Evening star., 1918-08-07
TELEGRAPHERS ASK
TO Be RE|NSTATED.
Postmaster General Bur|eson
Takes Under Consideration
Demand Of Union Head. "
CONSULTATIONS PLANNED

CONSULTATIONS FLANNeU
Detailed statement of the position of
the Commercial Telegraphers' Union
In the controversy with the CONNER
cial wire companies. which was fac
tor in the governments assuming con-
troll of the wire service of the coun-
try, was made to the wire-control
committee today in Postmaster Cen
eral Burleson's Office by q ]. Konen-
kamp. president of the union.
He argued that men discharged on
account of membership in the union
should be reinstated without preju-
dice. His proposals were taken under
advisement by Mr.. Burleson and his
committee Of advisers.
Mr.. ,Konenkamp had been closely
questioned previously regarding the
activities of the union. The conference
continued for several hours.
Consolidation and Coordination.
A statement issued by the Post
master General today, indicating that
the government control of the tele-
phone and telegraph systems of the
country would undoubtedly cause the
and consolidation OF
competing systems wherever possible, >
was regarded as an important step In
the development OF the policy which
is to be adopted while the wires are
under federal control.
His statement said further:
investigation by the committee in
charge Of the telegraph and telephone
service shows that negotiations were
already under way for the consolida-
tion OF number of competing tele-
phone systems at the time the gov
ernment assumed control. The Post
master General will not disturb these
negotiations in any manner. When
an agreement is reached between tel
ephone companies in the matter OF
consolidation 1t should be submitted
to the Post Office Department for ap-
provaL
Where no negotiations with view
OF consolidation have yet begun" the
Postmaster General stated. there is
no objection to tho companies taking
up such negotiations with the under
standing that any agreement reached
would have to be finally approved by
him before it could actually be con-
summated."
To Probe Discharge of Union Men.
Investigation of the discharge o,
union employees of the Western Unior
and Postal telegraph companies has
been ordered, Postmaster General
Burleson said yesterday afternoon
He intimated that any men so penal.
lied for union membership would be
reinstated under government control
Mr.. Burleson had a long conference
with President Wilson after yester,
days cabinet meeting. He said the
chief task Of his department in con-
nection with wire control just now
was to reach an equitable adjustment
with the private owners for compen-
sation.
Committee on Information.
Appointment of committee to col.
lect information for the guidance OF
the telegraph and telephone operat-
ing committee was announced last
night by MT. Burleson as follows
A. NJ. Dockery. third assistant posi-
master general: Charles e. Matthews
superintendent. division Of money
orders; William c. Fitch. superin-
E. Burlington. superintendent. division
of finance, and Charles H. Fullaway
assistant director. division of postal
savings.
The committee. it was announced, will
make a survey along the following lines:
Use of the telegraph in transmitting
money through means OF money orders
use Of stamps in connection with tele-
graph service and the effect Of the use
Of stamps on the accounting systems
now in use by the telegraph companies,
changes in the company auditing sys-
TENS, and to determine whether the
same system of handling telegraph
funds can be adopted as is now in use
in the postal system.
To Study Consolidation.
To investigate the extent to which
branch telegraph Offices can be consoli-
dated with branch postal stations and
the extent to which the telegraph mes
senger service can be co-oriinated with
the postal special delivery service an
other committee was appointed.
The committee is composed of Carter
B. Keene. director of postal savings;
Goodwin d. Ellsworth, superintendent
division Of post office service; M o.
Chance, city postmaster; Henry F. Taft,
general superintendent Western Union
Telegraph Company. this city. and