Evening star., 1918-07-14
j. s. WIRE CONTROL
PASSED BY SENATE
Resolution Passed in House
Adopted Without Any
Changes.
REPBLICANS OPPOSED

President Wilson is given authority
to take over and operate the telegraph
and telephone systems of the country
during the war in House resolution
adopted by the Senate last night by
vote of forty-six to sixteen.
All efforts to amend the resolution
were defeated and the measure was
adopted exactly. as it came from the
House 1t is an administration meas
ure. favored by the President and by
members of his cabinet.
Vote as Recorded.
The roll call on the resolution fol-
lows.
For adoption-Democrats. Ashurst,
Bankhead, Benet. Fletcher. Henderson.
Hitchcock, Jones On. ND, kendrick.
King, Lewis, McKellar. Martin. Myers,
Nugent, Overman, owen, Phelan. Pitt
man, Pomerene, Ransdell. Reed. Sauls-
bury. shaffroth. Sheppard. SHIELDS
Simmons. Smith (Ariz). Smith (Ga).
Smith Is. c.. Swanson. Thomas.
Thompson, Trammel. Underwood and
Vardaman; total. 35. Republicans, Colt.
Curtis, Johnson (Cal). Jones Wash),
Kenyon, Knox, Lenroot, Nelson, Norris.
POlnQeXteF anu soteTiluS, lotais ~ ~
tai for the resolution, 46.
Against adoption-Democrats. none.
Republicans. Borah, Brandegee, Fer
nald, France, Frelinghuysen. Hale.
Harding. Kellogg, McCumber. New.
Penrose, Sherman, Smith (Mich.).
Smoot. Wadsworth and Watson; total
16.
OF senators absent and paired It was
announced that Senator'S Beckham.
johnson Is. Do. McNary. Walsh.
Gerry and Gore favored the resolution
and Senators Calder and Sutherland
were against adoption.
Goes to President.
The resolution will be signed by
House and transmitted to the Presi-
amendments by Senator Watson of
Indiana to except telephones and press
wires from the resolution were de.
feated, respectively. Al to 20 and 80
to 21. An amendment by Senator Gore
of Oklahoma, democrat, to limit ac-
tion regarding telephones to long
distance wires was voted down. while
M,.an y se insure anrs
stricted public use OF facilities was
Those voting to except press wires
were Senator's Borah, Brandegee, Fer
Harding. Hard Johnson lcaD. Kellogg.
Lenroot, McCumber, New. Penrose.
Pomerene, Reed. Sherman. Smith
(Mich), Smoot, Sterling, Wadsworth
and Watson.
amendment to exempt telephone wires
from the operation of the resolution
were Borah. Brandegee, Curtis, Fer
nald, France, Frelinghuysen. Hale,
Harding. Kellogg. Knox. Leng1ot. rp NC
Smith (Mich.). Smoot. Sterling. Wads-
worth and Watson.
House Passed It Quickly.
The resolution was adopted by the
House July by vote Of 221 to 4,
after only about ninety minutes de-
bate.
Opposition came principally from
the republican side of the Senate on
had not been demonstrated and that
more investigation of reasons for its
Immediate enactment had not been
given by securing testimony from in
terests involved. Administration lead
ers have defended the measure be-
cause it was deemed necessary by
the President to meet a possible
emergency.
Congress suddenly was requested to
enact the legislation early In the
month while q union order, later re-
scinded, was out calling strike OF
Western Union operators
During the final days debate yes
terday. Senators Watson Of Indiana.
Lenroot of Wisconsin. Harding Of
Ohio. Wadsworth Of New York, PEN
rose of Pennsylvania. McCumber of
North Dakota and other republicans
spoke against the resolution while
Chairman Smith of the interstate
commerce committee. Senators Lewis
of Illinois, Thomas of Colorado and
other democrats urged its adoption.
Senator Penrose charged steam roll
err methods were being used. Senator
Harding said it was a step toward
socialism and Senator Watson in q
vigorous address declared extension Of
censorship was proposed.
Senator Reed of Missouri. democrat,
also opposed the resolution AZ q step
toward permanent government owner
ship Of the wire facilities. while Sena-
tor Lenroot declared Postmaster Gen.
eral Burleson, rather than President
Wilson was pressing Congress for the
1a~ialaff0n-