Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-07-16
WILSON WILL SEIZE
TELEGRAPH. PHONE
AND RADIO SYSTEMS
Only Sixteen Senators Vote
Against Resolution Which
Has Already Been Adopted
in House

WASHINGTON, July IS.-Power to
take over the nations telegraph, tele-
phone. radio and cable lines now rests
in the hands of President Wilson.
CIimaxing a week of stormy debate
the senate tonight passed unamended
and by a vote of 10 to 16 the resolu-
ton authorizing the president to as
sumo control of the communication lines
whenever he deems it necessary.
The house had previously passed the
measure and the resolution now goes
to the president for his signature.
Here is how the senate voted on the
measure:
Vote on Measure
Affirmative: Senators Ashurst, Bank
head. Benet, Colt, Curtis, Fletcher. Hen
derson. Hitchcock, Johnson, of Callfor-
mia: Jones. of New Mexico; Jones OF
Washington; Kendrick, Kenyon, King
Knox. Ienroot, Lewis, Mcclellan, Mar
tin. Myers, Nelson, Norris, Nugent
Overman, Owen, Phelan. Pittman, Poin-
dexter, Pomerene, Ransdell, Reed, Sauls-
bury, Shafroth. Sheppard, Shields, Sim
mons, Smith, of Arizona; Smith, Oh
Georgia; Smith, of South Carolina; Ster-
ling. swanson, Thomas, Thompson,
Trammeu. Underwood and Vardaman.
Negative: Borah, Brandegee, Fernald,
France, Frelinghuysen, Hale, Harding
kellogg, McCumber, New, Penrose'
sherman. Smith, of Michigan; SmooI
wadsworth and Watson
With adoption of the wire control
measure il was confidently predicted
by congressional authorities that the
president would lose no time in taking
over the lines Millions of miles or
wire. thousands of men and millions
of dollars are involved in the proposed
action.
Postmaster General Burleson, in
whose hands control may be placed
would keep the present wire organlza-
tons more or less intact, developing an
operating organization similar In prin-
ciple to that now running the railroads
under federal control
IF 1 am called upon to select man
to direct this work" said BurIeSon To-
day. you may absolutely depend upon
il that / will select a man VINO VIII
give every one a square deal Tnere
will be no favoritism shown to any one.
"As for any fear of censorship of
press association wires, wish to say
emphatically that if the president turns
this work over to me, 1 will be the last
man to stand out against any censorship.
In fact. 1 say positively that do not
propose to interfere in any way with the
conduct of this or any other branch OF
the business to the detriment OF those
involved"
There have been strong intimations
this week. however, that the president
| would place operation of the lines IN
the hands of the United States signal
corps. This branch of the army has
been carrying on a detailed inquiry into
the operation of all wire companies and
press associations for some days.
| Merging of competing telephone lines
| in nearly 1000 cities and towns VIII
be one of President wilson's first uses
of power granted him in the wire control
resolution. congressional leaders were
| informed today.
PbTadelphia and Cleveland are two
/ of the largest cities where the
order VIII go into effect at an early
date, IL is said
A double telephone system is one
of the national extravagances which
must give way under wartime condi-
lions calling for strictest economy on
the part of business throughout the
country administration leaders feel
Telephone competition. they believe.
does not materially better service and
only serves to force the subscribers to
help pay two sets of operating costs
instead Of one
Under the merger order, business
| to keen two switchboards in opera
/ ton will need only one.
The fact that telephone combination
viii also release a large number of
men and women workers for necessary
| war work was also a factor in the presi-
dents decision, it is stated.
| One repair gang will serve where
/ two served before. The wiping out of
competition will do away with the
necessity of each company keeping a
large force of solicitors in its en-
| ploy.
Duplication Of branch exchanges and
central offices will be done away with
although this step. which carries with
| it the possibility of cutting down the
number of. operators, will not be taken
/ Immediately.
| The first order which goes out to
competing companies will probably be
/ one telling them that they must inter-
change service.
After this government phone ex-
| perts will be sent to work rearrang-
/ ing equipment until the country's whole
telephone system is run as a single
/ unit
/ The proposed merger, officials here
hold. will help solve the question of
new equipment, which has been the ex-
cuse of numerous companies for failing