The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-06-06

IN, ~ o.1,stfons ~ siisfr IA psctfyS
[nrooerties ana are free " t0rns9lAts
and ruf into eject their own peltetee
tsnrastricted w government contrOts
mo, Il ii continue In ANY case few
weeks ana thus be able 70 prepare
for . complete resumpti0A
pof the management OF the properttes.
sIt WIN be necessary for each COM
- ~ Il, q keep til accountG during the
|continuance Of government control tnat
IN hooks may be closed on the day
government control ends. In order tnat
a full and accurate statement may pc
promptly made when u Ia caiied on ior
came"
1t WAS further explained at the post
Office department that the oraer means
simply that the private owners 81 the
wires are again placed In charge Of tne
conduct OF their business. with certain
limitations. The wire control board re-
|1inCuishes its authority over the opera
tion OF the companies and VIII ais
solve
The portion Of the postmaster-Een-
erals order covering this phase OF the
return says:
"Ali telegraph and telephone COM
panies, including individuals and part
nerships whose properties were taken
over BY the president under authority
Of the Joint resolution of congress. APP
proved July IL. 1918, will hereafter
operate and manage their properties
during the remainder OF the period OF
federal control, free from direct fed
eral operation, upon certain spec5ed
conditions"
BY retaining possession of the actual
properties, the government still holds
the power to revoke today's order.
Under the original authority granted
Tor ~ the D0gf-
master general can. at any time before
congress provides for the complete re-
turn against assume control OF the
management and re-establish the OPP
Grating card.
The principal result of the reten-
tfon by the government of control of
the properties, however. Is the con-
tinuation of the advanced rates put
into effect since the wires were taken
over by the government. These rates 1t
was stated. remain operative on the
lines of all companies, with which the
government has compensation con-
tracts. Other. wire companies are free
to take whatever action they may see
fit consistent with the law.
The section of the order dealing
with labor provides that the COM
par1fcs shall Also continue te observe
the provisions Of the order intended
to prevent discrimination against en-
ployees because they do or do not be-
long to any particular organization.
Interest here tonight is centered In
the probable effect the partial return
of wires will have on the threatened
nation wide strike, which has been
favorably voted on by members of the
Commercial Photographers union.
President Kokenkamp said today that
unless the Atlanta situation Is settled
quickly 1t will involve the entire
Tinted States and CAnada-" He con-
tinued. 49, - ~, .
photographers and electrical work
ers in every section of the country are
demanding that I sanction the strike
they have voted and 1t will! be impos-
sible TO keen them at work much
.iunger.-f~ wilt announce The date nj
the general strike within ~ hours"
When Mr. Kokenkamp's statement
was called to the attention Of the post
office department. early in the after
noon it was stated that nothing was
to be said on the situation.
An indication that the order for the
return of the lines suddenly was seen
from the testimony today of J. c.
Rooms, chairman OF the wire control
hoard. before the house Interstate and
foreign commerce committee, which
has under consideration the legisla-
ton for the complete return of the
wires to their private owners.
Mr. Rooms declared the return Of
the systems could not be made adj
vantageously before .fupe 30. II the
telegraph lines were continued under
the government until july / million
dollar deficit could he absorbed and
the telephone deficit would disappear
with the continuation of government
operation until the end OF the year,
he said.
1--WE do not think they should be re-
turned. however, without some pro-
festive legislation. he said.