Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-07-26
WIRE SYSTEMS Of
COUNTRY FORMALLY
TAKEN OVER BY j. s.
Presidents Proclamation Is
sued tuesday, Affects TeIe-
graph and Telephone SyS-
TENS During the War

WASHINGTON, July 2S.-Postmast-
e. Gensral Burieson viii administer gov
ernmert control of telephone and tele-
graph wires through committee OF
which he viii be chairman The menu
bsrs win be First Assistant Postmaster
General John c. Koo7s, William h
Lamar, solicitor OF the postofnce de-
partment, and David J. Lewis, former
CONGRESSMAN from Maryland now
member of the tariff commission.
Mr. Kcons Will act with the Post-
-uastsr General on subjects Of organiza-
ton and administration; mr.. Lewis On
operation and Nr. Lamar On nnaness.
Mr.. BurIeson announced the committee
IN his first of.cial order.
WASHINGTON, July 23.-President
wilson's proclamation taking over Tor
the duration OF the war operation OF
telephone and telegraph lines was issued
late today. II did not include radio
systems and ocean cable lines. Govern.
menr operation and control begins mid
night July 81.
SUI .rvision, control and operation Oh
the wire system is placed under the
direction Of the postmaster general.
The presidents proclamation pro-
vides that the postmaster general, II ne
80 elects. may administer the lines
through the owners. managers. boards
OF directors or receivers 1t provides
further that until the postmaster gen
eraI directs otherwise the present man
agements shall continue
The postmaster general. in his dis
erection. may hereafter relinQuish IN
whole or in part to the owners any tele-
graph or telephone system over Which
he has assumed control
Dividends to BE Paid
Regular dividends previously declar-
ed and interest in maturing obligations
shall continue 10 be paid unless the
postmaster general directs otherwise,
and subject 10 his approval the COM
pznies may arrange renewal and extern
sion of maturing obligations
Postmaster General Burleson, in a
statement explaining his plans in OPP
Grating the wire systems. said there will
be no change affecting the press wire
service except TO improve it wherever
possible
Mr.. Burleson also said that operation
and control OF farmers telephone lines
will be interfered with only for the
purpose Of facilitating their connection
with longer lines. No general policy.
the postmaster general said. has ye.
been decided on
Cattle and Radio Excepted
The president did not exercise the
authority given him in the resolution OF
congress 10 take over cable and. radio
systems. No explanation was fOrthcom-
ing. but IL was assumed that control
of cables was not taken over because
OF difficulties presented By contracts
cable companies hold with foreign gov
- erlmenrs-
Radio systems already are controlled
BY the navy department
The purpose OF the postoffice depart
meut in regard TO the telegraph and
telephone companies vii be to broaden
the use of the se-yic At the least cost
to the people PostmAstr General Burle-
son announced n accepting authority
over the wires
Better Service Less Cost
There will he no change affecting the
press wire service except to improve it
wherever possible he added
An official statement oy Burleston
said:
Il realize the immensely of the task