The Cairo bulletin., 1913-12-22
BEGIN FIGHT FOR
FEDERAL CONTROL
TELEPHONE LINES
Telegraph System Also to Be Made
Government Property if New
Bill is Passed.
MARYLANDER SETS PACE
BY INTRODUCING A BILL
Representative Lewis Father Of
Measure in the Lower House
Of Congress.

Washington. Dec. 2l.-Ilight OF
the heels of the American Telephon,
& Telegraph company's yoluntar.
offer 10 divorce Itself from contro
of the Western Union, direct move
in the proposed plan for the govern
ment tc own and operate the wire
lines was made in House of Repre-
sentatiyes Saturday.
A resolution directing the Post
office committee of the House to
consider and report a bill for the
purpose of vesting in the United
States monopoly of the function
for communication for hire by cleo
tricity, with certain exceptions,
was introduced by Representative
Lewis of Maryland. THIS is the fore
runner of the bill to be offered by
Chairman Moon of the Postofficc
committee, providing for govern
ment ownership and operation OF
telephone and tclegraphs.
Is Postal Function.
The resolution sets forth that the
Conveyance of communications is
swstal function and has been vested
u the Constitution in the govern
Sssst of the United States with the
s&fecs of providing the people with
ah6 cheapest and most extensive SER
Siee feasible. 1t declares that pos
aalsrates on letters in the United
Elatss are among the lowest in tho
.'AexlJs while the rates for messages
he Slre through private agencies
ere alsong the highest.
1t asserts the duty of the govern
uakut and the common practice Of
nations to he the "postalization IF
trj6AraDh and tnlcphone services"
The resolution prescribes that tho
Oil 10 be prepared from the House
9Auata1ttse shall provide for the APP
;psahy%g ion directly by statute Of
ths telephones except farmers lines
en jAgse,ry /, 1915. They are to be
9alIeta Pn charge by the Postmaster
aGca~ral, the properties to be ar
praHol by the Interstate Commerce
Comm sion
Will Pay in Installments.
. -Four per cent per annum upon
sheir value from January J. 1915,
O. 20 D paid quarterly to the own
essantU payment of the award val
Sssastas. Payment of the final award
sas'ss is made from the federal treas
aays.e which shall issue 8 per cent
'Sea6s otc the necessary amount
sT&e licensing Of existing tele-
Asph and radio companies to corr
tsNSsc their business and of railway
fsSegrapS for railway purposes is
a~oyst@a o. The Postmaster Cen
NrI q ~sucense states, counties
ritGssss Iasssstions and individuals
81 saasN' ee.tensions of telephone
Siuea axisssses to The right of &C
aAsfApaews b the Postofficc Depart,
Aseses.
Sae asssii system is to be applied
70 81 EeVzsyes.
Wsh0As9en, Dee. 21,--The great
- sStri tnust victory of President
ssN$S,sf - administration thus far,
S<S StAastary dissolution of the So
WSss@i Telephone Trust has com
manded the attention of admins
tration officials.
The principal topic of discussion
is in relation to the effect the dissc-
luton will have on the movement
for government ownership. II had
geen generally expected that such a
plan wo2Ss soon be urged on Con-
gress as an administration measure.
Not only has the American Tele-
phone and Telegraph company
agreed to give up its control of the
Western Union but agrees rot to
extend its monopoly to local com
panies in the telephone field. The
most important point to the Ameri-
can people. officials declare. is the
telephone eompany's agreement to
extend use of its toll lines to all lc-
cal companies.
Big Aid TO Independents.
From the point of view of sub
scriber to an Independent telephone
system one of the most interesting
parts of the agreement is that prom
Using him use of the through lines
of the Bell company Under the
agreement, al independent may OBJ