New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1918-07-24
HUGE PROFIT FROM
CONTROL Of WIRES
j. S. War Chest May Be Increased
$8O,O00,OOO Annually.

= GASLdL-CIl QlL444S TIC pGIlC0 VI LL+C
war the $500, 900 miles Of domestic
telephone and telegraph wires in the
United States may net the govern
nent an annual income of between
$4,000 900 and S10O, 900, 600.
Though full authority was given by
Congress for taking over the cables.
radio system and all other means of
communication, including the foreign
lines touching our shores only the do
mestic telephone and teIegra phi lines
were included in the proclamation. It
is understood the President later will
take control of the cable lines as soon
as all legal and other difficulties are
cleared away.
! Immediately after issuance of the
Presid snts proclamation Postmaster
General Burleson issued a statement
in which he declared that the pres
ent management apd operation would
rot be interfered with except to bring
Improvements that would result from
unified control.
The Postmaster General personally
will direct the wire service of the
country His first official action as
director general Of wire service was
+, TO issue general order No. l appoint
ing three Mary as a committee
10 join with him in the exercise of
wire control
They are John c. Rooms, Assistant
Postmaster General, who was largely
instrumental in organization of the
parcel post system; David J. Lewis
of Maryland, former democratic con
gT5ss771an, who fathered parcel post
legislation and advocated wire conro1
and who IS now 4 member of the tariff
rom mission, Judge william Harmony
lamar, so!l"itr~ for the post office de-
partnen-. Gfr. BGrloson will be chair
man Of the committee.
Work Is Divided.
Each mem Der of The committee
with Mr., Burleson will head a divi-
sion, Mr.. Burleson stated that while
the committee would have charge of
the governmental management. oper-
alton and control of the telephone
and telegraph systems, yet it would be
necessary to divide it's work to Ger
tain extent and that Mr.. Rooms and
the Postmaster General would have
, charge of the administration and or
ganization of the service, Mr.. Lewis
and the Fostm aster- General of it's
operation and Mr.. Lamar and the
Postn aster- General of it's hnances''
The members of the committee
who are all IN the federal service, will
rot resign their present positions TO
give their time to wire control. The
wire administration organization will
be similar in organization and opera
ton to that OF the railways, It's of
fees will he in the Post ONCE De-
partment building here.
rho Presidents Proclamation
The Presidents proclamation fol
lows closely the form of the procla-
nation taking over the railroads and
the administrative organization will
DE super1mposed upon the present
wire companies.
The proclamation follows:
Whereas it is deemed necessary
for the national security and defence
to supervise and to take possession
and assume control of all telegraph
and telephone systems and to operate
the same in such manner as may be
' needful or desirable;
NOW, therefore, I, Woodrow Will
son, President of the United States
under and by virtue of the powers
vested in me by the foregoing resou-
ton, and by virtue of all other pow
ers thereto me enabling, do hereby
take poss ession and assume control
and supervision of each and every
telegraph and telephone system, and
ever part thereof, within the juris~
dicticn of the United States, including
ell equipment thereof and appurten-
ances thereto, whatsoever, and all
'It Is hereby directed that the SUI
pervision possession, control and
operation of such telegraph and tele-
phone systems hereby by me under
taken shall be exercised by and
through the Postmaster-Ge General, Al
bert Burleson Said Postma ster-
General may perform the duties here
BY and hereunder imposed upon him,
so long and to such extent and in
such manner az he shall determine,
through the owners. managers, boards
Of directors, receivers. officers and
EN- pIoyees of such telegraph and tel
ephone systems,
Until and except so far as said
Postmaster-G General shall from time
20 time by general or special orders
9th erwtse provide, the owners man
ayers, boards of directors, receivers,
officers and employees of the various
telegraph and telephone systems shall
continue the operation thereof in the
usual and ordinary course of the bust
ness OF said systems, in the names OF
their respective companies, assoc1a-
tons, organizations. owners, or mana
gers, as the case may be.
Regular dividends hitherto de-
clared and maturing interest upon
bonds, debentures and other obliga-
tons, may be paid in due course; and
such regular dividends and interest
may continue to be until and unless
the said Postmaster-G General shall,
= from time to time, otherwise by gen
eral or special orders determine; and,
subject to the approval of said Post