The sun., 1918-07-02
M'ADOO MAY GET
CONTROL WIRES
Continued from First Pogo.


advisability OF the immediate passage
OF the Aswell Joint resolution No. 309
giving the President power III in his dis
erection 1t is deemed desirable to assume
control OF the communicating systems by
electricity in order to insure their con-
OF the war and to guard the secrecy of
military and governmental communica-
ton or to prevent communication by
spies and other public enemies beg to
say that such power and discretion to
act seems imperative to safeguard public
interests
|. AT this moment paralysis of a large
part of the system OF electrical COM
munication is threatened with possible
consequences prejudicial to our military
preparations and other public activities
that might prove serious or disastrous.
We are reminded that there is not a
nrti'n engaged in the war that intrusts
its military or other communications to
unofficial agencies.
II deem 1t. therefore. my duty not
merely to approve but to urge the pas
sage OF the resolution in order that the
President may act, II necessary. to safe
guard the interests of the country during
the prosecution Of the war.
Respectfully.
"A. S. BURLEsoS, p. NJ. G."
The Secretary OF War also sent Mr.
Sims short note to the effect that he
thought II both expedient and wise that
the President should have conferred
upon him the powers which he is given
under the provisions OF House joint
resolution No. 309."
Danicls's Involvement.
The Secretary of the Navy also sent
letter thoroughly indorsing the plan.
II believe that such resolution is of
high military importance and that dur
ing this period of the war the Com
mander in Chief Of the Army and Navy
ought to have the power to take possess
| sion and control OF any telegraph. tele-
phone. marine cable or radio system
and operate the Same subject to those
conditions Of law so far as applicable
which are in force as to steam railroads
| now under Federal control. 1t was
found absolutely necessary early in .he
war to take control Of railroad systems,
and I think II Is almost as important
that the President should have power
to control all methods Of communica-
ton"
Some Republican members OF the COM
mittee are dissatisfied with the reso-
| luton as it now stands. They feel that
definite time limit for the return Of
the companies to private ownership
should be included in the resolution.
| The fact that this limitation can be en-
acted at any time may overcome their
objections.
They object also to the inclusion in
the resolution among the reasons for
which the President may assume con-
troll of the telegraph and telephone IA
cilties the words 'or public reasons"
This Is too broad. they think, and hold
| that the reasons should be purely those
connected directly with the war.
There is a disposition also to limit the
resolution at this time to granting the
President power to take over the lines of
communications and later enact the con-
ditions under which financial return will
be made to stockholders and the dura-
| ton of Government control, as was done
| in the case OF the railroads.
Aswell's Comment.
Mr. Aswell. discussing the resolution,
said: THE economic significance OF the
step proposed by this resolution is as
founding. The Government by the uni
| fication Of the telegraph and telephone
| lines can release most of the employees
of the telegraph companies by sending
| kilograms over the telephone wires, as
| is done successfully in other countries
where these facilities are under Govern
ment control Telephone wires are bet
| ter than telegraph wires and are sus-
| ceptible OF use for both telephone and
/ telegraph communication simultaneously.
"The War Department is in grave
need OF trained telegraphers. telephon-
| lists and electricians. II the telegraph
| and telephones be combined at least
| ! 0 900 telegraphers would be released at
once for the military service. More
| over, II is necessary to control the wires
| In order to prevent their use for traitor
| Gus purposes, as all other belligerents
are now doing.
AT present there Is nothing to pre-
vent a spy sending telegram to Ell
Paso, Tex. which, being received by
confederate there. can be carried across
| the river into Mexico and then trans
| mitted to Germany. The German Gov
| eminent prevents this sort of thing by
controlling it's own wires and furnishing
| its own employees, who censor all code
and doubtful matter. At present in this
country there is no check whatever on
| the traitorous use OF telephone and tel
egraph wires, which in other belligerent
countries arc postal instrumentalitics Of
communications"
ParaIIeIing of Lines.
Turning to the paralleling OF lines Of
competing companies. Mr.. Aswell said:
1.-THE Postal Telegraph Company, with
few exceptions, duplicates the Western
Union and could give all of its en-
pIoyees Immediately to the Government