Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-01-31
Government Ownership
SHIELDED By Congress IN
Wire Measures Defeat
Advocates of Federal Owner
ship as Permanent Policy
May Carry Losing Fight to
Floor of House

Chances for any action favorable
to government ownership at this SEES
sion of congress had practically
passed in Washington this week.
While government ownership ad-
vocates were planning fight on the
floor Of the house to put back into
The Moon resolution the PROVISIONS
stricken out in the house postottce
committee, they admitted that their
chances Of success were slim.
The Moon resolution originally
gave power to the postmaster gem
. cral to buy telegraph and telephone
systems, but as reported out OF COM
nittee it merely extends government n
svire control until next December 81.
When the wires were taken over last
July, it was Pre- vided that they were
to be turned back at the proclama-
ton OF peace.
Bill for government ownership Of
the wireless has already been stran-
gled in committee and Democrats
have decided to make 10 move 1oc
or against government ownership OF
railroads at this session. :
The resolution made no mentloA
of cable properties and that phase
of the situation was not discussed az
the meeting of the committee. Mem
bers later expressed varying opln-
ions as to the effect of the leglsla-
ton on federal control of those prop
critics which was assumed by presl-
Dental proclamation last NoVemoer
under the authority given IN the or.
iginal wire control resolution passed
by congress last July 1T.
Gables not Affected
Chairman Moon said the new leglS-
lation would not atfect the Or
iginal law.in so far as it applied to
cable properties. control OF " nitA
the issuing of a proclamation by the
president announcing the signing OIL
the treaty of peace and its ratitica-
ton other members expressed
different view, based upon the fact
trolled by the telegraph companies.
They thought control of the cables
would be automatically extended.
Various dates for termination OF
control OF the telephone ana tete-
graph companies were suggested ait
er the committee had concluded us
hearings on the original admlnistra-
ton mea sure by examining PoStmaS-
ter General Burleson. The f1rst pro
posal was for restoration OF the
properties to private management
: next May. but this and another to
extend the time to December 81
1920, were voted down.
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 apralsemeht
made of the telegraph properties. out
these provisions were stricken out pE
the committee. Mr. Burleson arc
other proponents OF the legislation
insisted that the purpose was TO en-
tend the period of control, and not
to bring about government owner
ship.
On the final vote. as announced
hv the committee. three Democrats
Joined with seven Republicans to END
the period of control on December II,
and seven Democrats and one FRO,
hihit;onist opposed it, as they desired
extension for a longer period. The
vote follows:
For: Renuhlicens-Steene Min
reso I: Madden, Illinois; GrleSt:
paige. Mas sachusetts; woodward
West Virginia: Ramseuer, Iowa, Z.
Democrat s-Beu. Georgia: Holland,
VIRGINIA: Black. Texas. 8. Total, 10.
Against: Democrats-Moon. rem
nessea: Sterling. Pennsylvania; Oh
iver. New York: Rouse. kentnckV:
Blacknon. Alabama: Bea1es, Mlchi-
gan. rnd Ayers. Kansas, I. Prohlhl-
e1oni~t-RandaH, California, l. TO-
tai, 8.