Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-07-14
APPROVES
WIRE CONTROL BILL
Passes Resolution Authorizing
Taking Over Telegraph and
Telephone Lines.
MEASURE GOES TO PRESIDENT
Agreement Is Accepted to Hold
Three-Day Recess I'm
til August 26.

WASHINGTON. July 1s.-The reso-
luton authorizing the President to take
over the telegraph and telephone lines
in the United States was passed by
the Senate tonight by a vote of 46
to 16. The measure now goes to the
President. having been passed by the
House.
Immediately after the passage of the
bill. the Senate accepted a unanimous
agreement to hold three-day recess
from now until August 26. The House
plans to do the same thing. but a move
to initiate the plan to-day was blocked.
The Senate had planned to do moth
ing except routine business on the only
days 1t will meet, Mondays and Thurs
days. But on warning of Senator
Hiram Johnson. of California, that some
emergency might arise which would re-
quire attention. it was agreed that IL
quorum of the Senate was present
1t could decide at any time that the
subject would be taken up.
Debate on the wire control bill took
up the entire day, and. the Senate did
not adjourn until 6 p. NJ
The Senate will meet Monday and
then adjourn until Thursday The
iouse VIII meet and endeavor tosse-
cure agreements for similar recesses.
The wire controT bill went through
without change. and just as the
rouse passed itflast week by a vote
OF Zfl TO e. The sixteen Senators who
voted against the bill Tonight were all
Republicans, including Rorah, Brande
gee. Fernald, France. FrelinEhuysen.
Hale. Harding. kellogg. McCumber,
New fenrose. Sherman. Smith. OF Mich
iSah' Smoot. Wadsworth and Watson.
Nine Republicans voted for the bill
Efforts by Senator Watson CT Inti
ana, and Senator Reed. of Missouri
TO exempt the press wires from tho
operation Of the law were defeated
the first by vote of SO to 81 and tho
second by 33 20 IS, and again bv 2,
to ga The Reed amendment provided
that the rights and privileges of tn i.
people and press" should net be inter
fered with, except that. government
husineas should have preferences over
the wires
WILL NOT DELAY WIRES
OF" THE NEWSPAPERS
Senator Lewis. OF Illinois. announced
that the newspapers need not fear:
that they would not be harmed hy rho
regulations imposed
Senator Gore. OF Oklahoma, was un-
successful IN trying to have long-dis-
iance telephones taken out of the on
Grafton Of the law. and Senator Wat
son was equally so in trying 10 exs
empt all telephones.
The protest of Senator Joh2son was
made just before the unanimous-con-
sent agreement was passed.
Under this agreement" he said
we, Will be unable to do anything no
matter what the emergency. and when
we ccme back we will he in q strait i.
jacket. for prohibition must arbitrarily
take precedence over everything else.
No matter what happens on the west
"rn front. we can't do anything except
debate prohibition"
It was Senator Eokc Smith, OF Geor-
gia. who proposed the compromise
that Ii quorum OF the Senate Is pres
ent. 1t. by unaEim ous consent can call
its whole membership together and
transact any pressing business
The reason fhe House was unable
to reach its agreement today was be-
cause Representative "Pat" Harrison.
of Mississippi. insisted that the House
should remain in Washington at work.
The plan is to hare tie administration
water-powcr bill have right OF way
when regular wcIk is resumed Aug
,tSf