Evening star., 1918-07-09
HEAD Of WESTERN .
UN|ONDOUBTSN NEED
OF WIRE CONTROL
President Carlton Testifies
on Pending Legislation Be-
fore Senate Committee.
GOVERNMENT CONTROL
DIFFICULTIES STATED
Resents Outside Induences' as Pre-.
venting Company From Coping
With Labor Difficulties.

With Labor Difficulties.
The Senate faction demanding in
vestigation of the House resolution
authorizing the President to take over
telegraph, telephone, cable and radio
lines won a partial victory today when
the Senate interstate commerce COM
mittee heard testimony behind closed
doors on the telegraph situation from
President Carlton of the Western
Union Telegraph Company.
After nearly three hours examina-
ton of President Carlton the commit
tee adjourned until o'clock for an
executive session to consider immedi-
ately reporting the resolution to the
Senate Chairman Smith stated that
no more hearings were planned
The examination Of Mr.. Carlton, it
was said, was not prearranged. Chair
man Smith of the committee said the
Western Union head happened to be in
Washington and was given hearing.
President Carlton took the position
that advisability of the pending legisla-
ton was doubtful. According to mem-
bers, he did not vigorously protest
against enactment Of the House resolu-
tion, but pointed out difficulties attend
ing government operation. Some OF tho
members said they gathered that the
corporation head regarded government
control as unnecessary and that II out
side influences are suppressed the COM
pany can successfully cope with labor
difficulties.
The Western Unions capitalization.
bonded debt, physical valuation and
other statistics were presented to the
committee by President Carlton. DO
was said to have insisted that II the
government takes over the companys
lines ample provision should be made
for protection of stockholders inter-
ests.
Threatened Strike Discussed.
The strike called by President
Konenkamp Of a telegraphers' labor
organization was discussed at length
by committee members with President
Carlton. The latter stated that Of
1000 Western Union operators only
fifty-six men belonged to the organf-
cation headed by Mr.. Konenkamp.
The Western Union. Mr. Carlton
emphasized. is not opposed to forms-
ton of unions among its employees. He
said such organizations now exist and
the company had co-operated with the
organizations of its own men. but re-
sented what he termed outside inter-
ference"
Mr.. Carlton also was said to have
expressed the opinion that II the strike
order made by Mr.. Konenkamp and
recalled had been put to the test
vast majority of the Western Union
operators wonld have remained at their
keys.
70 investigated
by the committee.
Senator Smith Of Georgia, author
Of the resolution proposing to dis
charge the Senate committee from
further investigation, said today that
he was disposed to withhold action on
his resolution for a few days, but
would call it up in the Senate late
this week II the committee should
adopt the proposed plan for lengthy
hearings.
on interstate commerce yesterday
afternoon, lasting a little over an
hour. a motion offered by Senator
Lewis to report the bill Immediately
without recommendation to the SEN
ate and let that body thresh It out
was carried. 4 to 3.
A few minutes later Senator Smith
Of South Carolina. chairman Of the
committee. reported the bill to the
Senate. A storm Of protest against
the action of the committee came
from both democrats and republicans.
Senator Reed OF Missouri and Sena-
tors Penrose of Pennsylvania and
Smoot of Utah severely arraigned the
committee, and following them Sena-
tor Pomerene of Ohio, a democratic
member OF the committee. declared IL
his belief that hearings should be
given by the committee and tho factB
in regard to the necessity Of tho pas<
of he xuyir ~h 49,
made clear.
Finally, Senator Penrose made .
point of order that the bill had been
reported to the Senate by less than
a majority Of the working quorum OF
the committee, in violation of the
rules of the committee, the member
ship of the interstate commerce COM
mittee being seventeen. and the bill
having been ordered reported to the
Senate by vote of I to 3.
Less than a fourth of tho entire
membership of the committee made
Brandegee of Connecticut.
Chairman Smith was indignant that
the committees action should be at
tackled, insisting it had acted in good
faith and in accordance with thu
practice Of the Senate committees.
protests. Senator Hitchcock of No
braska, who was in the chair, ruled
that the action of the COMMITTEES
was clearly in violation of the Sem
ate rule and the resolution was sent
back to the committee.
Senator Smith threatened to sppesa
from the decision OF the chair. bur
thought better Of 1t and allowed ths
resolution to be sent back withoue
further protest.
Those voting in committee for the
motion of Senator Lewis to report the
bill Immediately were himself and
Senators Smith Of South Carolina,
Salisbury and Underwood. Those vot-
ing against 1t were Senators Pome-
rene, Myers and Kellogg.
Prohibitionists Sec Trick.
The prohibitionsts in the Senate ins
sisted that the action OF the commit
tee in Fastening the resolution into
the Senate was planned to sidetrank
the wartime prohibition measure now
the unfinished business Of the Senate.
The administration IL said to b.
strongly opposed to wartime prohibi-
tion at this tuncture. as proposed In
finished business It is expected to
put its shoulder to the wheel in order
to get the wire resolution reported to
the Senate for early consideration, not
only because 1t favors that measure
but also to sidetrack the wartime
prohibition bill. II the wire resolution
is reported It will undoubtedly be
given the right Of way and the pro-
hibition measure Will be laid aside.
bill must coma to vote and there
need be NO expectation Of . recess
now while Il y not acted .upsA