Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1918-07-26
Takes Whole Wire System.
DAVID ]. LEWIS. JOHN c. Rooms AND VIM.
H. LAMAR In DIRECT CHARGE.

H. LAMAR In DIRECT CHARGE.
President Wilson. acting under the au-
thority vested in him by Congress, last
Tuesday issued his expected proclamation.
taking over domestic telephone and tele-
graph lines in the United States for the
remaining period of the war. The Presi-
dent designated Postmaster General Al
bert S. Burleson as the Federal official to
administer and operate the wire lines and
fixed midnight Of July 81 as the date when
Mr.. Burleson shall assume active charge
of the systems
Three hours after the President issued
his proclamation. Postmaster General Bur-
Lesson gave out his first general order and
named three Marylanders as a committee
to help him manage and operate them.
David j. Lewis. of Cumberland. now a
member of the United States Tariff Com
mission, was placed in charge of opera
lions; John C. Rooms. of Carroll county.
First Assistant Postmaster General. in
charge of administration and organiza-
ton. and William H. Lamar. of Rockville.
Solicitor of the Postoffice Department. in
charge of finance. Each of these men
will direct his department in conjunction
with the Postmaster-G General.
Only the domestic telegraph and tele-
phone lines were taken over in the Presi-
dents proclamation. Under the act OF
Congress he was given authority to take
possession of the cable and radio systems,
and it is understood he will issue a proc
lamation later. affecting these means Of
communication. A hitch has arisen to
the extent of the Presidents authority in
taking possession of the cable lines, and.
he may be compelled to take the matter
up with the foreign Governments which
the cable lines touch.
President Wilson's proclamation after
quoting the law by which Congress author
lied him says:
Whereas, it is deemed necessary for
the national security and defense to super
wise and to take possession and assume
control of all telegraph and telephone
systems and to operate the same in such
manner as may be needful or desirable.
Nov. therefore. |. Woodrow Wilson.
President of the United States. under and
by virtue Of the powers vested in me by
the foregoing resolution and by virtue Of
all other powers thereto me enabling. do
hereby take possession and assume con-
troll and supervision Of each and every
telegraph and telephone system and every
part thereof, within the Jurisdiction Of the
United States. including all equipment
thereof and appurtenances thereto what
soever and all materials and supplies
ut is hereby directed that the supervis-
ion. possession. control and operation of
such telegraph and telephone systems
hereby by me undertaken shall be exer-
cised and through Postmaster General AL
bert S. Burleson. Said Postmaster General
may perform the duties hereby and here
under imposed upon him. so long and to
such extent and in such manner as he
shall determine through the owners. man
ayers. boards of directors. receivers. officers
and employees OF said telegraph and tele-
phone systems.
Until and except so far as said Post
master General shall from time to time by
general or special orders otherwise provide
the owners, managers. board of directors.
receivers, officers and employees Of the vari-
GUS telegraph and telephone systems shall
continue the operation thereof in the usual
and ordinary course Of the business of said
systems in the names Of their respective
companies. associations. organizations.
owners or managers. as the case may be.
Regular dividends hitherto declared and
maturing interest upon bonds. debentures
and other obligations may be paid in due
course; and such regular dividends and in
terest may continue to be paid until and I'M
less the said Postmaster General shall from
time to time otherwise by general or special
orders determine; and. subject to the ap-
prevail of said Postmaster General, the
various telegraph and telephone systems
may determine upon and arrange for the
renewal and extension Of maturing obi
cations"
Postmaster General Burleson gave out a
general statement in which he declared
that while no general policy has yet been
determined upon. one OF the first steps Of
the National Wire Administration will be
to merge the telephone and telegraph lines
in the country so that the telephone lines
can be utilized for the transmission of
Morse code messages at the same time
they are being used for long distance con-
versations He also stated that the cop
per-wire telegraph lines will also be made
available for long distance verbal mes
code messages. This plan OF co coordination
will add about 100000 miles Of long
distance lines to the telephone service. and
about 100000 miles of wires for Morse
code messages.
1t is estimated that there are about 49,
100000 miles Of telegraph and telephone
lines in the United States. OF these g.
100000 miles are used and owned by the
telegraph companies for their work Of
transmitting Morse code messages. There
are about 26.O00.000 miles Of telephone
lines The long distance lines total about
100000 miles. while the local exchanges
contain about 24.000.000 miles OF wire.
The Bell system controls about 80 per
cent. Of the telephone wires in the nation.
The other 20 per cent is controlled and
operated by about 1000 independent COM
panies.
Postmaster General Burleson's statement
dealing with his plans is as follows:
II realize the immensely Of the task
which has been entrusted to me by the
Presidents order. The telegraph and tele-
phone service as conducted by those who