Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-04-29
|bURLESON ADVISES
! PRESIDENT TOEND
| CONTROL OF WIRES
Recommends Legislativ e
Action to Protect Owning
Companies.
|WlLL HAND CABLES BACK
TO OWNERS ON MAY 10
Wants Congress to Act in Matter
of Telephone and Telegraph
Corporations.
CAUSE OF MUCH CONTROVERSY
More Than Score OF States Have
Taken Legal Action to Restrain
Advances in Wire Rates.
WILL HAND CABLES BACK
TO OWNERS ON MAY 10
CAUSE OF MUCH CONTROVERSY
More Than Score OF States Have
Taken Legal Action to Restrain
Advances in Wire Rates.
IBy Aaaocia,cd rron1

BY Associated prc.s
WhSIilNGTON. April 2S.-Thc gov
eminent is preparing 10 rclinquish
aontrol next month of American cable
ines and to restore the telegraph and
Telephone systems to private owner
ship Immediately after enactment by
congress Of laws necessary to safe
:uaTd the properties.
Postmaster -Gcncral Burleson as
directing head OF tho extensive wire
reorganization service taken over as
lead sent to President Wilson "A re-
e ommendation that the ca blcs be
;urned back forthwith probably not
u ter than May TO-
iencral gave out a statement saying
hc would recommend that tho telc-
RHaph and telephone service be re-
urned TO private owners. contingent.
iowerer, upon financial protection TO
&c obtained from Congress.
Cable Companie. Need No Help.
II wac explained by Mr.. BurIcson
hat no legislation vas necessary in
he case OF the cable company pro.
tertics.
Lessenins OF the traffic borne by
3the cables and ctncr circumstance
tr!sine from transition ;u peace
'asis Mr. Buricson said. had resulted
n his recommendation 10 the Pres!
dent that tie lines be no lonEc,
operated by the Govcrnmcn;. His an
,ouncemen, follows:
The Postma ster-G.u.rli VIII re-
Jommend that TIC telegraph ana ;c.=-
jhonc lines be restored TO thoi- .c
Bspectivc owners as soOn Is leg i. .ion
an be secured from congress ga &c
Guarding the interests {: IN" o"neT5
n every Way ;h.; II possible -
.uiesrard item.
Legislative .rupn NccL.,i.
1.-THE informant iioj, 6f tiIc i'oSimaater
General as To the condition OF tho
sire companies ronvincsI h.n' ;nat u
u, Imperative that sucl, legislative
ctiuIi must be TAD before ,,r vaii-
us telephone and telegraph lines az
feturned
-Tn!s is no, true as 10 tn, caslc
cturucd 1T once.
In the matter Of land service. now.
ser. the solution OF the problem viii
,e pu; suuareiy UP 10 Congrcss. Com
ng 30 soon after the recommendation
II his annual report that the teie-
,hone and telegraph lines oeeome come
u peace. the Pos,mastcr-G -GeneTats
tatement created unusual interest in
pme quarters
The statemcn; follows;
,m,nended 10 the President that the
Government return the cable lines 10
meir respeeiiNe S~nsrs. Tn, an;S ;h.i Is,i0n ,bs m
ions has largely rasscd. The enemy
commercial blacknst ,a has oeem Hein,;n aooi ~
.oyernment cable messages from and
o the War Trade Board have ceased
+fhe bar to commercial code messasss ::
las been removed. thus materially
Inssening the cable loads. The use OF
he cables in connection with the peace
Gonferencc have been greatly oimsh-
."The Postma s,er General hopes that
he return OF the cables may be enec-
FIVE not later than May 10.
Financial Legislation Requisite.
Post-of Department 9ficials w VINO no
lave aided in control OF the telegraph
nd ,elephone companies expressed the
R,eiicf that few OF the companies could
weather the financial storm hsrI1 litnomt II omi
Some of the officials said that while
he properties must pc renuTRs in wSeh !" they
were taken over. 10 do this now Win
,ut added revenue TO meet wage de,
nands and increased ,sa enirs fos' ,0dusprv od
ofticiais responsible for the actual
management of the properties under
government control deeiinea, n n1Mgse Isr;s,a, /,
don Would be necessary. Republicans
IN Congress- have made no secret OF
ineir intention at the rortneom1m6 III, y; edist e
seturn OF the service to private man
.gement Leaders in this movement I,n,.
have asserted that In SO dong h me, .ney
would endeavor 10 por'ecl Inc COM
,anies interests.
Lines Taken Over July 81.
Ry proclamation Of the President the
entiro service, with the exception OF
eahe Lines was I,v sase1 * last Gss and paced
hinder the direction of the Post-Ohce
Department. The proclamation as to
..a blei control as shown by PoSt-Ofhcc
ioepartment ihles. was signed by the
lIp ssident on November 2, but no an.
announcement Of this act was made until
Filter the signing of the armistice on
Taking over the cable system was
followed by controversy between
PostmassesGdsna,rai, u, ahe ,ne Sommsrs
he he dismissal Of MIR. Mackay by Mr..
'sqTlesGn; ITl,n,b controversy involved the
postal u. '"T telegraph Company when ohl-
that company Objected to the
POSTMASTER. Generals plan TO amalga-
Western West Union. As result. of the
,ontroversy Mr.. Burleson DISMISSED
servGS and Eenera
Enanager Of the Postal company, and
Is, b. Richards, general superintend-
ant OF the Postal company's Pacific
Higher Rnte. Cause Clash.
Orders issued by the PostmasteT-G Gen
eral providing. for nationwide in
Resulted in additional controversies and
legal action in a number Of States. from
some OF which suits have been apltsaled
to Tho United States Supreme Coust.
SThe Post -Office Department recnntly
was called upon to settle strike OF
telephone operators in New England
and members of the Commercial Tele-
kraphers' Union Of America yesterday
lonnpleted the canvass of strike vote
4 The land wire systems under govern
RncntScontrol were under the direction
n llthe wire control board with ISjrsi
Assistant Pos tmastcr.G General Rooms IN