Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-06-06
Members OF Congress Allege
That He Gave Order. Re
/, turning Wire. To Their
Owners Because He Did
Not Care To Mix Up With
The Threatened Operators
.l.y .-i iHsylf sttFE.
Strike.

Washington. June e.-Postmaster
General Burleson's order aholishing
the wire control board in New YORK
and restoring the operation OF tne tel-
1'ephone and telegraph propertles 70
officials Of the companies. aclMg =. as
agents of the government, was attack
ed today by members of congress.
some OF whom charged that Mr.. Bur
Lesson has passed the buck because
of the threatened, nation n-wtde strike
of members of the Commercial Ieieg-
raphers union Of America.
\. Immediately after Mr.. Burieson
order was issued last night, y. ). hon-
enkamp, president of the Telegraph
ers union ordered strike OF mem
hers of the union employed by the
Western Union Telegraph company in
the ten southeastern states and re-
Aborts from the chief cities in that ter
ritory today showed that scores OF
operators as well as some clerks and
messengers had quit their posts. OH,
cials Of the company at Atlanta safd
that with the wires again under COM
pany operation there would be fin
ish fight, while those of the union in
tin1ated that IL, necessary nation
wide strike would be called.
Meantime republican leaders plan
ned to press for action pending legis-
lation repeating the resolutions un-
,trol of the wire companies and the
senate interstate commerce commit
tee today continued hearings on the
repeal. measures z with n. G! Kings
bury. vice president of the American
Telephone and Telegraph company,
as witness
To Press Legislation.
Unanimous decision to press legis-
lation for repeal of the wire control
resolution despite Postmaster General
Burleson's order returning telegraph
operation was reached today by the
senate Interstate commerce commit
ftee. Chairman .Cumn1ins announced
that the bill would be called up In
the senate next week.
After further hearing today how
ever. the coramittee amended, the bill
50, as to continue existing telephone
THE wires are turned back instead OF
sixty. days es originally proposed. 4.
Mr.. fBuriesonS today sent to- Chair
Nman Cummins a letter declaring that
his ordeg yesterday had been n1iscon-
,Nstrued; that HE had not turned back
hsno tss Trss sul accS n1ts as snd
n. c.. kingsbury. vice president OF
,1the American Telephone and Tele-
: graph. company appeared before the
commission to urge legislation defin-
itely continuing, visiting telephone
rates until state ate-sommissions have
time to pass on them and establish
new schedules. Mr.. Kingsbury was
questioned at length by members OF
the committees to the result OF Mr.
Burleson's order. a l#--t
1.-The postmaster general turned
back responsibility and Kept control
is that the effect?" asked Senator
Kellogg. H.
,of control replied, Mr.. Kingsbury
keThe operating control Is now with
eofficials Of the companies who are
ope ting the lines, as agents of the
gov ment."
a { order is Just piece of film.
eyahsthen 2" asked Senator Kellogg.
No. the witness replied. ~ don't
think that is quite fair. He has done
away with the operating board. "A.
result Of this order the companies
now. report directly to the wire contro
board."