Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1918-12-05
CABLE COMPANY
SEEKS To BLOCK
FEDERAL CONTROL
Commercial Gable Company
Asks Injunction Against
BurIeSon Declaring Neces-
Sity Ceased With the War

feT MORNING JOURNAL sREciSL LEbHEo wEul
New York, Dec. 4--Complaint in
an Injunction suit against Postmaster
General Bureson was filed by the
Commercial Gable company here to-
day seeking TO prevent the postmaster
general from assuming cortrol of the
company's marine cable system.
The complaint alleges that if the
postmaster general is not entoined
from carrying ont his purpose the
company. will sustain irreparable
damage. 1t was filed by Charles T..
Hughes and William w. Cook. as
counsel for the company.
Soon after the complaint was filed
it was announced at the offices of the
Commercial Gable company that Vice
President George G. Ward would re-
fuse appointment as director of the
combined Western Union Commercial
cable service authorized today by the
postmaster general
The main basis of the bill of com
plant is that after the armistice was
signed the war powers no longer OPP
Grated except to wind M matters al
ready in the hands of the government
prior to its signing. To show that the
armistice really put an end TO the war
in the meaning of the joint resolution
OF congress taking over the two sys-
TENS the Following extract from the
presidents address on November II
is quoted;
THE war thus comes to an end,
for having accepted these terms of
armistice, it will be impossible for
the German command to renew it,
Merger Is Ordered.
Washington, Dec. 4.--Amalgama-
ton of the marine cable system OF tho
Western Union Telegraph company
and Commercial Cable company un-
der the direction of George G. Ward,
vice president of the Commercial
company was authorized today by
Postmaster General Burleson
The amalgamation was announced
in the following letter from Mr.. Bur
Lesson to Clarence II. Mackay presi-
dent of the Commercial Gable COM
pany at New York;
THE interests of the public service
during the present emergency neces-
states the unification in operation to
the fullest extent possible the cable
systems from this country TO Europe
so that the full capacity of all the
cables may be made available to the
public and the press. 1t is manifest
that this can only be accomplished
through the operation of the two sys-
TENS under one management. | have
made survey of the situation and
am satisfied that the object sought
can best be accomplished by placing
the cables with the operating head of
the Commercial Gable company
II therefore direct. so far as ! am
authorized by the joint resolution OF
congress, under which the cable sys-
TENS are now controlled, by the gov
eminent Of the United States. that
Mr.. George G. Ward. vice president
Of the Commercial Gable company
and who I understand now has direct
charge of your cable system, assume
the management and operation Of
both the Commercial Gable system
and the cable system operated by the
Western Union Telegraph company
II trust that I will have the hearty
cooperation of the officials Of both
cable systems in carrying out these
directions.
Il am sending a copy of this letter
to Mr.. Ward. also to Mr.. Newcomb
Carlton president of the Western
Union Telegraph company"
Officials at the postoffice depart
ment declined either to confirm or to
deny reports that have been current
for several days that the land tele-
graph lines would be consolidated un-
der the direction of the managing Of
ficer of the Western Union. Persons
who have been in touch with the sit
uation indicated. however, that an an
nouncement of the consolidation
might be expected at any time.