The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-04-29
CONTROL OF CABLE
 ! ID END MAY ID, IS ! ANN0UNCEMENT0 0F P0ST0FF|CE HEAD
Telegraph and Telephone Lines Will Be Returned as Soon as Congress Passes Laws for Protection
 of Companies
By AssecIated Press


 Washington, April 2S.-Tht government is preparing to re linquish control next month oi American cable lines and to re. store the telegraph and tele- phone systems to private own crship immediately after enact ment by Congress of laws nee essary to safeguard the prop critics.
 Postmaster General Burleson, as direct ing head of the extensive wire com muncation service taken over a war measure, announced today he had sent to President Wilson a recommendation that the cables be turned back forth with probably not later than May 10. An hour later the Postmaster General gave out a statement saying he would recommend that the telegraph and tele- phone service be returned to private owners, contingent however, upon finan- cia protection to be obtained from Com gress. It was explained by MT. Burle7 son that no Legislation was necessary in the case of cable company properties.
 Lessening of the traffic borne by the cables and other circumstances arising from transition to peace basis, Mir. Burleson said had resulted in his recom- mendation to the President that the lines be no longer operated by the govern ment His announcement follows:
 The Postmaster General has recom- mended to the President that the gov ernment return the cable lines to their respective owners. This action is made possible by the fact that the congestion resulting from war conditions has large ly passed The enemy commercial black list has been abolished, and the tre- mendous volume of government cable messag ages from and to the war trade beard have ceased The bar to commer- cial code messages has been removed, thus materially lessening the cable loads. The use of the cables in connec- ton with the peace conference have been greatly diminished.
 The Postmastcr General hopes that the return of the cables may be effective rot later than May To-"
 UP TO CONGRESS
 In. the matter of land service, how ever the solution of the problem will be SuuareiN up to congress. tDmlng so soon after the recommendation in his an- nual report that the telephone and tele- fraph lines become government owned at the conclusion os peace. the Post master Generals statement created un- usual interest in some quarters. The statement follows:
 The Postmaster General will recom- mend that the telegraph and telephone lines be restored to their respective own- CTS as soon as legislation can be se- cured from Congress safeguarding the interests of the owners in every way that it is possible to safeguard them.
 ''The information of the Postmaster General as to the condition of the wire companies convinces him that it is i'm, perative that such legislative action must be had before the various tele- phone and telegraph lines are returned.
 This is not true as to the cable lines which are in a condition to be returned at once.
 Postoffice department officials who have aided in control of the telegraph and telephone companies expressed the belief that few of the companies could weather the financial storm if the prop critics were turned back without reme- dial legislation. Some officials said that while the properties must be returned in the sanie physical condition in which they were taken over. to do this now. without added revenue to meet wage de- inands and increased cost of operation would wrec' tHf -rfirf industrv
 WILL ROTECT COMPANIES
 Offisia. fe.ppnsiDie Tor fife as-tusl managetnen, of the properties under gov. ernment contro. 'laclined. however to-
 fconsin~~d .on P.oe Tvxol