Evening star., 1918-07-02
MILITARY AFFAIRS
COMMITTEE GETS
WIRE CONTROL BILL
Change Made Because Meas
ure Was Urged as Military
Necessity.
DENIED STRIKE CALL
HAD BEARING ON CASE
Three Cabinet Officers Before House
Committee Strongly Support Tele-
graph and Telephone Control.

graph and Telephone Control.
While three cabinet officers were be-
fore the House interstate and foreign
commerce committee today advocating
the Aswell resolution empowering the
President to take over telephone, tele
graph, cable and radio systems, the
House took jurisdiction over the meas
ure from that committee and vested it
in the military affairs committee.
There was no discussion and only a
viva voce vote when Representative
Gordon of Ohio. moved that jurisdic-
ton be transferred because the meas
ure was urged as a military necessity.
Members of the military committee
said later they were not opposed TO
the resolution and undoubtedly would
report it favorably.
Cabinet Heads Before Committee.
Secretaries Baker and Daniels and
Postmaster General Burleson appear
~
foreign commerce committee today in
support of the AsweIl resolution ap-
proved by President Wilson.
Both Mr.. Baker and Mr.. Daniels de-
MED that the call for a strike of West
ern Union operators on July S had any
connection with their action in indors-
ing the legislation which has been ap-
proved by the President.
The House military committee met to
consider a measure introduced by Rep
resentative Lunn of New York, similar
to the Aswell resolution discussed by the
cabinet officers, but specifically empow-
ering the President to operate the COM
munication systems subject to those
conditions of law, SO far as applicable,
which are enforced as to the steam rail-
roads while under federal control"
Mr.. Baker Discusses Wire Control.
Secretary Baker, taking the stand
first, said it did not happen at the
minute to be q military necessary to
take over telephones and teIegraphs.
but it might be "the next minute" He
declared 1t essential as war meas
ure to give the President full power
to take over control of the wires IL
necessary. Members of the commit
tee asked many questions about the
Baker said he could not say with GER
tainty whether the government could
completely suppress improper COM
munications, but IT certainly would
suppress such communication better
than under present laws. At the
present time, he said, there is no su-
pervision or control of domestic mes
sages by telegraph SO far as he knew.
Representative Parker of New Jer-
sey asked whether it would not be
well to amend the enemy trading act
to confer the proposed powers. but
Mr. Baker replied that that course
would not secure continuity of opera
ton of the lines, which was essential.
He said he had no objection to amend
ing the Aswell resolution SO as to
provide for making it apply to TAX
ing possession of any part of sys-
tenn instead of all.
Opposes Time Limit.
The Secretary declined to commit
himself on whether the government
should assume permanent control, but
he opposed any time limit be nxed
for the surrender to owners of the
line.
He revealed that some time ago
telegraph company using railroad
wires became involved in dispute
regarding a contract and that he
threatened to take possession OF the
lines. using doubtful powers of the
War Department" to insure service.
THE President should have the
power to take over the lines he con-
tinued. Most of the traffic is gov
ernment business and any Interrupt
tion will injure the government. The
telephone and the telegraph are in
separable in service and both sys-
tens should be taken over"
Replying to question whether the
l. t..r z..l -
require similar action over independ-
emf small companies, Mr.. Baker said
such action was mot necessarily in
volved.
Legislation Necessary.
LEGISLATION in addition to the Aswell
resolution would be necessary. AS In
the case of the railroads. he said. TO
deal with contracts and compensation.
Has any reference to a strike Of
telegraphers been made in connection
with this resolutlon! asked Repre-
sentative Esch.
Il have no knowledge Of that" was
the reply. The resolution came to
me in the form in which it was in
troduced."
would the adoption of this resolu-
tion by Congress, if it should be
adopted before July s. have on the
strike? 1t would make all telegra-
piers government employees, would II
not, and would it prevent striker"
TT would make all telegraphers
employees, but l have no
knowledge whether it would prevent
a strike" Mr.. Baker replied.
Replying to a question from Repre-
sentative Montague of Virginia. Mr..
Baker said the government had no
force Sin the slightest degree ade-
uuate" for operating the lines in the
event the lines were tied up by q
strike.
Secretary Daniels Claim.
Secretary Daniels told the commit
tee the chief naval reason for TAX
ing over the wires at this time Is the
presence of enemy submarines off the
American coast, and that operation
be step toward the governments TAX
ing every precautionary measure
against enemy attacks.
Secretary Daniels vigorously op-
posed any person touching the mes
sases of the War and Navy deps rt
ments who is not government en-
ploye He said it is Infinitely inn
portant" that everybody who touches
government messages should be
to obey the United States laws and
ITO have a particular responsibility"
The Secretary denied absolutely
that the telegraph strike had any
thing to do with his favoring govern
ment control Of the wires. Asked the
direct question whether he was in-
COMMUNAL ON Seventeenth Pagel