Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-01-29
WOULD END WIRE
CONTROL IN 1878
Committee Votes to Turn Back
Communication Systems
to Owners.
Is EFFECTIVE DECEMBER 81
Right of Postmaster-General to
Negotiate for Purchases Eli
minated From Measure.

SSitlNJION, Jan. 2S.--Ciovernmen
control OF telephone and !tcleErapi,
properties would end next December
81. under 4 resolution ordered favor
ably reported to-day by the House
Post-Oiiice Committee. by vote of
10 10 3 Chairman Moon announced he
would ask for rule TO give IL right
OF way.
cable properties. and that phase OF
the situation Was no: discussed Mem
bcrs later cXiiesscd varying opinions
as TO the eject Of the legislation on
Federal control of those proper:iea
procla ma ton last November. under the
authority given in the original wire
cont!oi resolution passed by ConEre IS
last July l6.
WILL NOT AFFECT LAW
As III APPLIES TO CABLES
Chairman Moon said the new legisla-
tioi would not affect the original law
il, So far as It applied TO cable proper
ties. control OF which would have to
be reiinquished with the issuing OF a
proclamation by the President an
nouncinG the signing of the treaty of
peace and ilS ratihcation. other mem
bcrs expressed "A different view, based
upon the fac. that the cable properties
weer controlled by the telegraph com
panies They though; control OF the
cables, wonid be automatically ex-
icubcu
Various oates for termination OF con-
troll Of the telephone and telegraph
companies we're suggested after the
committee had concluded its hearings
on The original administration measure
by examining Postmaster General Bur-
Lesson. The first proposal was for re-
storation OF the properties to private
management next May 80 but this ami
another TO extend the time to Decem-
ber 81, 1920, were voted down.
KILLS AUTHORITY TO
PURCHASE WIRE LINES
AS introduced by Chairman Moon.
the resolution authorized the Post
master-General to negotiate contracts
for the purchase of telephone COM
panies and to have an appraisement t
made OF the telegraph properties. but
these provisions were stricken out by
the committee.
ar. Burleson and other proponents
Of the legislation insisted that the
purpose was TO extend the perioi Of
control and not to bring about gov
ernment ownership.
On the final vote as announced by
the committee. three Democrats joined
WITH seven Rspnbfieaus;tto-"ea the
seven Democrats and one Prohibition
ist opposed Il. as they desired eSten :
sion for a longer period. The vote
For-Repubicans: s,eencrson, Min
sylyania; Copley., Illinois: Paige. Mas.
SaChuSettS, W COT u
Georsia: Holland. Virginia.; Black.
TeSas~a. Total. 10.
Against-Democrats: Moon Ten.
nessee: Sterling, Pennsylvania; Oiiver'
mon, Alabama: Beakss, Michigan. Is
Ayres. Kansas; ProhiPit,onist: lian-
dali California;. Total. q.
pIrRI,ESOS FAVORED
LONGER CONTROL PERIOD
N- Cu,,aSop favored n longer period
Of government control than next 2eo
ccmber 30. a date suggested while ne
.sThe @SS danger" would be that Congress
would have been in session but a
month. and declared he regarded the IN
because manufacturers and others must
have proper service" in order to de-
velop their business.
that IL he wished to. insure govern
mcnt ownership he would turn back
the systems a, once, bu; added that he
men Should be looked after"
While Mr.. Rurleson was on the
stand, Rspresentatjivs MADDEN adds csaese pese
9. Ward. vice presiden, Of the Com
merciai Cable COMPANY. to the pos.-
nnaster-Gencral; dated January n,arr - 20; "a;
forbids our placing the, Commerciai !
Gable Company or it's cables under the
control Of it's competitor. the Western
ONLY CONTROLLING LINES
IN BRITISH POSSESSIONS
The Post Office Department tonight
made public copy of Mr.. Burlesons s
reply to MIR ward. in which he said:
''It seems only necessary TO state
that the English government is exer--
cising control over the property of
and persons connected with the Com
mercial Gable Company located in the
British possessions. And under the
joint resolution OF Congress this gov
ernment, through the Postmaster
General. Is controlling the operation of
the cable properties within It's juris-
diction.
you have been relieved by me OF all
cables of your Company. so FAR as the
Jurisdiction OF this government is con-
cerned oyer the cables OF the Com
tions to issue 10 you in regard to any
requirements that the British govern
ment may require of you. as an officer
of the Commercial Company as cor
poration. and relating to the proper,y
of the company or the conduct of its
officials, or agents. located and opcrat-
ing in the Dritiah possessions and
with respect TO which tho government
has assumed control"