Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1918-07-22
CONGRESS SOME
WHAT DISTURBED
Members Disturbed Over Fight That
Has Gone on For Government
Control of so Many Public
Utilities.
THE 'PHONE COMPANIES OBJECT
Light, Power, Street Railway and
Gas Companies Up Against it OH
Rates.
Washington Bureau OF
Freeman-JOurnal.
BY ]. E. JONES.

Freeman-Journal.
BY j. E. JONES.
Bergman, the cartoOnist, publishes
a picture of congress, which he repre-.
sents as naughty schoolboy kept
in" Happy farmers and political
opponents OF the congressman are
having merry times in the border of
the picture, back home. The senate,
by majority Of one, voted for re-
cess, but when the proposition got
back to the house the members OF that
body felt that it might prove difficult
to explain to their constitut ents why
they had left Washington at time
when President Wilson was asking
congress to give him power to take
over the telegraph and telephone lines.
The threatened strike of employees
of the Western Union failed to ma
terialize, and the employees wired
senators in great numbers protesting
against government control. In the
final meetings held by the wire
operators, before the strike was
abandoned, it developed that there
was opposition to Postmaster Cen
eral Burleson as to probable direc-
tor of the wire lines Naturally this
direction would fall to Mr.. Burleson,
since it is assumed that in case the
lines are taken over that they would
be operated in connection with the
postofiice department. Mr.. Burleson
became the chief agitator of his pet
plan for government control Of wire
lines at the very moment, when in
dustrial troubles were threatened
with the Western Union Telegraph
company
Distributing Penalty.
illusions in the scriptures to the
fact that rain falls upon the just and
| unjust alike are familiar TO most
everyone who has learned the les
sons taught in Sunday school. The
same philosophy is easily applied to
the situation with reference to gov
eminent control of the wire lines.
The telephone companies have had
no trouble with their employees, and
they have efficiently met the re-
sponsibilities and requirements of the
nation in war time. AS matter of
fact there has been little criticism
with respect to the telephone service
outside OF a few cOngested points.
The telephone and telegraph interests
were divorced by the government
several years ago. On behalf of the
telephone companies it is asserted
that they have given better service to
the government than has been obtain
ed by any of the European nations
that own their own lines.
Just why institutions that are run
ming smoothly should be taken in
charge by the government because
some other similar concern is not
performing its proper functions is a
matter that is being seriously debated
in Washington. 1t early became quite
evident that the Western Union tele-
graph company did not seriously OBJ
iect to government control of it's or
ganization. On the other hand the
telephone company, which has built
one of the greatest organizations in
The history of the world, took the po-
sition that it should not be confused
with the internal and labor difficult
ties of the telegraph lines. However,
the telephone company made it clear
that it would in no manner oppose,
or seek to interfere with the policy
the president desired to carry out.
1t is valuable proof of the loyalty
of Americans that in hardly sim
gle instance has an owner of any
great property interests sought to
even argue the question of the con-
rol of their affairs by the government.
Control as u War Measure.
1t is recognized that the need of
centralized government occasioned
the taking over of the railroads and
the appointment of an administrator
to direct their affairs. During the
coal famine last winter there was a
persistent effort in behalf of the gov
eminent control of coal mines, and
had not the job been such a compli-
Gated one, it doubtless would have
been put through. There has been
similar agitation with reference to
the packing house interests and this
has been augmented by the fact that
the packers have been getting a good
deal more money than they ought to