The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1918-07-05

to pass an enabling act empowering
the President to take over and oper
ate the telegraph. telephone. marine
cable and radio systems OF the Unit
cd States. Plans are now being made
In congress to comply promptly with
the administrations recommends
tions and the far-rea ching legislation
may postpone the recess OF the two
houses
Representative Aswell OF Louisiana
author OF the enabling resolution an
proved by the administration. as
serted that the economic signif
canoe OF the step proposed by this
resolution is astonishing"
The merging Of the Western I'm
ion and Postal Telegraph companies.
the utilization OF telephone wires for
the transmittal OF telepgraph mes
sages. and the release to the army OF
at least 10000 operators are forecast
III epiesehtdtlVe RS"ellS 8 statement.
Combine the Forces.
Carried to its logical conclusion
the move means the combining OF the
clerical and and operating forces of
telegraph and telephone companies
in hundreds OF the cities and towns
Of the country and a one-head man
agement for electrical communica-
ton
AS II now stands the enabling res
olution does not specify under whose
control the merged systems shall be.
Postmaster General Burleson. how
ever. is the chief sponsor OF the leg
islation approved by the President.
An amendment will be inserted
according to present indications. for
the safeguarding Of small telephone
lines and rural lines operated by far.
mers
Government operation will be con-
tlnued for considerable period be-
yond the termination Of the war.
President Wilson's letter. unqualf-
hedly approving the suggested legis-
lation, was addressed to Chairman
Sims, OF the house committee. in con-
nectton with the communication OF
Postmaster General Burleson. The
President writes:
Thank you for consulting mo
about the inclosed. indorse en-
tirely the inclosed letter from the
postmaster general. which here
with return, and think that the rea
sons are stated by him truly and
comprehensively.
(Signed) Woodrow Wilson :"
Control Wire Communication.
While the legislation is sought
now primarily because of the
threatened Western Union strike.
the Burleson. letter shows the
deeper desire Of the administration
to assume control Of electrical com
munication during the war. Mr..
Burleson's letter said:
"At this moment paralysis OF
large part OF the systc OF electrical
communication is tn eatened with
possible consequence preiudicial to-
cur military preparations. and otNer
public activities. that might prove
serious or disastrous. We are re-
minded that there is now a nation
engaged in war that sntrusts iteI
military or other commf1nications to
unofficial agencies. deem il. there
fore. my duty not merely to approve
put to urge the passage OF the reso-
luton in order that the President
may act II necessary to safeguard
the interests OF the country during
the prosecution OF the war"
Secretary Baker appended a brief
rote saying II is both wise and ex
pedient' to give the President the
power sought
Secretary Daniels wrote that the
resolution was "of high military i'm
portance" and the commander-in-
chief should have full power "to
take possession and control tele-
graph. telephone. marine, cable or
radio systems"
Make II Similar TO RaiIroad
Secretary Daniels added the sys-f
TENS should be operated under 2 Ihw
similar to that now cove. ing fed :
erai contssnIRf- the raiiroadsl Apafs<