The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-07-04
MUST RETURN WIRE
LINES AFTER WAR,
SAYS COMMITTEE
Interstate Commerce Di-
vision of House De-
cides Question.
OFFER SUBSTITUTE
In Place Of Aswell Reso-
luton, Imposing No
Restriction, Clause
introduced.
OFFER SUBSTITUTE

Washington. July 3-The house
committee on interstate com merce
decided today that II the telegraph
and telephone lines are taken over
by the government. they must be
turned back to their owners just rs
soon rs peace is proclaimed Per-
manent ownership Of the systems by
the governme Mt, which has received
the endorsement Of three members OF
President Wilson's cabinet. was re-
tected by n majority vote of the com
nlttee.
In place OF the Asweli resolution
which imposed no restrictions on the
length of time the government might
continue TO hold the lines. the com
m!ttee agreed TO substitute reso-
luton which fixes the period OF con-
troll and provides that compensation
must he made to the conf anies for
the use OF their property. The Aswell
resolution was recommended by the
president and endorsed by Postmas-
ter-General Furieson and Secretaries
Baker and Daniels.
The new resolution. which is 10 20
before the house next Friday. was
introduced hy preventative Sand
ers OF Louisiana Il member OF the
committee It is Rs follows.
President Authorized.
} lidA lItF EitFlhTfFl III kiAklS VI Wal
is authorized and empowered TO
supervise or take possession and as.
sumo control of any telegraph, tele-
phone marine cable or radio system
or systems, or any part thereof, and
10 operate the same in such manner
as may he reedful or desirable for
the duration Of the war. which super
vision. possess on. control or opera
ton shall not extend beyond the date
OF the proclamation by the president
OF the exchange or ratification OF
treaty of peace; provided, that Jus,
com rensation shall he made for such
supervision. possession, control or
operation"
The adoption OF the substitute by
the committee came after a long dis
cussion in which a majority OF the
nemb crs hlankly refused to supporl
any measure that would not provide
for compensating the owners and
limit the length of time that the gov
eminent might operate the systems,
Chairman Sims pleaded for haste
upon the ground that the threatened
strike by Western union operators
will seriously interfere with the gov
ernment's war business. He argued
with the committee to report the AS
well resolution and allow Il to he
considered nv the house.
This the committee would not do A
mum Der Of motions were made by vari-
Gus members to limit the period of con-
troll TO a specified Number of months
Representative Coady, OF MARYLAND
tried to secure adoption OF an amend
ment limiting the governments control
to six months after the proclamation
OF peace, This was defeated by the
vote of to ., Other members sug-
gested three months. fifteen months
and twenty lone months. Each Of these
amendments was turned down until
Sanders came forward with his sub
stltute. TO which the committee agreed.
stubborn Fight.
The committees action undoubtedly
Will launch stubborn fight In the
house over the original Aswell pro-
possi which has the postmas ter- gem
erals endorsement, 1t is predicted the
postmaster general win find himself
in a contest with congress- fully as
that over the postal pneumatic tubes
which he won after three years of
effort.
The strongest supports of a demand
for a definite time limit were Repre-
sentatives Montague. OF Virginia. and
Dewalt, of Pennsylvania. both Demo-
Gratis. They were supported by Rep
resentstives Decker. of Missouri. and
Saunders, of Louisiana. both Demo-
Gratis, and by number of the Repub-
licans.
The debate among members Of the
committee on the limitation classes Of
the resolution was not more vigorous