The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1913-12-25
TELEPHONE TRUST
TO b. DISSOLVED.

Washington. Dec. 22.-The greatest
anti-trnst victory of President Wilson'S
administration thus far--the voluntary
dissolution of the so-calleG telephone
trust. commanded the attention OF all
administration officials today.
Next to the fact that all the features
against which the government was pre-
pairing an antitrust suit will be elm
mated with the consent and
ton OF big business itself without
years Of court fighting, the principal
topic OF discussion in administration
circles, was what effect will the dis
solution have on the movement for gov
eminent ownership? IT has been *
pected In congress that such a plan
would be introduced as an administra-
tion measure.
Although the voluntary dissolution Of
the so-called trust actually under way,
however, Attorney General McReynolds
and the Interstate Commerce commits
sioTi today prepared to scan the details
OF the proposed separation OF the
American Telephone e. Telegraph CON-
pany from the Western Union and the
work OF disentangling telephone affairs
throughout the country, which threat
ened federal action.
Won't Extend Monopoly. ID.
Not only has the American Telephone
n Telegraph company agreed to give
up Its control Of the Western Union,
but 1t has agreed not to extend its
monopoly Of local companies in the
telephone field. ~ .st.E 1E4
But the most important point TO the
American people. officials declare, is
the telephone company's agreement to
extend the use of its toll lines to all
local companies! That concession,
which was admittedly more than Attor-
ney General M~cPovnolds expected to
gain in a legal fight, opens long dis
E - / -. 49,
communities Z wl''Ch have long been
denied it. AS the work Of separating
the two big comr"cies goes on points
on which they may lie in doubt viii
be submitted to Attorney General Nc
Reynolds and the Interstate Commerce
commission for decision. a,
Administration supporters after I'M
formal conferences on the telephone
dissolution and gofnE over SO much Of
the plan as has been published were
OF the opinion that the latest develop
faent would at least retard the move
nlent to present the government owner
ship question to congress. .t,3 Some
Thought the C~onpeny's voluntary re-
adjustment to meet the views OF the
department Of Justice had created an
entirely new situation. which the gov
eminent ownership supporters would
have to consider before going further.
Would 60 Ahead With Plan.
Representative Lewis. Of Maryland,
author ofathe parcel post law and ac-
tive in the movement for government
ownership Of telegraph and telephone
lines, introduced a resolution, how
ever, to direct the House ~postoffice
committee to go ahead and report a.
bill for government ownership of tele-
phone lines, to be operated by the post
office department. hi.
In az statement accompanying his
resolution, Mr.. Lewis contended that
the action of the Bell Telephone COM
antitrust law did not affect the legis-
lative situation at all.
f'The action Of the Bell company
will not affect a single telephone or
telegraph rate in the United States
and so the public necessities for leg
islative action to p~ostaliZe these meth
DDS Of communication, as they have
been in nearly all countries. are not
affected in the least" said he. .I
The Lewis resolution embodies q plan
by which the telephone lines would be
appraised by the Interstate Commerce
commission and the companies might
appeal to the United States circuit
courts on the awards. PendiEg lttiga-
ton. interest at the rate of 4 per cent
a year would be paid to the. owners
The government would issue 3 per
cent bonds from time to time as the
acquisition Of properties demanded.
Change in Tactics. ,
The plan originated with the COM
pany, although it followed many re-
ports that q suit against it might be
filed. II was regarded by department
Of Justice officials last night as the
most striking indication offered in d
decade that "hig business" has come to
the belief that it is better to follow the
Sherman law thar fight it, The plan
met not only the approval Of the attor-
ney general and his chief trust
buster" c. c. Todd, n OFFICIALS Of the
subsidiaries Of the combine. bur was
heartily approved by President Will
son. IN a letter to Mr.. McReynolds the
president expressed his admiration for
the attitude OF the telephone company
and his conviction that such conduct
on. the part Of the business men meant
a building up of business on sound and