Evening star., 1918-02-26
FIGHT |NCONGRESS
OVER PHONES, DUE
Opinion General That New
Law Is Required to Take
Over System Here.
U. S. OWNERSHIP FIGURES

The proposal to have the Post Office
Department take over the telephone sys-
ten of the District Of columbia promises.
to arousS bitter fight between tie op'
ponents and supporters Of government
ownership in Congress.
The opinion is general that to take
over the Districts telephone system
would require an act of Congress. that
nothing in existing law would author
ize such action even If the Chesapeake
and Potomac Telephone Company
should acquiesce in the offer made by
the department to operate the system
during the war.
Senator Kings resolution calling
upon the Postmaster General to inform
the Senate by what authority he had
made such an offer was adopted by the
Senate without debate and without
dissenting vote late yesterday after
noon.
Interest in Reply.
The reply of the Postmaster General
is awaited with considerable interest.
That the Postmaster General seized an
opportune moment to make his sug-
gestfon Of government operation was
the opinion expressed by legislators to-
day He made the offer when it was
known an increase in rates was about
to be allowed the corporation now
operating the telephone system. That
sentiment in favor of government
operation with no such increase in
rates would grow rapidly might well
be believed, it was said.
If the proposal laid before Congress
is merely to take the District tele-
phone system over during the con-
tinuance of the war it will have easier
shedding than il the proposition is for
permanent government ownership and
operation. Some of the members of
the Senate and House who oppose
government ownership as principle
are willing to see the government OPP
crate certain utilities during the war,
when unusual conditions make it ad-
visable that the government do so.
Senator Johnson of South Dakota,
sunporter of government ownership of
uui,lic utilities said today he would
give his support to any measure pro-
posing to take over the telephone sys-
TEN of the District during the war. and
forever, for that matter. Other friends
OF government ownership plan to do
all they can to put bill through in
accordance with the proposal of the
Post Office Department.
For Government Ownership.
Representative Johnson's bill. pre-
does not limit the taking over and
operating of the telephone lines to the
| war emergency. 1t is an out-and- out
| measure for government ownership of
ha trio r..
| ing that they be operated by the Post
Ofiice Department. This bill has been
/ referred to the District committee, of
| which Representative Johnson is chair
| man, and he intends to call special
meeting of the committee soon to get
| the views of the members regarding
| an early report to the House.
| Under the Johnson bill the Post ONCE
| Department Is directed ito acquire and
extend the telephone system of the Dis
| trict of Columbia to insure the govern
| ment complete control of such means
| of communication in safeguarding its
| military and executive affairs within
the seat Of government and to promote
the service to the public"
System to Be Improved.
That the telephones in the District
/ should be postalized beginning May I.
| into the civil service under the Post
ONCE Department, are provisions of the
| johnson bill. The property of the tele-
! phone company is to be appraised by
| the Interstate Commerce Commission,
| with appeal granted to the District
| Court Of Appeals and later, if neces-
sary. to the Supreme Court of the
United States.
A bond issue for. 100000 for i'm
| provements and extensions is author
ized by the bill, and. it ts proposed that
/ the cost Of taking over the property
and running 1t to meet the public de-
nands should be done in whole or IN