The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-07-03
Argue Permanent
Title to Lines
Issue of Government Ownership Of
Telegraph and Telephone SyS-
TENS Long Drawn Out.
Universal Servicel.

Washington. July &.~-The issue oe
permanent government ownership OF
the telegraph and telephone lines in
the country was injected sharply into
the discussion by congress of the presi-
dents request for authority TO take
possession Of the systems, II over
shadows all other considerations in the
controversy as To whether or not the
presidents wishes shall he quickly
complied with. or whether congress
shall give up its plans for recess and
stay here TO fight ii out all summer.
Three members of the presidents
misunderstanding OF War Baker, Sec
retarv Of the Navy Daniels and Post
master C enerai Burleson-~told the
house committee on interstate COM
merce. which is considering the AS
we'll resolution. tina. control OF the
sly stems by the government should be
permanent Immediate seizure OF the
lines was urged as war necessity. but
permanent operation or them WIS as
strongly recommended as a public
policy.
A majority of the members OF the
committee oppose this form or un-
limited tenure They will in insist up
on having the resolution amended so
that the lines shall he returned TO their
present owners within six months at
ter the ending OF the war. The reso-
luton proha bly, win be reported to the
house in this form. Similar action Is
looked for in the senate. where nem-
hers Of the Interstate commerce COM
mIttec are insisting that a limitation
on that period of control by the gov
eminent be fixed in the resolution,
The developments in congress today.
ar ter the testimony of the three cahi-
net members. made it quickly ap-
parent that the chief fight on the reso-
luton will be centered on this feature
of the length of time in which the
telegraph and telephone lines are TO
be operated by the government Over
night consideration by members of
congress of the Aswell resolution. how
ever, has brought to the front a num-
her Of other objections to the resolu-
ton. They are as follows:
|. The question as to whether or
not government control will bring
about cheaper rates for telephone and
telegraph service. Postmaster Gener-
al Burleson told the committee that
( he beHeSed the Improvement Elm OPP
Grafton and reduction OF overhead
charges sure to follow under govern
ment control would effect this change.
2. Doubt as to the status of the
employees of the companies with re-
spect to their affiliation with the or
ganized labor, Mr., Burleson made the
fiat statement to the committee that
although he would permit the men to
organize within the service he would
not allow them to affiliate with outside
organizations. Representatives of or
ganized labor In congress view this
announcement with serious misgivings
as the threatened strike was for this
very principle,
=. The fear expressed by some mem
bers OF the committee that placing the
entire wire service of the country UNI
der the control OF the postmaster gen
.eral would give that official a power
full weapon OF censorship over the
newspapers. Mr.. Burleson told the
committee he had no desire to exercise
such authority and that his face was
"set like flint against it,
The raising of these questions has