The sun., 1918-11-20
US. REDUCES WIRE
AND PHONE RATES
Burleson Defends Taking
Over of Cable as Part Of
Unity Plan.
WATSON SCORES ACTION
Senators See Administration
scheme>to Control All
Peace News.
WATSON SCORES ACTION
Special DespatcA to TINS sus.

Special DespotcA to TINS sus.
WARRINGTON, Nov. l9.-CQincident
with the issuance Of a statement to-day
defending the position of the Govern
mont in taking control Of the cable lines
Postmaster General Burleson announced
the first cut In rates.
Tho might message" telegraph rate Is
phone rates in hotels and apartments
must hereafter be the same as local
rates charged by the telephone COM
panies In most cases double rate has
been charged. Orders were also issued
to-day for the delivery OF night tele-
grams by letter carriers hereafter.
The changes made to-day are de-
scribed as the forerunners of many
others. A complete unihcation scheme
which will embrace all cables and land
wires will soon be put into operation. So
complete IL this that the identity Of all
companies taken over will be lost Other
rate reductions will accompany this
change.
In his statement defending the taking
over OF the cables the Postmaster-Gen-
eral pointed out that common ownership
or control is essential to all good service.
and that there never was time when
uninterrupted and continuous communi-
cation was so necessary. He also re-
ferred to the breakdown in one of the
cable systems as Justifying the action.
though he did not mention which sys-
TEN IL was
The Burleson statement did not serve
to appease the anger Of many Republic
~ In al TAD
that the Government wanted to control
the cable lines for purposes of the peace
conference.
Statement by Burleson.
IN his statement Mr. Burlescn said:
Originally the cable systems were or
ganiEed. and operated independently OF
the land line systems.
The Mackay company, originally q
cable system. finding that the land lines
were indispensable to the cable system.
constructed land system to make more
effective its cable system.
''The Western Union. while organized
primarily as a land company although
there were largo cable facilities work.
Ing In connection with II belonging to
other companies, yet for its own interest
were forced into constructing and other
wise obtaining 'effectual control of the
transatlantic cable companies which had
heretofore been Independent but which
worked in connection with the Western
Union and which did not belong TO or
work in connection with the Commercial
or Mackay interests.
THE other cable companies through
their contractural relations became more
or less part Of the telegraph system
SO Tar as transmission and continuity
were concerned and their operation in
this way was made as effective as II
would be through ownership or common
control.
There never was q time In the his
tory Of this war for which this Join,
resolution was passed giving the Pres.-
dent the right to control the wire and
cable systems which called for such a
close control Of the cable system as
to-day and will continue during the
period of readjustment"
Plans for New Rates.
Committees. under direction OF the
Postmaster General are 81 work on a
general uniform rate system for the en-.
tire United States. which will brinE
down the general rate level and re.
suit In heavy reductions in some ratei
in many communities. These commit
tees were increased to-day by the ap
pointment Of representatives of publ,
service commissions to get the bsnefi'
OF their knowledge.
The new rates are worked out on tn,
following schedule:
Where day message rate is 25-2, nigh
message rate is col.
Where day message rate is 3o-2, nigh
message rate Is 25-l.
Where day message rate Is 49,, nigh
message rate Is ISL.
Where day message rate IL 40-8. nigh
message rate is SOL.
Where day message rate Il Sos, nigh
message rate Is 3b-1.
Where day message rate IN 60-4, nigh
message rate Is 40-1.
Where day message rate II 1916, nigh
message rate Is <5-2.
Where day message rate Is 1907. nigh
message rate is 500.
The lowest charge heretofore between
the Atlantic and Pacific coast has bee
81. The new rate cuts this IN half
great increase in traffic between dis
tant points is expected.
Orders limiting telephone charges b.
hotels and apartments are to be mad
effective December /. Hotels in nearl
every city have made a practice O
charging Aluminium Of 10 cents on loca
telephone calls. making a profit of q
least cents or 100 per cent.
Senator Watson (Ind.) gave notice To
day he would address the Senate o
Thursday on the Burleson move M
Watson holds that with George Cret
IN Europe and a considerable portion q
his committee on public informatio
about to be transferred thither to serv
as Federal news agency during III
progress of the peace negotiations. III
purpose OF the Administration to obscur
the independent press reports Of the pre-
ceedings Is evident
Senator Sherman (IllL) declared
was the ''most arrogant abuse of powe
in the recent record OF the war"
"It Is based on an alleged emergenc
which no longer exists" Mr. Sherna
added, 1.-The American people should b
made thoroughly acquainted with III
fact that when the President goes
France and takes Creel with him. Gre
will have the power to pinch cab
and send whatever Il may seem to hi
the American people ought to know an
no more than that There " now bl
one autocrat left in the world and
holds his autocracy through the gift
the American people,
BURLESON WRONG,