telegraph company
had reported an agreement with the De-
partment OF Justice whereby II would re-
linquish control OF the Western Onion
and avoid a suit under the antitrust
law, caused excited advance IN the stock
or the telephone company on the stock
market today.
The first transAction in the stock was
a block OF 20Oo shares, one OF the larr-
est blocks OF that stock which has been
handled on the exchange for years. Prices
ranged from 1904 to ia q maximum gain
OF sA points. Later the advances was run
up to points. The price OF LA repre-
sents gain OF l4G points since Monday.
The price later reacted points. Ameri-
can Telephone convertible bonds gained q
western Union stock. while less ac-
tive. was bid up two points. Pacific Fele-
phone rose three
Clarence Machny A. DeiiEhtea.
Clarence H. Maclay. president OF the
Mackay companies. which control the
Postal telegraph company and the Com
rnercial Gable company. rivals Of the
Western Union and the American TeIe-
phone and Telegraph company issued the
following statement this afternoon,
1T has been a bitterly fought contest.
The result Is a gratifying solution OF
the whole trouble. We hope ana believe
It will WORK out 80 that no further cause
for complaint may exist. either on the
part OF the public or on our part. AnyS
body with any perspective at al could
have seen during the past few years
that there would be an end to a huge
combination whose chief purpose was 70
throttle competition in order to control
and monopolize.
f'Ne fesl grateful 20 the administration
and 70 Attorney General Mcaeynolds for
the result The Department OF Justice
took the matter up on ITS own initiative
and without any attempt 20 shift or
egtde responsibility. the attorney general
has brought about this c0mpists solu-
ttou-Ni~- - 49, 60 - st...
RsfsrT4ns 10 ths-rslAtions between the