Bisbee daily review., 1918-08-01
CONDITIONS PROBED
DIVIDENDS, INTEREST ON BONDS AND OTHER FINANCIAL AR- ATTACHMENTS OF COMPANIES NOT TO BE INTERFERED WITH. NOR WORKING CONDITIONS
Bv Revlew leased Wirel

WASHINGTON, July 31.-COn-
 trol of telephone and telegraph lines was taken over at midnight
 by the postoffice department and their operation placed under the general supervision of a special
 committee created for the purpose by Postmaster General Burleson. Mir. BurlesOn announced that until further notice the companies will con tinue operation in the ordinary course , through the regular channels and that all officers and employees will continue in the performance of their present duties on the same terms of employ ment. The plan isl however. to CO., ordinate the facilities of the various companies to the best interest Of the public and the stockholders.
 Investigations into wire conditions being conducted by the special com mittee, composed of First Assistant Postmaster General kOOns. David J. Lewis. former member Of the tariff commission. and William H. Lamar. solicitor of the pOstOffice department will be continued so that all possible information can be secured before any
 
 Pursuant to the proclamation Of the president of the United States, said Mir. Burleson's statement, ''I have assumed possession. control and super vision of the telegraph and telephane systems of the United States. Cntil further notice the telegraph and tele- phone companies will continue opera ton in the ordinary course of business through regular channels. Regular dividends heretofore declared and ma turing interests on bonds. and other obligations may be paid in due course and the companies may renew or eX- tend their maturing obligations unless otherwise ordered by the postmaster general
 All officers. operators and em- Ployes of the telegraph and telephone companies will continue in the per formance of their present duties. re- porting to the same officers as hereto fore and on the same terms of en- plOyment. Should any officer. opera tor or employe desire to leave the ser vice he should give notice as hereto fore to the proper officer.
 T earnestly request the loyal CO., operation of all officers, operators and employees and the public in order that the service rendered shall be not only maintained at high standard. but i'm proved wherever possible. lt is the purpose to coordinate and unify the service so that they may be operated as a national system with due regard tC the interests of the public and the owners of the properties.
 No changes will be made until aft CT the most careful consideration of all the facts. When deemed advisable to make changes announcement will be made"
 The following message was received last evening by F. s. Cundiff, local manager of the Mountain States Tele- phone & Telegraph Co.,:
 Employees of the Bell Telephone companies:
 Under authority of the law and by the proclamation of the president. pO- session and control of the wire situa- tion is passed to the Postmaster Gene ral as of August first
 "In conference at which we were the postmaster general the government operating committee and representatives of the Bell com panies, the postmaster general eN- pressed most emphatically his appreci- atiOn O. the service which the Bell were rendering and that such improvement possible to be made would be come of the additional power