Evening star., 1918-07-01
Telegraph and Telephone
Operation by Government
Recommended to Congress.
QUICK ACTION EXPECTED;
STRIKE NEAR AT HAND
Called Necessary to Safeguarding
of Public Interests and Of High
Military Importance.

Government control and operation
Of the nations telegraph and tele-
,,hone systems was recommended to
Congress today by President Wilson.
In the face Of an impending strike Of
union operators employed by the West
ern Union Company. an effort will De
made to put through before the recess
of Congress this week pending legisla-
ton empowering the President to take
over the systems.
Cabinet officers Approve.
Letters of approval also were sent
by Secretaries Baker. Daniels and
Postmaster General Burleson. whose
opinions had been sought by the COM
mittee.
The Presidents views were COM
municated in a brief note indorsing
the LEGISLATION, but making no refer
ence to the strike of Western Union
operators called for July by the
Commercial Telegraphers' Union after
the Western Union had refused to
abide by the ruling Of the War Labor
bOdTQ tuc uloSAdA 6S "a AAAASAA SkSe~
tors.
Text Of Resolution.
The resolution for government con-
troll, which was introduced by Repre-
sentative Aswell of Louisiana, reads:
.That the President, II in his dis
cretion 1t is deemed desirable In order
to insure their continuous operation
or to guard the secrecy of military
and governmental communications, or
to prevent communication by spies
and other public enemies thereon, or
for other military or public reasons,
shall have power to take possession
and control of any telegraph, tele-
phone, marine cable or radio systems.
conditions of law, SO far as applicable,
which are in force as to steam rail-
roads while under federal control"
To Safeguard Public Interests.
Postmaster General Burleson in his
letter, to which the President ap-
proves as stating the reasons truly"
advised Chairman Sims that the pow
er and discretion to act, as proposed
in the resolution. seems imperative
to safeguard public interests" The
Postmaster General added:
"At this moment the paralysis OF
large part of the system Of electrical
IL
possible consequences prejudicial to
our military preparations and other
public activities that might prove
serious or disastrous. We are re-
minded that there Is not a nation en-
-aged in the war that intrusts its
military or other communications to
unofficial agencies. I deem it there
fore my duty not merely to approve,
but to urge the passage of the feso-
luton in order that the President
may act, II necessary, to safeguard
the interests of the country during
the prosecution of the war"
(of High Military Importance.
Secretary Danields also wrote:
II believe that such resolution is of
high military Importance and that
during this period of war the COM
mander in chief of the Army and Navy
ought to have the power to take pos
session and control of any telegraph,
telephone. marine cable Or radio sys-
TENS, and operate the same subject to
those conditions of law, SO far as ap-
plicable. which are in force as to
steam railroads while under federal
control. It was found absolutely
necessary early in tho war to take
control Of radio systems and I think
it Is almost as important that tho
President should have the power to
control all methods Of communi-
cation"