New-York tribune., 1919-04-24
Postmaster General Issues
Orders That Articles At
tacking Him Be Passed
by Telegraph Lines
Charges Intrigue
To Force Rate Cut
Official Of Postal Lines
Denies Regulations
Banned World Query

Postmaster General Burleson issued
y statement yesterday in which he
ssld attacks against him and his ad
ministrstion. which have multiplied re.
Gently, were merely propaganda to dis.
credit him and obtain lower postal
rates on second-class mail matter He
added he had been warned a year ago
that such attacks would result un-
less the rates were lowered
It~was announced in Washing son by
John P Miller, chief Of the division
Of information Of the Postoffice De
partment, that the refusal Of the tele-
graph companies to accept queries
from the New York World" Offering
10 other papers story they were
printing on the Postmaster General
was not inspired by Mr.. Burleson. He,
air. Miller said, knew nothing whatever
about it,
The wire chiefs, Mr.. Miller ex-
planned. were merely taking advantage
OF an old-estahlished rule TO protect
themselves from action for libel. Will
'am J. DeDegan. secretary Of the
Postal Telegraph Cable Company on
me other hand, said yesterday that
there was no rule on the regulation
books Of either telegraph company
wnich could be invoked against the
New York Worlds" message.
At the Offices of Night Managers
Soney and Leipman of the Postal and
Western Union companies, respec-
lively, neither OF the men would say
anything concerning the message they
held up.
Mr.. burleson also announced yes
'erday that the ban upon "The World"
article had been lifted, if the paper
cared TO send it now, and added he had
instructed the telegraph companies to
mold up no stories containing libellous
reference 10 him and his administra-
tIon.
Message Not Objectionable
Nr. Dcegan said "The Worlds" mes.
sage ~as absolutely unobjectionable
from telegraph point Of view" and
''haS 1t vas suppressed only because it
rsfsrred to Burleson.'
Mr. Deegan's statement follows:
Mr. Burleson's statement about the
Tine honored practices Of the telegraph
companies is all wrong. Such press
Nlegram as "Ihe. New York World"
sen' out last Sunday night over the
t1ses 20 different newspapers in the
United States, would have been ac
eepled and transmitted by either tele-
stapn company without the slightest
hesitation under the old rules and
practices Of the telegraph companies.
IN iaet, We do not know Of any press
.s.sgram ever having been refused by
'ssegfapn company on the ground Of
Us being libelous.
II, ouch telegram as "The New York
IIo1,d cent out last Sunday night is
sDsei,lsely unobjectionable from q tele- !
ssaph point Of view and il vas only ,
guse ggcsause 1t referred to Burleson. and !
aIseson has terrorlzed the telegram /
ssan By gag orders, threats of dis
"lesai, sples, etc, that the telegram
smpIoyes rejected it. year ago the I
eSmpsny would no more have thought !
~ 'electmg 1t than it think of reject
any otner telegram or press mes-
ske: Inis shows the degradation to
salcn Burleson has dragged the tele-
s'apn companies"
Rule Not Applicable
= ar- Deegan cited rule Of the Postal
tssssgraph- Gable Company referring to
rejection Of messages containing
y.v'ane, obscene or libelous language
80 ~ pointed out that it had no bearing
rhns'eyer on "The Wcrld's" message
me rule follows:
A. telegram containing profane, OBJ
sre as or lioelous language will not be
~ sssPeea, but employees arc cautioned
~ ~ refuse ressagcs properly signed
~. relating TO business, legal proceed
ss,r - Or IN cipher, etc. Our patrons
m. valo ee requested TO expunge from
s.ssssSssa -. such words az thief liar
ma, ma, wnsn used in an Objectionable
M, Mf; Deegan said that he could not
..v.leet any instance when it was nee.
cay Tor the Postal Telegraph Cable
~ sy1sgany 70 reject messagcs on account
shs sooye regulation. He charac-
~. s<sn The statement of Might Man
II :. .Ionsy OF the Postal and T<sipman
tns Wsstern Union 10 the effect
-. ~. The Worlds" message was "im-
s,zIp~ ss,snpsi az "ridieuious," and reempha-
East tbe statement that only fear Of
a4'isscn a. sscn prompted them 10 ejcct IL.
-. 80 insisted that the rejection of the