Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-12-14
CONTROL OF WIRES
MAY Be PERMANENT
Bill introduced for Federal Own
ership of Telephone and
Telegraph Systems.
is ADMINISTRATION MEASURE
Aims to Make Lines of Commu-
nication Part of Nations
Postal System.
IS ADMINISTRATION MEASURE

WASIIINGTON. ,Decc,nbcr I3-Thc
administration to-day embarked upon
a definite policy Of government owner.
ship and. operation OF the wire lines
of the country Representative Moon.
OF tennessee, chairman Of the House
Committee on Post-Ofice and Post
Roads. introduced joint resolution to
make permanent the existing contro,
and possession OF the telephone and
telegraph systems.
presadent Wilson fully approves OF
the introduction of the resolution. the
Postmaster-Gen informed Repre-
sen,stive Noon Nj Burleson wrote
the resolution the wire systems wouId
become an auxiliary OF the postal serv-
Acquisition Of the telephone lines
would be accomplished by direct ne
gotiation between the Postma ster-Gen-
eEai era and ana the owning companies. In
the Postmaster-GeneraI would uroceeI
nnaer .lIvna an an act OF July "a. 1866. which
eyes eyes me government the right to pur-
value TO be fixed by five competent
difsinterested ef ,n; persons" Two members
Postmastcr-G General. two by the com
nany interested. and one by the four
thus selected.
the proposed legislation is en-
acted. said Mr.. Moon. 1T means per
tnanent government ownership.
WILL PRESS FOR PASSAGE
BY THE PRESENT CONGRESS-
The resolution will be brought uo
IN the Post Office and Post-Roads Com.
mittee after the holidays. If the com
m1''eS mr Woon decides af TO TO favorably report it
passase before the, expiration Of the
present Congress. March 1.
ine text Of the resolution follows:
ReSolved by the Senate and House
% representatives OF the United States
or or America in Congress assembled
,e,n innt' as as an auxiliary to the postal sys-
session OF the telephone and teIesraph
systems of the United States. now eX
ton is Of oE Eonnrdss virtue OF the Joint resolu-
and the proclamation OF the Presideni
oe ana the same is hereby continued
That the Postmaster-GeneraI sh,u
cause TO be fixed the appraised value
OF an the telegraph lines property and
panies as provided in section 4 of IN M
aet OF July -. 1866. and report tho
sidera ton The Postmaster-Genera Is
also directed to negotiate contracts
Tor the purchase of any or ali teIe'
pnone srtr lines. together, with their prop
proval OF Congress- ap
ahat the Postmaster General shall
report 70 Congress within a reason
which will combine all the advantaees
and authority Of the government witt
such plan OF operation as the eSneri.
s smce OF the best operation in our in
austrial world has shown 70 be ad-
NantaSeous." u
PRESENT MEASURE WILL
EMPIRE WITH PEACE
The resolution authorizing the presi-
oent TO take over the wires as wv
measure provided that it shall NOT
extend beyond the date of the nroc
lamation by the President OF the ey
cnanSe OF ratiications of the treaty
The ac, OF 1866 referred to in ,o
day resolution was entitled An .ct
70 u, aid IN the construction of telerr onb
INES and TO secure to the government
the use OF ;hc same for postal. milita ~,
and other purposes"
Is understood to be the nI,n Of
the ADMINISTRATION to make every efrort
70 pnt through this legislation before
sres sIe ieiRnSlieans im Mn assume control of Con-
less Will develop It the Democrats
soiidly support the measure. hoWewes
II can be passed by a strictly n.rt;.a
vote. republicans will base their On
p9s,,ion largely. on the ground tbat
with the financial burdens nov rastt
ihs upon the nation as the resuit ~,
the the War tremsndan =, is not practcahie to make
sary TO purchase The wire lines.