Arizona republican., 1918-12-05
ASK ID E|VJO|N TWO
 CABLE COMBINATION
[Republican A. p. Leased WIre]

WASHINGTON, Dec. 4.-Amalga- nation of the marine cable system of the Western Union Telegraph company and Commercial Cable company. under the direction of George G. Ward, vice. president of the Commercial Gable company was authorized today by Postmaster General BurleSon.
 NEW YORK, Dec. 4.-Complaint in an injunction suit against Postmaster General Burleson was filed by the Commercial Cable company here to- day, seeking to prevent the postmaster general from assuming control of the coinpany's marine cable system.
 The complaint alleges that if tne postmaster general is not enjoined from carrying out his purpose, the company will sustain irreparable dam age. It was filed by Charles E. Hughes and William w. Cook, as counsel for he company.
 Soon after the complaint was filed, 1t was announced at the offices of the Commercial Cable company that Vice President George G. Ward would re- fuse appointment as director of thc combined Western Union Commercial Cable service, authorized today by the postmaster general.
 The main basis of the bill of com | plaint is that after the armistice was signed, the war power no longer oper- ated, except to wind up matters already in the hands of the government, prior to it's signing. To show that the armis- tice really put an end to the war. in the meanino of the joint resolution Of congress, taking over the two systems, the following extract from the presi- dents address on November II Is | quoted:
 | tO nd having accepted these terms of arm1s- tice, it will be impossible for the Ger man command to renew it. Says U. S. Not Sincere
 The complaint aserts that the gov | ernment is not sincere in its conten- ton that control of the cables is need ed during the peace negotiations, pointing out that in addition to the Atlantic cables, the government also | took over the Pacific cables, and those | to South and Central America and l Cuba.
 l It is claimed that the Atlantic cables were being operated to their fullest capacity, and that the government was being given priority, and it is contend ed that no faster or greater service can be given under government control. The complaint also raises the consti- titionality of the congressional act, authorizing the seizure, and alleges that the seizure deprives the company of it's property without due process of l law; that it was not necessary for na- tional security and defense, and that the cables were taken without just compensation.
 Compensation Unfair I "Compensation will be left says the bill,' to the arbitrary caprice and prejudiced. mind of the defendant, who is interested personally and officially in giving and unfair and unreasonably l low, insufficient and inadequate com pensation, because the less he gives the complainant, the more he keeps for the government, to its profit at the accomplishments expense and to the per sonal renown of the defendant" E It was also contended that the de- fendant proposes and intends to so in- termingle, unite consolidate and merge the complainant's business. good will staff, organization, employees, plants and equipment, with that of the said Western Union Telegraph company thatthe separate identity, business and .Egood will of the complainant will dis Eappear, so that the complainant may be forced or persuaded to abandon competition hereafter, and ecquiesce 1T the defendants plan for government ownership of the same, or an aInalga. nation of all cables in the Atlantic ocean,"
 It is charged that Mir. Burleson ha. conferred with Theodore N. Vail, presi ; dent of the American Telephone ant
 Telegraph company, to work out pla1 for universal service and that thi.
 is a. violation of the Sherman anti
 trust act.