Evening journal., 1918-07-18
]. 5. Wire CONTROL
MAY REDUCE RATES
Telephone and Telegraph
Lines TO Carry Morse and
Vocal Messages
ENGLISH TO COLLECT
FEES IN WILMINGTON

WASHINGTON. July is.-Postmaster
General Burleson, who is TO be named
director general OF the United States
telephone and telegraph administration
when President Wilson isues an execu-
tive order taking over control OF the
wire system Of the country, had sew
eral long conferences yesterday regard
ing the situation as a whole, and 1t
was asserted that he is rapidly whip
ping into shape an organization which
Will assume charge as soon as the
President gives the word.
Two of Mr.. Burleson's chief assist
ants in the administration already have
been decided on. David j. Lewis, of
Cumberland, Md, now a member of the
Tariff BOARD, is to be director of opera
tions, and John C. Rooms. First Assist
ant Postmaster General. also Of Mary
land is TO be director OF finance. Both
OF these prospective officials of the
new Government administration Of the
telephone and telegraph were closeted
with Mr.. Burleson most of the day.
While no announcements are 10 be
made in advance Of the issuance Of
the executive order. Mr.. Burleson's
plans for the telephone-telegraph ad
were learned in a general
way. The agencies and machinery Of
the United States postal service are TO
be employed wherever 1t is possible to
do so.
The local telephone-telegraph organl-.
zation in Wilmington, as an illustra-
tion, probably will provide for the ap-
pointment Of Postmaster James j. Eng
llsh as the local director of finance. He
Will receive and collect all the moneys
Of the wire service and keep its books.
A local director Of operations, a practi-
,al telephone or telegraph man, Will be
selected TO have charge Of operations.
The task Of selecting men for these
posts, IL is said, will be one of the |
hardest confronting the national wire |
The long-distance telephone and tele-
graph business will be handled by di- |
visions or regions, with a practical |
wire man at the head Of each region. |
This regional director will have much |
10 say about the selection Of the local
directors of operations, as in a city like |
While no definite decision has been |
reached, there is being discussed a plan
for dividing the continental United
States into three zones and fixing
telegraph charge for messages In that
zone. Some Of the western Congress
men, led by Representative Albert
Johnson, Of Washington State, are ad
a fiat rate for kilograms in
United States, like the let
ter-postage rate. Such a plan, II is
asserted, is impracticable because the
messages would be COM
PEELED to bear large part Of the cost
Of Transmitting long-dlstance messages.
lt was said. however, that when the
Government has taken flrm grip on |
he wire lines efforts VIII be made to |
iivide the country into zones, like the /
,arcel-p0st zone system, and charge
or kilograms and telephone messages
ccording 20 those zones. These zones,
is said. VIII be made as few as pos
ible in order to give the people more
ervice.
Postofilce Department officials in
ouch with the development OF the
overnment's plan today expressed the
pinion that as soon as the national
ephone-telegraph administration gets
! good working shape a reduction in
9th telephone and telegraph rates may
g expected. By merging many Of the
motions Of the wire system with the
ostofllce machinery and unifying the
telephone and telegraph wires 1t is said
lany economies can be made thar will
educe the cost OF operation.
One of the first things the national
rganizstlon viii do will be to merge Il
he telephone and telegraph lines.
Under this plan the telephone wires
will be used for both vocal and Morse
ode messages. The copper lines Of the
system will likewise be util-
zed for the transmission of both mes
ages. In this way the Government |
,filcials felt they can get double service |
)ut OF the two systems, now separate, |
rot only greatly expanding the facili-
les Of the wire service; but reducing |
he cost Of ultimate operation.
Government officials also will take |
iteps to relieve the minds of newspaper |
)wners about adequate wire service |
lnder governmental control. owners OF |