The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1918-07-24
ALL TELEGRAPH
WIRESUNDERU.S u.s.,
CONTROL JULY 81
Wilson in Proclamation Puts SyS.
TENS in Charge of Postmas-
ter General.
RADIO and CABLES OMITTED
BurIeson Says No Changes Will Be
Made Affecting Press Service Ex-
cept to Improve 1t Where This
Is Found Possible.

Is Found Possible.
Washington, July "a. = President
Wilson's proclamation taking over for
the duration of the war operation of
telephone and telegraph lines was Is
sued late Tuesday. 1t did not include
radio systems and ocean cable lines.
Government operation and control be-
gins at midnight July 81.
The president did not exercise the
authority given him in the resolution
Of congress to take over cable and
radio systems. No explanation was
Forthcoming, but il was assumed that
control of cables was not taken over
because of difficulties presented by
contracts cable companies hold with
foreign governments. Radio systems
already are controlled by the navy de-
partment.
Puts BurIeson in Charge.
Supervision, control and operation
of the wire systems is placed under
the direction Of the postmaster gen.
eral
The presidents proclamation pro-
vfdes that the postmaster general, IT
he so elects, may administer the lines
through the owners managers. boards
Of directors Or receivers. 1t provides
further that until the postmaster gen.
eral directs otherwise the present
managements shall continue. .i-s.-
Regular Dividends to Continue.
Regular dividends previously de-
clared and interest in maturing Obliga-
tions shall continue to be paid until
the postmaster general directs other
wise; and subject to his approval the
companies may arrange renewal and
extension Of maturing obligations.
The postmaster general in his dis
cretiOn may hereafter relinquish In
whole or in part to the owners any
telegraph or telephone system over
which he has assumed control.
No Change Affecting Press.
Postmaster General Burleson, in q
statement explaining his plans in oper-
would be no change affecting the press
wire service, except to improve 1t
wherever possible.
Mr.. BurlesOn also said that opera
ton and control of farmers telephone
lines would be interfered With only for
the purpose of facilitating their con.
nection with longer lines. No general
policy, the postmaster general said
has yet been decided on.
Proclamation by the President.
President Wilson's proclamation, af
ter quoting the law by which congress
authorized him, says:
"Whereas, 1t is deemed necessary
for the national security and defense
to supervise and take possession and
assume control Of all telegraph and
telephone systems and to operate the
same in such manner as may be need.
full or desirable.
"Now, therefore, 1, 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 control and supervision
Of each and every telegraph and tele.
phone system and every part thereof
within the Jurisdiction Of the United
States, including all equipment there.
of and appurtenances thereto whatsO.
ever and all materials and supplies >"
Puts BurIeson In Charge.
"It is hereby directed that the su.
pervision, possession, control and oper.
alton of such telegraph and telephone
systems hereby by me undertaken
shall be exercised by and through the
postmaster general, Albert S. Burle-
son. 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 own
ers, managers, boards of directors, re-
ceivers, officers and employees of said
telegraph and telephone systems.
until and except so far as said
postmaster general shall from time to
| time by general or special orders 9TH
erwise provide, the owners, managers,
boards of directors, receivers, officers
and employees of the various telegraph
and telephone systems shall continue
In the usual and ordinary course Of the
business Of said system, in the names
of their respective companies, associa-
tons, organizations, owners or man.
ayers, as the case may be.
To Pay Regular Dividends.
Irregular dividends hitherto declared
and maturing interest upon bonds, de-
bentures and other obligatiops may