Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-04-29
REPA RE
TO RETURN.
ALL WIRES
TO OWNERS
Action of Congress Necessary
to Restore Telephone and
Telegraph Lines; Burle-
son Makes Statement.

Washington. April 28.-The gov
ernment is preparing to relinquish
control next month of American ca
bic fines and to restore the tele-
graph and telephone systems to
private ownership after enactment
by congress of laws necessary to
safeguard the properties. Postmas-
ter General Burleson, as directing
head of the wire communication
service taken over as a war meas
ure, announced today he had recon-
mended to President Wilson 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 tele-
graph and telephone service be re-
turned to private owners,
gent, however, upon financial pro-
lection to be obtained from con-
gress.
No Legislation Necessary.
1t was explained by Mr.. Burleson
that no legislation was necessary in
the case of the cable company. His
announcement follows:
"The postmaster general has rec
commended to the president that the
government return the cable lines
to their respective owners. This
action 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
sages from and to the war trade
board have ceased. The bar to
commercial code messages has been
removed. thus materially lessening
the cable loads. The use of the
cables i'll connection with the peace
conference have been greatly dimin-
ished.
'The postmaster general hopes
that the return of the cables may
be effective not later than May 10.
Solution to Congress.
In the matter of land service,
however, the solution of the prob
lem will be put squarely up to con-
gress. Coming so soon after the
recommendation in his annual re-
port that the telephone and tele-
graph lines become government
owned at the conclusion of peace,
the postmaster generals statement
\ cre,tad ,,,ue,,1 ;,,taresf Tbo .t,fa
ment follows:
| "The postmaster general will
recommend that the telegraph and
| telephone lines be reverted to their
respective owners as soon as legis-
lation can be secured from con-
gress safeguarding the interests OF
the owners in every way that it is
possible to safeguard them.
"The information of the post
master general as to the condition
of the wire companies convinces
him that it is imperative that such
Legislative action must be had be-
fore the various telephone and tele-
graph lines are returned.
| "This is not true as to the cable
lines, winch are IN a condition tC
be returned at once"
Postoffice department officials ex-
pressed the belief that few of the
companies could weather the finan-
cial storm if the properties were
turned back without remedial legis-
lation. Some officials said that while
the properties must be returned in
the same physical condition in
which they were taken over, to dc
this now, without added revenue to
meet wage demands and increased
cost of operation would wreck the
entire industry.
Will Press Matter.
| Officials responsible for the man
agement of the properties under
government control declined to sug-
gest exactly what sort of legislation
would be necessary. Republicans in
congress have made no secret oi
their intention at the Forthcoming
extra session to press for the inn
mediate. return of the service to pri.
vate management.