The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-07-02
WILSON. ASKS FOR
POWER TO CONTROL
TELEGRAPH SYSTEM
Measure Will Also In
clude Phone, Cable
and Radio Lines.
UNDER BURLESON
Postmaster to Act as DI-
rector, and Will Run
Them Under Same
Plan as Railways.
UNDER BURLESON

Universal service)
washington. July President VIII
son today. asked congress- to give him
authority to take over the control or
all the telegraph. telephone. cable and
RADIO systems in the United States.
The plan of control VIII be the same
as that followed In the operation OF the
railroads Postmaster General .Burle-
son will he namedsdirector- general OF
Communications and all the business
OF the wire companies Will be operated
as part Of the postal system
speedy compliance with the presi-
dents request by congress is looked
for In both houses sentiment generally
In in favor OF prompt action on the res
clinton to authorize federal control.
even to the extent of abandoning plans
for the thiry~day recess II necessary
House Committee Gets Bnsy
The house committee on interstate
commerce. TO whom the president ad-
dressed his communication urging the
grant OF power. got down TO oasAness
early thss morning as soon as the prssl-
Anut's latter was received. The COM
rnitte~~ mes in executive session 10
go over the terms of the latter and
consider letters from Postrnsster-}en-
srai rurleson. Secretary Baker ana
secretary Daniels. all Of whom sup
ported th4 president In his view that
he telegraph and telephone lines
should he taken over as military
necessity.
TIE committee ~ 10 meet again
tomorrow and II is possible that favor
mhas action on the enabling resolution
viii be rsr~arted to the house within
b .wn or three DAYS FL IL predicted faae
oppotitlcn in either house VIII re negf-
iiKihle hee~
SnTFk6
BIZ the calling of the strike on the
wastAyn Union lines which DEPART
mental officials regarded as highly pre-
ssdtrtal to the government war bnsi-
resS Although there have been sns-
restions from time 70 time thst the
government shouid assume operation
III the lines Of communication in time
~ war IRE threat Of strike has ac-
rantnatea this demand Neither the
rressdent nor those associated win
him In the conduct of the war ts READY
To face the consequences ~ Interrupt
ton of traffic on the wire systems whie
the war is on.
Operation and Direction.
rYrdar the plan ef control. worked
eut by administration officials. only
the operation and direction or the wire
ccuapa mics will he taken over ny the
4 government. The rostofftoe department
has estimated that these nroperles
worth between I'll @sNHtyAH"'N'" 7''N
$4,000 eea oeH The government VIII
ray a rental 10 the companies for the
IS use o. the properties In tire same
msnner as the railroads are conpen
stated for the use OF their property
The department haR estimated thar ar
Ter this rental js paid there will be ief'
To the government surplus OF sP'
proxirnateiy $50 600 GOO.
The measure favored nv the presi'
dent in the resolution Atro6uoed las
THURSDAY hv Representative James r
Aswell, OF Louisiana. 1t merely pro-
vtdes for the grant of authority 70 thf
president to take possession or all tht
lines OF electrical communication ana
operate them. under the same coma
tinns Of law SO far as applicable al
tire steam railroads are now operat
In Line with Authority.
II IA explained that this measure fol
lows the lines OF the grant OF au
thority for the taking over OF tn
railroads, which were taken under
rant Of power contained In a military
anpropriation bill. After the road
had baen seized congress passed m
railroad administration act. which nS
"a the basis of compensation. TN
method Of operation and the time o
return to their owners The sam
policy will be pursued In the matte
n the wire systems II is understood
The support given by the admins
traitor to take over control OF the WIZ
uystems is indicated by the fact Una
hafore Mr.. Aswefl introduced bis res
niution he went to the White Hous
" and laid the matter before the presi
IN dent who gave 1t hts ,unouahned en-
Aorsement. The president then referre
M. Axwsll to Postmaster Genera
NJ Hurleson. who had made consideraoi
study OF the methods Of operation Il
f0reirn countries and had compiled
treat deal of data showing how tn
systems could be operated In this coun
The day following the day OF the In
reduction Of the resolution Frida
w last. Mr.. Burieson addressed the fol
rs, having letter to Mr.. Sims. chairman Q
tha house committee on interstate com
IN 1aeroe.