The sun., 1919-04-29
OWNERS TOGET
ALL WIRE LINES
Burleson to Relinquish Con-
troll of Cables, Telegraphs
and Telephones Soon.
PROBLEM FOR CONGRESS
Ocean Links to Be Returned in
Maryland Companies to
Await Legislation.
PROBLEM FOR CONGRESS

WASHINGTON. April 2s.--The Gov
ernment is preparing to relinquish
control next month of American cable
lines and to restore the telegraph and
telephone systems to private owner
ship Immediately after enactment by
Congress OF laws necessary to safe
guard the properties.
Postmaster General Burleson as di-
recting head Of the extensive wire
communication service taken over as
war measure, announced to-day he
had sent to President Wilson a recon-
mendation that the cables be turned
back forthwith An hour later the
Postmaster General gave out a state
ment saying he would recommend
that the telegraph sand telephone ser
vice be returned to private owners: /:
contingent, however. upon financ
! protection to be obtained from Con-
gress
1t was explained by Mr.. Burleson that
no legislation was necessary In the case
OF the cable company properties. Les
sening of the traffic borne by the cables
and other circumstances arising from
transition to peace basis. Mr. Burle-
son said, had resulted in his recommen-
dalton TO the President that the lines
be no longer operated by the Govern
ment His announcement follows:
( The Postmaster General has rec
commended to the President that the
! Government return the cable lines
| TO their respective owners. This ac-
! tion Is made possible by the fact
! that the congestion resulting from
; war conditions has largely passed.
| The enemy commercial blacklist has
been abolished and the tremendous
| volume OF Government cable mes
ssges from and to the War Trade
| Board has cea sed. The bar to COM
mercial code messages has beer le-
moved. thus materially lessenlng the
cable loads. The use OF the cables
! in connection with the Peace Con-
ference has been greatly diminished.
| The Postmaster General hopes
/ that the return Of the cables may
I be effective not later than May 10"
! Land Service Up TO Congress.
! In the matter of land service however
! the solution OF the problem will be pu,
squarely up to Congress Coming sc
soon after the recommendation in his
annual report that the telephone and
telegraph lines become Government
owned at the conclusion of peace the
| Postmaster Generals statement created
ts,az
statement follows:
"The Postma stor- General will rec
ommend that the telegraph and tele-
phone lines be restored to their re-
| spective owners soon as leg station
can be secured from Congress safe
guarding the interests of the owners
in every way that it is possible to
! safeguard them.
THE information of the Postmas-
ter-General as to the condition Of the
| wire companies convinces him that IL
Is imperative that such legislative
action must be had befose the various
telephone and telegraph lines are re-
turned.
This Is not true as to tho cable
lines. which are In condition to be
returned at once"
Post Office Department officials VIII,
have aided In control OF the telegraph
and telephone companies expressed IN,
belief that few of the companies coult
weather the financial storm II the prop
critics were turned back without remedla
legislation. Some off1cals said tina
while the properties must be returned IL
the same physical condition in whicl
they were taken over. 10 do this now
without added revenue TO meet wage de
mands and increased cost OF operation
would wreck the entire industry.
Officials responsible for the actua
management of the properties unde
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