The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-06-06
CONGRESS TAKES
STEPS TO REPEAL
Interstate Commerce Com
mittee of Senate, How
ever, Amended Bill So as
to Continue the Existing
Rates for 80 Days After
Wires Are Turned Back.

Washington, D. G., June 6.-Unani-
nous decision to press legislation for
repeal of the wire control resolution de-
spite Postmaster General Burleson's or
der returning the telegraph and tele-
phone properties to private operation,
was reached to-day by the Senate in
terstate commerce committee. Chairman
Cummns announced that the bill would
be called up in the Senate next week.
After a further hearing to-day, how
ever, the committee amended the bill so
as to continue existing telephone rates
in effect for 80 days after the wires are
turned back, instead of 60 days as origi-
nally proposed.
Mr.. Burleson to-day sent to Chairman
Cummins letter declaring that his or
der yesterday had been misconstrued; !;
that he had not turned back the wires to
private ownership, and that no such ac-
tion was contemplated.
Mr.. Burleson's letter follows:
"An order issued by me yesterday rel
ative to the operation of the telegraph
and telephone systems has been con-
strued by some as actual return of the
properties to the owners. No such action
has been taken by us, nor is any con
templsted.
"This order simply dissolves the oper-
ating board appointed by me under date
of Dec. 13, 1918, and directs that the
systems again be operated by the regu-
lar operating officials under government
., kite, - ~
ernment to these systems in no wise
ceases. It being evident that these prop
critics are to be returned in the very near
future, it was necessary for the post
master general to take steps immedi-
ately to set up the regular operating
organization of the companies so that
when the properties are turned back it
can be done without confusion or inter
Tuption to the service, was the purpose
of the order. This order in no wise ef-
fects the legislation pending before your
committee or before Congress. 1T will
enable the companies to begin steps i'm
mediately to prepare the data and col
lect their information to be submitted
to the state commissions for the rate
cases, which will probably be taken up
Immediately after the period Of govern
ment control ends"
Postmaster General Burelson's order
was attacked to-day by members of
Congress, some of whom charged that
Mr.. Burleson had passed the buck" be-
cause of the threatened nation wide
strike by members of the Commercial
Telegraph union.
Immediately after Mr. BurIeson's order
was issued last night, S. ]. Konenkamp
president of the telegraphers' union, or
dered a strike of members of the union
employed by the Western Union Tele.
graph company in the ten southeastern
states, and reports from the chief cities
in that territory to-day showed that
scores of operators as well as some clerks
and messengers had quit their posts.
Officials of the company at Atlanta
said that with the wires again under
company operation there would be fin.
ish fight, while those of the union init.
mated that if necessary a nation strike
would be called
The Senate interstate commerce com.
mittee to-day continued hearings on the
repeal measures with N. G. Kingsbury
vice-president Of the American Telephone
and Telegraph company, as witness.