Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-05-01
|G0vT. TO GIVE UP
WIRES AND CABLES
Will Relinquish Control of Cables
Not Later Than May 10 and
Wires as Soon as Congress
Passes Necessary Act
BURLESON'S STATEMENT
t'Ostmastcr-Gcneral Makes Recon- mem
datiOn to President, who Sends APP
prevail ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Borne by
Cables Is Now Lcssening

Washington April 2s.-The government
is preparing to relinquish control next
month of American cable lines and to
restore the telegraph and telephone sys-
TENS to private ownership Immediately
after enactment by Congress of laws
necessary to safeguard the properties.
Postmaster-General Burleson, as direct.
ang head of the extensive wire COM
munication service taken over as a war
measure, announced to-day he had sent
to President Wilson a recommendation
that the cables be turned back forthwith
probably not later than May 10. An hour
later the postmaster-general gave out a
statement saying he would recommend
that the telegraph and telephone service
be returned to private owners, contingent,
however, upon financial protection to be
obtained from Congress.
1t was explained by Mr.. Bur1eson that
no legislation was necessary in the
case OF the cable company properties.
Lessening of the traffic borne by the
cables and other circumstances aris-
Ing from transition to peace basis,
Mr.. Burleson said had resulted in his
recommendation to the President that
the lines be no longer operated by the
government. His announcement fol-
lows:
The postmaSter-ge 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 conges-
ton 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. The bar to COM
mercial code messages has been re-
moved. thus materially lessening the
cable loads. The use of the cables in
connection with the peace conference
have been greatly diminished.
The postmaster-g general hopes that
the return of the cables may be effective
not later than May 10th"
In the matter of land service, however.
the solution of the problem will be put
squarely up to Congress. Coming so soon
after the recommendation in his annual
report that the telephone and telegraph
lines become government owned at the
conclusion OF peace, the postmaster gen.
erai statement created unusual interest
In some quarters The statement follows:
1.-The postmaster general will recon-
mend that the telegraph and telephone
lines be restored to their respective own
ers as soon legislation can be secured
from Congress safeguarding the interests
OF the owners i'm every way tnar 1t is
possible to safeguard them.
THE information of the postmaster gen.
eral as to the condition of the wire COM
panes convince him that 1t is impera-
tive that such legislative action must be
had before the various telephone and tele-
graph lines are returned
This is not true as to the cable lines
which are in condition to be returned at
once"
Postoffice department officials who
have aided in control of the telegraph
and telephone companies expressed the
belief that few of the companies could
weather the financial storm If the proper
ties were turned back without remedial
legislation. Some officials said hat while
the properties must be returned in the
same physical condition in which they
were taken over to do this now without
added revenue to meet wage demands
and increased cost of operation would
wreck the entire industry
officials responsible for the actual man.
agement of the properties under govern
ment control declined. however To suu
gest exactly what sort of legislation
would be necessary. RepubIicans in
Congress have made no secret of thar
intention at the Forthcoming extra ses-
sion to press for the immediate return of
the service to nrivate mapager,ar+
Leaders in this movement have assert Cd
that in SO doing thew would ende.vor n
protect the COMPANIES interests
By proclamation of the President III.
entire wire service. with tho ovoon.;or
of cable lines. was taken over bv tha
government on Julv 2, last ard n,,ooa
under the direction of tho novto@no a.
nortrent Tho nroc,am,tion o ., 80,
control as shown NV nostof1ca d..
rent fIes was signed hv tbo prasidar.
nm November .. but no announo.n,an, as
% this action was m,de uptu of.or ~
.,.ring of tho arm,stico nm Novan,ha -,
ToLing over tho coh,o s,,s,ou, 100 D.,
,,,,,oa h,, n controvorsv hot,yaar ~ -.
.,ostor-ganero, ana ~, TT 49,
.-os,aont ~ tho Co,,maroioI r,h,a 80
ranw which resulted IN tho a,s,,,i,so, -,
~ Macxav hv Mr. prr,oson VI
r,r+har controyersv in,,o1,,oa ..o po.o,
Telegram company. when officials NJ tho,