Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-07-31

tonight all government supervision
Of telegraph and telephone companies
will be relinquished. The President
was authorized to take over the COM
panies on July %, 1918, but 1t was
not until August l that the post office
took charge of the systems.
The present order abolishes. as
soon as details are cleaned up. the
wire-control board Of the Post once
during the period Of government su-
pervision.
Operation Turned Back in June.
Operation Of the wires was turned
back to the companies on June 5 OF
this year, with certain conditions af-
fecting contracts and awards, with
compensation features for losses in
Cured during government super
vision. BY this action the wire COM
panies resumed actual control of OPP
erations of their respective prop
critics and were free to put into eff
feet their own policies unrestricted
by government control. Government
control in technical instances con-
tinued. The wire-control board re-
NAMED. but the wire operations board
of the department dissolved.
Financial data Of the companies up
to midnight tonight will come under
the scrutiny Of the finance committee
of the wire control board. The order
properties to their owners provides
that as soon as possible financial mat
tiers shall be submitted to the COM
mittee.
Cable Control, November to May.
Cables were taken over by the gov
eminent on November Q, 1918, and
returned on May 2, 1919.
The wires are turned back with
practically no trouble hanging fire.
Labor troubles have been cleared up.
Operation of the companies is de-
clared to be proceeding perfectly.
A complete summary of the situa-
ton by Mr.. Burleson. contained in a
statement issued yesterday, is as fol-
lows:
with the issuance of order No
$3.50, providing for the auditing and
accounting division, the first govern
ment control of the wire systems OF
America is brought to an end. Sound
public opinion will ultimately deter
the Postmaster General is content to
abide the result.
During government control just
increase of wages for operatives has
been made in all cases where they
were deserved and where the rove
nues of the companies permitted them
to be made. It is a source of gratifi-
cation that the National Independent
Telephone Association on June 26 and
July b. 1919, unanimously indorsed
the governments control as wise,
just and impartial, and the greatest
living wire expert in a report July
Is. 1919. to the stockholders Of his
company. representing nearly 80 per
cent of the telephone service of our
country, said: There has been no
policy adopted by the Postmaster
General during the period of federal
control which was not in the interest
of the service and with which your
organization has not been in full &C.
cord. This cooperation has resulted
in the maintenance of the service at
the highest standard possible under
the extremely arduous conditions. 1t
is gratifying now to state that your
property has been maintained and
will be returned in as good physical
condition as though 1t had never been
out of your possession"
Rate Increases Made.
Increases Of telegraph and tele-
government control. but the percen.
tage of such increase was markedly
less than the average Of increases Of
rates made during this same period
for other public utility services, and
but for court injunctions in eighteen
states, instigated by state utility COM
missions, the wire systems would have
been returned to their owners with
out any obligation on the federal
Treasury because Of compensation
contracts
'The Postmaster General desires to
express to the officers Of the various
telegraph and telephone companies his
grateful appreciation Of the uniform
cooperation given during the period
OF government control. It Is a source
of qualification and pride to him that,
with one notable exception, the rea-
son for which is thoroughly under
stood by those who have kept inform
ed, that every wire company has
given him loyal Cooperation curing
the period of stress through which he
controlled the wire systems Of our
country. This cooperation has re.
suited in the work Of the Postmaster
General being made quite easy, and
he's enabled him to derive an amount
of genuine pleasure and enjoyment
from the task that was imposed upon
him. which was not in the slightest
marred save by the controversy with
The labors Of the Postmaster General
are brought to An end with con-
sctOuSness on his part Of having at all
times administered these wire systems
with justice and fairness to the en-
ployes and the owners of these prop
critics and in such way as to render
the best service possible to the gem
eral public under abnormal conditions.
s'The Postmaster General will be
ready to report to Congress on Mo-
3vember ! next as required by law"