El Nuevo mexicano., 1918-07-04
BAKER IN FAVOR
Of u. S. CONTROL
OF WIRE LINES
May Become a Military
Necessity at Any
Minute, Says
BURLESON AND
DANIELS URGE 1T
Bills Pending Giving
President Needed
Authority

-
(By Leased Wire to New Mexlcan.)
WASHINGTON, July 2. - While
three cabinet officers were before
the house m committee today
advocating the Aswell resolution, en-
towering the president to take over
telegraph, telephone, cable and radio
systems, the house took jurisdiction
over the measure from that commit
tee and vested II in the military COM
mlttee.
There was no discussion and only
a viva voce vote when Represents.
tive Gordon, Of Ohio, moved that jur-
isdiction be transferred because the
measure was urged as a military
necessity. Members of the military
committee said later they we're not
opposed to the resolution and un-
doubtedly would report 1t f%avorably.
Secretaries Baker and Daniels and
Postmaster General Burleson appear
ed before the house interstate and
foreign commerce committee.
In the meantime the house military
committee met to consider a meas
ure introduced by Representative
LMnn, of New York, similar to the
Aswell bill discussed by the cabinet
officers, but specifically empowering
? the president to operate the com
munication systems, subject to those
conditions of law, so far as apple
able, which are enforced as to the
steam railroads while under federal.
control.
In the meantime the commerce com
mittee proceeded with its hearing.
Secretaries Baker and Daniels and
Postmaster General Burleson urged
that it was essential as a war mea-
sure that the president have power to
take yer the communication systems.
Both Mr.. Baker and Mr.. Daniels de-
MED that the call for a strike OF West
ern Union operators on July s had
any connection with their action in
endorsing the legislation, which has
been approved by the president.
The legislation was discussed be-
tween senate leaders of both parties
today at informal conferences. Sew
eral predicted that if the resolution is
passed by the house it also would be
approved by the senate and with COM
paratively brief debate.
Although there will be some opposj-
ton by those against extension of
government ownership and operation
of utilities, the opinion was advanced
that Endorsement of the Legislation by
the president as a wal necessity
would be sufficient to cause its en-
actment.
Permanent government ownership
of the telegraph and telephone lines
was advocated by Secretary Daniels
and Postmaster General Burleson,
said If the systems were as efficiently
conducted by the government as the
postal service now is, they new would
go back to private ownership.
The house late today reversed its
action in taking from the commerce
commission the Aswell resolution for
government control of telephone and
telegraph lines and voted to permit
that committee to continue its con
sideration.
MAY BE MILITARY
NECESSITY SooN-BAkER
Washington, July 2. - Secretary
Baker, taking the stand first, said
it did not happen at the minute to
be a military necessity to take over
telephones and telegraphs, but it
might be "the next minute" He de-
clared it essential as a war measure
to give the president full power to
take over control Of the wires #
necessary. Members of the commit
tee asked about the effect of govern
ment operation. Mr.. Baker said he
could not say with certainty whether
the government could completely sup
press improper communications, but
it certainly could suppress such COM
munication better than under pres
ent law. At the same time, he said,
there is no supervision or control OF
domestic messages by telegraph SO
far as he knew.
The secretary declined to commit
himself on whether the government
should assume permanent control but
he opposed any time limit for the
surrender to owners of the lines. He
revealed that some time ago a tele-
graph company using railroad wires
became involved in a dispute regard
ing a contract and that he threaten
ed to take possession of the lines,
''using doubtful powers of the war
department. to insure service,
The president should have the
power to take over the lines, he con-
tinued.
Most of the traffic is government
business and any interruption will
injure the government. The tele-
phone and the telegraph are INSOFAR
able in service and both systems
should be taken oyer"
Replying to a question whether