The sun., 1918-07-02
NJ 'ADO0 MAYGET
CONTR0L0FALL
SERVICES
Bills Offered in Congress for
Wilson to Take Over
Companies.
rNIFIED SYSTEM SOUGHT
Will Release Thousands for
Army Work-Quick
Action Urged.
Unified SYSTEM SOUGHT
sp.ciai Desputch TO THE. Srx.

WASHINGTON. July 1.-President Will
,on wants authority to take over the
telegraph and telephone lines Of the
country as he did the railroads. His in
dorsement. made known to-day, OF a
rending measure that would give him
discretionary power over such lines Is
believed to have been hastened by the
trouble between the Western Union and
some Of its employees, although the
President IN his letter OF Endorsement
rnakes no reference to this matter.
the Secretaries OF war and the Navy
and the Postma a aster-General backed up
+he President in urging Congress imme-
diatelv to confer tine necessary power on
the Chief Executive.
postmaster-Gene Burleson long has
seen pressing the President to come out
fo- Government control of the telegraph
md telephone lines and 1t IS generally
believed here that If Congress passes
III. enabling legislation the lines will be
taken over whether a strike eventuates
Or not.
There is much speculation in WASH
,nston as TO whom the President would
delegate administrative powers for the
coera,Ion and control of the wire COM
,anies While ePostmaster-General Burle-
son consistently has favored the taking
over of the wire companies as natural
part of the postal service of the country
the telegraph lines particularly are more
or less allied with and follow the right
o. way OF the railroads.
McAdoo May Get Control.
IN many quarters IL is regarded as
likely that they will he placed in the
hands Of Director-General Of Railroads
McAdoo, who has gained fund OF ex-
perience in the last six months. Such
course is probable if the Government
takes over the lines as 1t did the rail-
roads for the period of the war.
Government administration super
imposed on the telegraph companies as
IN the case Of the railroads is favored If
control is limited. :.
In the House Representative Asweii
,Lal introduced a resolution to-day 10
give the Government control. An emory
was made to hurry the resolution
through the House Interstate Commerce
Committee but some of the more con-
something about the proposal before
taking action. The need for haste ID Inc
strike Of Western Union employees se'
for July S. Senator Sheppard (Tex') IN
,roduced a similar resolution in the sen
ate.
High officials Of the Administrators
Will explain in detail to-morro" MORN
ing to the House Interstate Commerce
Committee the need for the radical ac'
ton proposed in the Aswell resolution
and backed up by President Wilson. Inc
hearing will be behind closed doors.
incidentally as a result of the Amos
certain action of the House on the AS
well resolution and the possibility O
water power legislation being enacted
Very soon the hopes OF vacation io'
most members OF the House and the en-
tire Senate. while the Ways and Mean'
Committee hammerse out new tax Dill
are growing DINNER
May shorten Recess.
Leaders on both sides are convinced
the debate incident to the Asweli reso
luton and the efforts which are sure u
he made to amend 1t will tie the Hous'
Up 30 that a recess of s-y considerably
tine is out of the question.
The Aswell resolution follows:
Resolved, by the Senate and House
Of Representatives Of the United states
States OF America in Congress assem-
bed that the President, II In his ais
discretion II is deemed desirable In
order TO insure their continuous opera
ton or 10 guard the secrecy Of mill
ntal (nmmnnlcA-
tons or to prevent communication by
spies and other public enemies or for
other military or public reasons, shall
have power to take possession and
control of telegraph, telephone, marine
cable or radio systems and operate the
same subject to those conditions OF
Law. so far as applicable, which are In
force as to steam railways while un-
Der Federal control.
There Is little doubt that once tn
power Is given to the President 1t wi
be swiftly applied. This was made clea
To-day by the communication sent b
the President TO the chairman OF tn
house Interstate Commerce Committe'
Ihis letter said:
MY DEAR SIMS: Thank YOU for cor
salting me about the enclosed. I eT
dorse entirely the enclosed letter fror
the Postmaster-General, which I hereb
return. and think that the reasons ar
stated by him truly and comprehend
!Rsly
Cordially and sincerely yours,
WOODROW WILSON"
The Blrleson letter referred to as b,
rg snclored was also addressed to NJ
ss.s and read:
Answering your inquiry requestir