The Washington times., 1913-12-20

nlblic details- which showed tnat tne
-alnerican .Teaephone and Telegrapf
Western Unien. viii refrain from ac-
.aifring control Of other telephone COM
-panies. and dispose of-otherl companies
Where actnal physicaf union has not
-oeen completed, and win give indepen-
rtent companfes- long-distance service
Dosss,t. Correct Abusess.,-t.-s
but this doee not. correct the abuse.
-oE which the friends of Government
ownership eoEaplain, ;" declared Congress-
man nLewis.--s--s---s-s-s .lss-z--s.-.-------.
MOT a rate in the United States has
been affected by this dissolution. Tele-
graph rates are two or three times too
nigh. Telephone local rates are twice
too high. Telephone long-distance rates
are from four TO eight times what they
should be. aA--------- - -
..sThis piece. Of litigation has no more
ISsn the he stsndard @ % On e ntixasion Ss,on had on
the price Of oil. What the public wants
-is lower rates of communication by tele-
~rhone and telegraph. and the public
Knows thaf.t the onlys-way. this can be
ishone service. using The wires also fol
telegraph business. ----.-.. ~ -
SA4S SsV 1&S9o1kSs
: congressman Moon, of Tennessee
chairman OF the House -Postoffice Com
@Iaittee. decIared the committee had not
81 Governnlsuf 0whkfship.s sbiif mat the
latter he6-beea -discuesed.--GE aiffnaa
Noon and Fuysmaytsf Geuerar Burieson
who aoovcated-1soxern
ssais ent-annusf report hays-ccn-
ferIed on The subject In The last few
days. The Postmaster General refused
TO make any comment on the telephone
dissolution when questioned today.
Tpe American Telegraph and Tele-
raone Company is to relinquish control
If tho Western Union Telegraph Com
tany. New mergers will be foresworn,
ard the telephone company will open
rs trunk lines for long distance connec-
uvns by and with its-competitors, the
little Independent companies. s-
Administration Officials. from Presi-
cent Wilson down. are immensely
,.lelsed. 1t is acknowledged that this Ia
a greater victory than could ever have
been gained in court.
Action OF This big company, as an
rolnced by Attorney General McReyn-
dds, marks an epoch in trust areguia-
ion and trust policy The company
BOWS before the law and the popular
demand, conceding points that It has
ceretofore fought to maintain. Details
of the reorganization of this great COM
hat Is. to the Attorney General and the
interstate Commerce Commission.
Ownership Discussed.
What steps. II any, the Administra-
tion will take to carry out the plan
for Governments ownership of tele-
graph and telephone lines was a ques-
tion widely discussed in Washington
today.
Under the terms of this agreement
the American Telephone and Tele.
graph Company agrees to dispose OF
its holdings In the Western Union
Telegraph Company, and that here
other telephone companies, and that
in Instances where control has been
obtained. but where no physical merg-
er has been effected. the American
telephone and ,Teiegraph Company
state Commerce Commission and the
Department Justice as to the
course Ii is to pursue.Es
Another concession which the Depart
nlent Of Justice was preparing to de-
mand In the dissolution case il had un-
der consideration was that the company
should make arrangements by which all
other telephone companies in the United
states shall have access 10 its toll lines.
rnand in its-offerof voluntary dissolu-
tion.
Had Conference.
Postmaster General Burieson, who
gave the strongest Endorsement to the
Government ownership idea in his mes
sage to Congress this week. and Chair
man Moon OF the House Committee on
rvstonices. conferred Friday on the leg
tslatiye phases of the subject Congress-
man Lewis OF Maryland author Of
bill providing for the acquisition of the
telegraph lines by the Government. has
President. the Postmaster General and
House leaders on this subject.
President-Wilson has not committed
himself on the Government ownership
idea, but he has given the warnest in
dorsement to the voluntary dissolution
plan. In letter TO Attorney General
NcReynolds President Wilson said Il
was ''verygr1ttfying thatsthe company
should thus volunteer to adjust its bus
!nsss to the conditions Of competition" I"
The President EXPRESSED qualification
for the opportunity to deal with such
complete franiness and TO show busi-
-Eess men that the Administration wished
70 cooperate with them. $50 long as
Ee are dealt with IN this spfrit." he
said. I'VE can help to build Up the busi-
rcss of the country upon sound and
permanent lines"
Restores Competition.
Attorney General McReynolds. in
letter TO Nc. Kingsbury, vice president
Of the Bell company. who conducted the
lesotiations for the company, expressed
--s.ii-iss-ii-ia..-ss-i:-..-ss-;;iissisiiss-S.