Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-06-06
ALL WIRE SYSTEMS
IN OWNERS HANDS
Postmaster General Burleson
Issues Order Returning Lines,
Effective Immediately.
EXISTING RATES REMAIN
Regulation Forbidding Discharge
Of Employees Because of Union
Membership Stands.
EXISTING
fRy A.soc.ated rr,ssl


WASHINGTON, June 5.--Telegraph
and telephone companies, whose lines
have been controlled and operated by
the government since last August 1,
were ordered tonight TO resume i'm
mediately operations for their own &C
count by Postmaster-General Burleson
The Post-OfIlce Department, however,
under the terms of Mr. Burleson's
order, retains a measure of control Of
the services, pending final legislative
action by Congress.
Regulations prohibiting discrimina-
tion against wire employees because
OF union affiliations. maintaining exist
ing rates and charges and instructing
companies to keep special accounts to
facilitate cost settlement between
themselves and the government are
retained in effect under the order issued
1y the PostmasterGene Mr. Bur-
leson accompanied the order with a
statement giving. the reasons which
impe!led him TO take the action He
asserted that the President having
recommended the return of the proper
committee having indicated that i'm
m1ediate return was advisable and the
beariee h9uSe committee nitas.e having through
ton toward that end, he felt il his
duty to return operative control to
the various nlo private owners.
The President having recommended
the the ren9rn ren1rn OF OF The The wire systems and
with certain legislation designed to
stabilize their operations" Mr. Burle-
son said. 'and the Senate committee
having taken action looking to their
immediate return, and the House com
mittee in it's hearings on the proposed
legislation having Indicated concur
With or wthoS1 rs SO
recommended. feel il my duty to now
return the actual control of operations
ess essarX order TO be prepared to ac-
questions Of rates and finance with
which the Congress may determine to
nancai eeiatons rales n1% bs In force rec and the
ment and the companies and the order
OF Trt9Ger her ?, ials prohibiting dis
will5lcontinue unless the Congress in n
its wisdom may decide to change them
or the emergency, is terminated by
Must Keep AccurH5e Account.
by tue action now taken. however,
me ne, wire companies resume actual con
property. and are free to formulate
and an d! put lo into effect their own policies
which IS to continue in any case dur
ing few weeks, and thus will be able
10 prepare themselves for complete
property. 1t will be necessary for each
company to SO keep It's accounts dur
ing the continuance of government
on the day government control ends,
In order that a full and accurate state
sene ns,lnd may be eo promptly made when 1T
telegraph employees unions had no
hGu,n,g oGearing on, the departments action.
BY retaining possession of the actual
Inc nds1 power ,es taI,n to revoke today's order:
by the resolution OF Congress-, the
Postma ter-General can at any time
plete return again assume control Of
the management and re-establish the
operating card.
Advanced Rates Continue.
The principal result of the retention
by the government OF control OF the
Properties; PRO- rites however, SS., is the continue
effect since the wires were taken over over
by the government. These rates, IL
Was stated. remain operative on the
government has compensation con-
tracts. Other wire companies are free
+, to take,. take whatever action they may see
Tho government has compensation
contracts with 90 per cent of the tele-
sYstem phene cGPsn1es II inelSSdng the Bell
Once Department, and wi With f"e ss P0ser per
cent Of the telegraph companies. In IN
cindins T the Western Union and Postal.
General abolishes the wire operating
board. of which Union n. Bethel. OF
New York. is chairman, but the Wire
Control Board. consisting OF John A
koons, First Assistant Postmaster
General ". H: Lamar. and the statisti
cal and legal staff, will continue to
order until the governments connec.
ton with the wire systems is ended