The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1918-07-02
PRESIDENT MAY
TAKE over WIRES:
lie Asks Congress For Power
to tCt.
7LAA TO FORE2TALl STRIKE
Nr. Wilson informs House Committee
He would Commander All Teie-
craph and Telephone Lines.

Washington. July 22,-Gn> eminent
GONE and operation OF H. nations
telegraph ana telephone Systems WAS
recommended in congress b., President
Wilson.
4. The face OF an impending strike
Of union operators employed by The
Western Union company. an etT"r'
will he made to put Trough. hefor"
the recess of congress. pending legs
CATION empowering The president Il"
take over all systems.
Members of congress said The al
torney general had advis>A The pres .
dent he is without authority tu take
over .he ln,s, ana f l.t',v> lily fl ar-
tion arose with congress in recess he
would be without power To act.
Letters Of approval Of the presi-
dents plans We're sent BY :. crrtary
OF War Baker. Secretary Of the Navy
Daniels and Postmaster General Bur
Lesson. Their opinions had been sought
by the committee.
Action on the resolution was defer
red by the committee. Represst atiNe
SINS. Democrat. Tennessee. chairman
of the committee, invited Secretary
Baker and Daniels and Postmaster
General Burleson to appear and FUR
Their explain their views. Ii Is OK
pected the committee will report ia
vorably
Senator Sheppard, Democrat, Texas,
introduced in the senate Il resolution
Identical to that pending in The house.
Il was referred to the military com
mittee.
The presidents views were c:m-
inundated in a brief note endorsing
the proposed legislation. II made no
reference to the strike of Yves ern
Union operators called for July 8 by
the Commercial Photographers Union,
after the Western Union refused to
abide by the rulings of the war labor
board on the discharge of union OPP
orators.
Immediately upon receipt Of the
presidents letter the committee ar
ranged to report the resolution to the
house with view to its passage be
fore the recess, planned to~ begin this
week
1t is understood the president has
not decided definitely TO take over the
telegraphs and telephones as soon rs
he receives the power. Probably he
will await the result of the impend-
ing strike of Western Union operat
orS.
Union executives say one-fourth OF
the 10000 operators of the Western
Union will walk out. The company
Insists the strike call will have no
substantial effect upon its business.
The resolution introduced by Rep
resentative Aswell, Democrat, Louisi-
ana, reads:
THAT the president, If, in his dis
erection, it is deemed desirable In or
der to insure their continuous opera
ton or to guard the secrecy of mill
tary and governmental communities
lions, or to prevent communications
by spies and other public enemies
thereon, or for other military or pub
lie reasons, shall have power to take
possession and control Of any tele-
graph, telephone, marine cable or ra-
do systems, and operate the same
subject to those conditions Of law, SO
far as applicable, which are in force
rs to steam railroads whic under fed
eral control"
Postmaster General BurlesOn's let
ter, which the president approved as
giving the reasons truly" advised
Representative Sims that the power
and discretion to act, US proposed In
the resolution, seems imperative to
safeguard public interests"