The Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 191?-19??, 1919-06-07
BURLEsoN ORDERS LINES TO
RESUME OPERATION ON
OWN ACCOUNT
HIGH RATES ARE MAINTAINED
Rerul~tioa. Proeibitins Di.s,iiminA-
.ion Asasa.t Worker. Still
Effective.
HIGH RATES ARE MAINTAINED

Washlagton, June g. Telegraph
and telephone companies whose lines
have been controlled and operated
by TIE government since last Aug
ust I, were ordered last night to re-
su3ne immediate operations for their
own account by Postmaster General
Burleson, The postoffice department,
however, mnder terms of Mr.. Burle-
cons orders, retains measure of
control Of the service pending final
Legislative action by congress.
Regulations prohibiting discrimin-
nation against wire employees because
union afiliation, maintaining existing
rates iand charges and instructing
companies to keep special accounts
to facilitate cost settlement between
themselves and the government are
retained in effect under the order
issued by the postmaster general.
Mr.. Burleson accompanied the or
der. with,a statement giving the reas-
ems which impelled him to take the
action. He assert that the President
Enaving recommended the return Of
the properties, the senate interstate
commerce committee having indicat,
ed that immediate return was adj
visable and the house committee hav-
ing through hearing manifested de
sire for action toward that end, he
felt it his duty to return operative
control to the various private owners,
Feels 1t His Duty
"The president having recommend
ed the return of the wire systems
and the control of the owning COM
panies with certain legislation de-
signed to stabilize their operation, .
Mr.. Burleson said, "and the senate
committee having taken action look
ing to their immediate return and
the house committee in its hearings
on the proposed legislation having
indicated concurrence in the suggest
ed immediate return with or without
Legislation so recommended, feel it
my duty to now return actual control
of operations to the companies.
"Some days ago directed the ne
cessary orders to be prepared to ae-
complish this and have issued same.
These orders do not affect questions
of rates and finance with which the
congress may determine to deal. The
rates now in force and the financial
relations between the government
and companies and order of October
20, 1918, prohibiting discrimination
because of union affiliation will con-
tinue unless the congress in its wis
dom may decide to change them or
the emergency is terminated by the
proclamation of peace.
"By the action now taken, howev-
er, the wire companies resume actual
control of operations of their respec-
tive property and are free to formu
late and put into effect their own
policies unrestricted by the govern
ment control which is to continue in
any case, but a few weeks, and thus
will be able to prepare themselves
for a complete resumption of the
Of their property. 1t
will be necessary for each company
to keep its accounts during the con-
tinuance Of government control that
its books may be closed on the day
control ends in order
that a full and accurate statement
may be promptly made when it is
called on for same.D
Strikes threatened by telegraph
and telephone employees unions had
no bearing on the departments ac-
tion, officials said.