The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1918-07-02
not MILITARY
NECESSITY NOW
Baker Urges, However, Control
Telephone Telegraph Lines
May Be "Next Minute"
STRIKE DISASTROUS
War Preparations Dependents
on Good Service-Suppress I
Improper Communications. :


cabinet officers were before the hodna
commerce committee today advocutiu1
the Aswell resolution empowering th0
president to take over telephone. teIo-
graph. cable and radio systems, the
house took Jurisdiction over the meas-.
ure from that committee and vested
IL in the military committee. ia
There was no discussion and only q
viva voce vote when Representative
Gordon. of Ohio. moved that jurisdic-
uon he transferred because the meas
ure was urged as military nccesstty.
Members Of the military conmittce
said later that they were not opposed
to the resolution and undoubtedly
would report II favorably. .Ttfs-l ts4i
Daniels and eurissen.
Permanent government Ownership
and operation Of telegraph and tele-
phone lines was advocated by Socres'
tary Daniels. and Postmaster General
Burleson said II the systems were a.
efficiently conducted by the governs Y
ment as the postal service now u. they
never would go back to private ownersf
ship. .t l..' ''ss y tfN
Secretary Baker. taking the utao1<
first. said II did not happen at ~
minute to be a military neccsstty ~
take over telephones and telegrapka<
but 1t might be 'the next minute. =. Hfi
declared II essential M way measure
to give the president full Hnwer *
take over control Of the wires II neo6tt
sary. ~ TX
Mr.. Baker said he could NOT 49,
with certainty whether the governnSo{ { ~
could completely suppress impr0
communications, but II certainly coG1
suppress such communication b1fx<
than under present laws. He said fJt6fS
is no supervision or control OF domee-
tic messages. ~. T 80 q
fat ttxta D.
sey. asked whether II would not bc
well to amend the enemy trading Act
to confer the proposed powers but Mr.
Baker replied that that course would
not secure continuity Of operation of
the lines. which was essential. Tho
secretary declined to commit himself
on whether the government should as.
sumo permanent control. but he on
posed any time limit to be fixed for
the surrender to owners of the lines
The president should have tho,
power to take over the lines" he con-
tinued. Most Of tho traffic is govern.f
ment business and any Interruption
will injure the government" nv
Replying to a question whether. tie !.
taking over OF the trunk lines would
require similar action over indepcnd-
ont small companies. Mr. Baker said
such action was mot necessarily" in
voIved. !, i.,.-'',i Z
Legislation IN addition TO the Aswrll
resolution would be necessary, he snd. Il
to deal with contracts and compOsi-
tion.
Serious Interruption. NJ
II cannot imagine any more serious
interruption to our war preparations
than suspension of telegraph SERVICE" .
said Mr.. Baker. "Interruption, evcn
FOR n very brief time, would eetfou6fS
Interfere with all OF our war eotlvi-
HAS any reference to a strika .sof
telegraphers been made In connection
with this resolution7" asked shepfa-
sentative Esch. OF Wisconsin,. ,.aasl
II have no knowledge of that. ~ wan
the reply. "The resolution camc 70 me
In the form in which II was intro
duced." Us ~ ~ Z
'W'hat effect" Mr. Esch continued.
would the adoption Of this, resolution
by congress-. II It had been adontcsl
before July s, have on the strike? II
would make all telegraphers Eoyerr-
nent employees. would It not and would
Il prevent a striker" ssN
TT would make all te,egraphers Eoys.s !
Arnment employes, but II have m v
tnowledge whether It would prevent n G
strike" Mr.. Baker replied. sf8N ;
Replying to n question from Rcprn-
Montague. of virginin. Mi. Il
Baker said the government has m "a
'orce "in the slightest degree ndcuiiafdS z
'or operating the lines In the event orr
| strike. " il
Army Lines In France.
The American army In France -
operating 1000 miles Of telegram ard !
telephone. Mr.. Baker told the commits
ee. These lines were ACQUIRED fr0n, M
he French government. he said. md
lr nnder entire control and operation
" American trOons ~ Aasz'
Secretary Daniels told the comrfif.
ee the chief naval reason fnr tn<iN(
vcr the wires at this time In the prN<
nee of enemy submarines Oft 1
,merican coast, and that their ~
ion by tho government world re y n
ten toward the GOVERNMENTS tAktf l.s
very precautionary step to guard
gainst enemy attacks.