New-York tribune., 1919-01-29
BurlesOn to
Get But Years
Wire Control
House Committee Sets Dec.
81 for Returning Teie-
graph and Telephone Lines
Will Report Resolution
Government Ownersh ip
Features All Stricken From
Measure Despite Moon
Nelc York Tribune
WASHINGTON Eureuu

Neic York Tribune
WdshinQton Eureau
WASHINGTON. Jan. 90 Extension
of the period of government wire CON
troll until December 81, 1919, was ap-
proved to-day by the House Committee
ON Post Offices and Post Roads by a
vote Of 10 to s, and Il resolution so
limiting the period of Federal control
viii be reported to the House to-mor-
row by Chairman Moon All the gov
crnment ownership features of the
pending wire control resolution were
stricken out.
The action of the committee followed
long wrangle behind closed doors,
during which Chairman Moon vainly
ondeavored to preserve the government
ownership features of his resolution,
which were finally stricken out on mo-
ton of Representative Martin Madden,
Republican, Of Illinois.
The extension of government wire
control for approximately one year,
finally approved by the committee, Was
compromise. Postmaster General
Burleson had testified before the COM
nittee this morning that he would be
satisfied with an extension to Deem
Der 81, 1920. Republican members of
the committee had endeavored to have
the control cut to periods varying from
three to SIX months.
How Members Voted.
On the vote to extend Federal conArol
for one year those who voted in the
affirmative were Representative Moon
(DemJ, Tennessee; Bell (Dem.), Geor-
gia; Rouse (Dem), Kentucky; Black
man lDemD, Alabama; Beaka (Dem),
Michigan; Black Dem.), Texas; Ayres
(Dem.o. Kansas; Randall (ProD,
California; Sterling (Dem.), Pennsyl-
vania; Oliver (DemD, New York.
Those who opposed were; Representa-
tives Steenerson (Rep), Minnesota;
Madden (Rep). Illinois; Griest Rep,
Pennsylvania; Paige (RepD, Massachu-
setts; woodward (Rep), West Vir-
ginia; Ramscyer lRep), Iowa; Holland
(Dem), Virginia, and Copley (RepD,
Illinois.
Final action on the resolution to-day
followed 4 hearing at which Postmas-
ter General Burleson personally ap-
peared before the committee to urge ex-
tension of the period o; control for
definite period to prevent a condition
of demoralized wire communications
which he predicted would follow any
precipitous return of the properties to
private ownership
Fears Ruin for Companies
Postmaster General Bureson said
the telegraph and telephone companies
would face bankruptcy unless Congress
speedily relieved the uncertainty which
now characterizes the period OF govern
ment wire control.
Congress should fix date for the
expiration of government control, Mr..
Bureson urged, sufficiently distant to
permit the companies to readiust them
selves to peace conditions. Until the
companies know just how much longer
they are to remain under government
control, he continued, it Will be impos-
slble for them to secure enough capital
to make essential improvements. A
dangerous period of deterioration" has
already developed he declared, which
must be remeded promptly if the pub
lie as well as the companies are to avoid
grave consequences.
Inc Postmaster General denied that
the purpose Of the legislation pronosino
extension OF the period of government
control, pending before the committee
va eoVernment ownership of the wire
o0n'paillcs, put rather to permit the
hVNeihineht TO operate wires until -
owners. " ~ '"elr
government Not Responsible
In reply to question carrying the
'"p'ica..on mat the government vas
,'ti 80 'oic 4or the Impending de-
inoralZatlon, Mr.. Burleson dnc,oraa
mat day of reckoning was con,inC ~ ~
before the government took over tSo
systems o'er the
mere can be nothing but demora};va
0'oh II the systems are turned back az
once, he added, because of tho S;s;
cul,ies OF successfully operating then,
uhoer the complex. confusing ana
overlapping method Of fixing rates w w.
torty eight states and buTorede -
municipalities" VI
Mr. bnrleson admitted that the yy;ro
control Legislation originated with tho
~ire control committee of the postnf ,'te
nee department, but insisted .hot ~
comm ttee had not made It's recor.
mendation to Congress until II baa
terest P"i tie" IN IN
ms was the first appearance of ,ho
postmaster General as a witness ha
lore the Postofice Committee si,'oa Ne, Ho
psSu'heo p once, and the FIRST time n
fostmaster General has Testified ha'
4oss the committee in eight years.
or. Burleson said that while bo s.;,,
,asosed Federal ownership of wires
government ownership was NOT "Ia, 80
point in issue in the pending yeso,n' lme
eioh' winch provides for the extonsie.
OF government control "nnt;I n.sNn
wise ordered by Congress" 0'"s'
says Chairman Moon Did II
ne diselaimed responsibility for .bs
provision in the resolution ,ba. tns .ne
"lre system be continued as an auxii.
lary of the postal system, and aaid RS
was written in by Chairman Mo- NC as
tne House Post Office COMMITTEE NJ
burieson also denied that he had H..
anything 20 do with the resol,tiau
pabsed IN June, 1918 which t.r..I ~ =