The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1919-06-11
TELEGRAPH and TELEPHONE
LINES RETURNED TO OWNERS
Regulations Retained Prohibiting Dis
crlmination Against Employees
Because of Union
Affiliations
WHY RETURN is MADE NOW
Claimed Strikes Threatened by Tele-
graphers' Unions Had No
Bearing on the
Situation.
WHY RETURN is MADE NOW

Washington, June 5.-Telegraph
and telephone companies whose lines
have been controlled and operated by
the government since last August l,
were ordered tonight to resume i'm
mediately operations for their own
account by Postmaster General Bur-
Lesson. The Postoiiice Department,
however, under terms of Mr. Burle-
sons order retains measure of con-
trol OF the services, pending final leg
lslatlve action by Congress.
Regulations prohibiting discrimina-
ton against wire employees because If
union Affiliations, maintaining exist
ing rates and charges and instructing
companies to keep special accounts
to facilitate cost settlement between
themsel YES and the government are
retained in effect under the order is
SUED by the Postmaster General
Reason for Action.
Mr.. BurleSon accompanied the order
with a statement giving the reasons
winch lmpclled him to take the action
tic asserted that the President having
recommended the leturn Of the prop
ertleS, the Senate interstate commerce
committee having indicated that inn
mediate return was advisable and the
House committee having through
hearings manifested a desire for ac-
ton toward that end, he felt it his
duty TO return operative control to
the various private owners.
Strikes threatened by telephone and
telegraph employees unions had no
bearing on the departments action,
officials said.
Burleson's Statement.
The President having recommend
ed the return of the wire systems and
the control of the owning companies
with certain Legislation designed to
stabilize their operation" Mr.. Burle-
son said, "and the Senate committee
having taken action looking to their
immediate return and the House COM
mlttee in its hearings on the proposed
Legislation having indicated concurr-
encc IN the suggested immediate re-
.urn with or without legislation so
recommended. | feel it my duty to
now return actual control of opera
tons to the companies.
Orders Prepared.
some days ago directed the nee
csSary orders to be prepared to ac-
complish this and have today issued
same. These orders do not affect
questions of rates and finance with
which the Congress may determine to
ucal The rates now in force and the
financial relations between the gov
ernment and the companies and the
order of October 2, 1918, prohibiting
discrimination because Of union af-
filiation will continue un:ess the Con
gress IN its wisdom may decide to
change them or the emergency is
tcrmlnateb by the proclamation of
peace.
Resume Actual Control.
by the action taken, however. the
wire companies resume tctual control
OF operations of their respective prop
erty and are free to formulate and
put into effect their own policies un-
restricted by government control,
which is to continue in any ease but
few weeks and thus will be able to
prepare Themselves for complete re-
sumption of the management Of their
properties. 1t will be necessary for
| each company to so keep it's accounts
during the continuance of government
control, that its books may be closed
on the day government control ends
IN order that a full and accurate
statement mav be promptly made
when it is called on for same"