Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-05-30
WANTS TOLL RATE
RAISE PERMANENT
Telephone Agent Asks Congress
to Centralize Rate Making
Authority
TAKE POWER FROM STATES
House Rules Committee Hears
Opponents of Repeal of Day
light Saving Measure.

WASHINGTON, May 2a-Enactment
OF permanent legislation validating
the present increased telephone toll
rates and placing the telephone sys-
TENS Of the country under Federal
regulation 80 as 20 prevent financial
embarrassment of the systems when
thcy are returned TO private ownership,
Mas urged before the Senate Interstate
Commerce Committee today by y c.
kingsbury, vice president OF the Bell
Telegraph and Telephone Company.
Mr.. kingsbury was the first witness
before the committee at HEARINGS on
legislation looking TO return of the
telephone and telegraph properties
Representatives of the other wire com
panies. the unions and the government
viii be called al An early date
Failure OF Congress. in authorizing
the President TO take over control Of
the wires 10 designate the rate
making authority was termed blum
der" by Mr.. kingsbury. who declared
Incdiateiy.
Wants Centralized Control.
What We would like is definite leg
isia tion releasing us from the control
OF forty-four different State commits
aions." said he.
Questioned regarding revenues Of the
Bell properties under government
operation. Mr.. kingsbury said the gov
crnment lost s9,623.477 from August l.,
1918. to last May /. under the contract
made with the Bell company
During the hearing Senator kellogg
said enactment Of legislation affecting
the telephone companies before the
procla amatio Of peace was impossible
because Of the size of the problem in
volvcd.
Return oi ,he telephone properties at
a. rsN irf l. lt. TT
dependent Telephone Association.
BnttlInE for Daylight.
Reneal of the daylight saving law
was opposed today by Robert S. Conk-
lin. deputy Acknowledgement of New
York. before the House Rules Com.
mittec. Action on the request by Chair
man Haugen, of the Agriculture Com
mittee. 'ha' the proposal be given a
part OF the s32 100000 agricultural APP
preparation bill was deferred.
Protest against the repeal also was
the American Federation of Labor. who
said a chanPc OF time would confuse
Industry and workers
In line with plans Of Republican n
leaders in the House for Investigations
Of War Department expenditures and
other activities. the majority in the
Senate pui through resolutions toda V
authorizing committees TO conduct
bearings on subjects within their
jurisdiction.
Asks John Bull to Quit Censorfng.
resolution requesting tho British
authorities TO cease censoring Ameri-
can mali was introduced today by
Senator Sherman. Republican. OF I'LL
nois The resolution. which went over
under the rules declared the British
censorship was no longer required. and
was designed largely to obtain busi-
ness and commercial information to the
disadvantage of American exporters.
After brief routine session. the
senate adjourned 10 Monday. because
OF the absence of many Senators for
Memorial Day addresses and vacations.
Brevity OF session prevented further
debate on the league of nations and
publican. Of California. asking the
State Department 10 furnish the Senate
copy OF the peace treaty. Senator
Johnson gave notice he would deliver
prepared address on HE resolution
Monday.
Wants Passports for Irish Leaders.
The American peace delegation
would be earnestly requested to
secure hearing before the peace con-
ference for leaders In the movement
for independence of Ireland. under a
resolution introduced today by Sena-
tor Borah. Republican. of Idaho At
his request action on the resolution was
deferred.
new water power bill was pre-
sented today by Senator Lenroot, Re-
publican. of Wisconsin,
Federal power commission en-
powered to grant development licenses
with rates subject to State commits
sions, and return of properties to the
government are the principal features.
Amendments TO the agricultural ap-
preparation bill appropriatinE $4,000
for an investigation into the habits of
the pest known as the camphor thrip,
in order TO find means of eradicating
ii. were introduced today by Senator
Fletcher, of Florida, and referred TO
the Agricultural Committee.
Secretary Daniels and Captain RicL-
ard II. Leigh. acting chief of navtga-
tion told the House Naval Committee
today that men were being released
from the navy as rapidly as possible.
Answering complaints of members tina /
demobliZation was slow. they said
transports and naval ships could not
he left with inadequate crews.