The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1919-05-03
APPROVES RETURN
OF ALL WIRE LINES
Wilson 0. KS BurIeson's RECON-
mendation That U. S. Give
Back Systems.
CABLES TO OWNERS MAY |
Federal Control VIII Be ReIinqulshed
as Soon as Necessary Legislation
Has Been Observation-Disclosures
General Issues Statement.

Washington, April 80. - President
Wilson has approved Postmaster Gen.
eral Burleson's recommendation that
the telegraph and telephone systems be
returned to their owners upon the en-
actment Of legislation deemed neces-
sary and that the American cable lines
be restored to their owners forthwith.
The presidents approval was an
nounced In cablegram to the White
House. Mr.. Burleson stated that he
hoped to effect the return Of the cables
by May 10.
Burleson Urges Wilson to Act.
Postmaster General Burleson has
recommended to President Wilson that
all telephone and telegraph lines be
returned to their private owners as
soon as congress can enact legislation
deemed necessary.
This action was announced shortly
after the postmaster general had dis
closed that he had recommended the
immediate return of American cable
lines and hoped to have the cables in
the hands Of their owners by May 10.
Legislation lie Needed.
This statement was issued by Mr..
Burleson:
1.-THE postmaster general will recon-
mend that the telegraph and telephone
lines be restored to their respective
owners as soon as legislation can be
secured from congress safeguarding
the interests Of the owners IN every
way that IT Is possible q safeguard
them.
"The Information OF the postmaster
general as to the condition of the wire
companies convinces him that 1t Is Inn
peratiye that such legislative action
must be had before the varions tele-
phone and telegraph lines are returned.
"This is not true as to the cable
lines, which are In condition to be
returned at once.
"The postmaster general has recon-
mended to the president that the gov
eminent return the cable lines to their
respective owners. This action is
made possible by the fact that the con-
gestion resulting from war conditions
has largely passed.
"The enemy commercial blacklist has
been abolished and the tremendous
volume Of government cable messages
from and to the war trade board have
ceased.
1.-THE bar to commercial code mes
sages has been removed, thus material
ly lessening the cable loads. The use
of the cables in connection with the
peace conference has been greatly d.
minished.
1.-THE postmaster general hopes that
the return Of the cables may be ef-
fective not later than May TO-"
Brought Forth Much Criticism.
Publication after the signing of the
armistice of the presidential proclama-
ton taking over the cable systems has
been the subject Of much controversy.
Critics Of the administration In con-
gress attacked the action as an abuse
of war powers, and various resolutions
for investigations were pending when
the last session ended. Republican
charges that the purpose was to con-
troll newspaper reports of the peace
conference were replied to by official
administration assurance that there
would be no censorship of American
press reports from Paris.
Under the presidents proclamation,
all of the American-owned cables were
taken over and consolidated in one sys-
TEN, under the wire board of the post
office department, which already was
operating the telephone and telegraph
systems.