Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-07-02
CONTROL / OF
WIRE SYSTEMS !.
IS APPROVED
War Officials and Postnas.
ter General Support
Bill.

- a~0A4o b..
Warrington, July Awhile
three cabinet officers were before
tho house commerce committee
today advocating the AsNeN reso.
luton empowering the president
to take over telegraph, telephone,
cable and radio systems, the
house took Jurisdiction over the &
measure from that. committee
and vested 1t in the military com.
mittee.
There was no discussion and
only viva vocc vote when Rep
resentative Gordon of Ohio moved
that Jurisdiction be transferred
because the measure was urged
as a military necessity. Members
OF the military committee said
later they were not opposed to
the resolution and undoubtedly
would report it favorably.
In the meantime the commerce
committee proceeded with its
hearing. Secretaries Baker and
Daniels and Postmaster General
Burleson urging that 1t was cs-
sen1al as war measure that the
president have power to take
over the communication systems.
Both Mr.. Baker and Mr..
Daniels denied that the call of a
strike of Western Union operators
on July s had any connection
with their action in endorsing the
legislation, which has been up.
proved by the president.
Washington, July 2.-secretaries
Baker and Daniels and Postmaster
General Burleson appeared before the
house interstate and foreign COM
merce commission today in support Of
the bill approved by President>Wilson
authorizing government control and
operation of telegraph, telephone,
radio and cable systems.
In the meantime the house military
committee met to consider measure
introduced by Representative Lunn of
New fSs Yos aesrst. Ss
munication: systems subject to those
which are enforced as to the steam
RAILROADS while under federal con-
troll
Secretary Baker said IL did not hap
pen at the mtnute to be a military
necessity to take over telephcne2 and
telesrsphs- Ma, might be .fhe iiesSs
minute" 4 -
He declared essential as a war
measure to give. the president full
power to take over control Of the
wires. r.a.. ,-s,.,. W
Mr.. Baker. could not, say with cer-
tainty that the government could sup
press completely improper communi-
cations but it could suppress such
communication better than under pres
ent, laws.
The secretary declined to commit
himself on whether the government
should assume permAAent control but
he opposed any time limit to be fixed
for the surrender to owners Of the
lines.
Replying to question whether the
taking over Of the trunk wires would
require similar action over independ.
ent small companies. Mr.. Baker said
such action was mot necessarily" in.
volved. tsg
Permanent government ownership
and operation Of telegraph and tele-
phone lines was advocated by Secre-
tary Daniels and Postmaster General
Burleson said If the systems were as
efficiently conducted by the govern
would never go back to private own.
ership. IN
Secretary Daniels said that ever,
day messages Of great importance tt
the government are being sent ovel
private lines and the fact that an,
company could perpetrate a fraud OF
could send a telegram by mail woult
be a. sufficient reason to empower tn,
president to take over a line. Though
hs,llr 4P $414 n~Ha k4l>
phone. employees now are loyal, h,
said, "our experience is that thos'
who take the oath to support tn,
government as government officials o.
:, employees feel more bound than the,
are as. employees of a private corpor
alton. I would feel safer il govern
n1ent employees handled all our mes
sages." as -;i
Mr.. Daniels said that when he wrot
his letter to Chairman Sims advocat
ing the resolution, he did not know
there was possibility Of strike OF
the Western Union. my conclusion.
he added. was reached on the mill
tary needs"
No Difficult job.
Mr.. Daniels declared It would b
much easier to operate the telegraph
and telephone lines than It is to op
crate the mails. Emphasizing his de
sire to haye war and navy ultimatlm
F. handled xby government officials, h
said, the employees Of private com
panies would be taken bver as gov
ernment employees and that even
there was q loss to the government 4
point, Of money, "it's worth gpayin
for"
Failure Of the telephone system
under the rush of business early, 1