New-York tribune., 1919-04-30
Wilson Orders
RestOratiOnOf
Cables Friday
Postmaster General Issues
Release at Direction of
the President, Who Also
Urges Giving Up Wires

c~0 OANA NA1lSo Op w ACS
WASHINGTON, April 29.-Control
and operation of all American cable
systems, taken over by the government
last November, will revert to their pri-
vate owners at midnight Friday.
Postmaster General Burleson, to
whom President Wilson in his procla-
nation of last November delegated
the control of the marine cable lines,
to-day issued an order providing Tor
the return of the properties in accord
ance with his statement of yesterday
announcing that he had made such a
recommendation to the President.
The order, which was issued by di-
rection of President Wilson, follows:
"Thn marine cable systems Of the
United States, and every part thereof,
including all equipment and appur
tenances thereto whatsoever, and all
material and supplies, the possession,
control, supervision ana operation of
L
by his proclamation of the second
day of November, 1918, to be exer-
cised by and through the Postmaster
General, Albert S. Burleson, are here
by returned to their respective own
ers, managers, boards of directors, or
receivers, to take effect on midnight,
May 2, 1919.
Representatives Of the Postmas-
ter General now operating said prop
critics will take immediate steps to
carry this order into effect
public the formal order, emphasized
that his views as to the wisdom of gov
ernment ownership of the land COM
munication lines had undergone no
change, but as it was apparent these
views were not shared by the new Con-
gress the only step left was to return
the systems.
Government control Of the cable lines
has been exercised in the midst of
controversies, legal action to restrain
the Postmaster General from seizing
their lines having been filed in New
York Federal court by the Commercial
Gable and the Commercial Pacific Gable
companies, who asserted that while the
Presidential proclamation taking over
the lines was signed November 2 the
actual seizure was made November 16,
five days after the signing of the armi-
stice, when the companies contended
no need for such action existed. The
restraining order, and appeal was taken
to the United States Supreme Court.
For Government Ownership
Mr. Burleson's statement, in part.
follows:
"For a number of years the Post
master General had advocated the gov
ernment ownership of the telegraph
and telephone systems and has urged
that they should be blended with and
become a part of the postal establish
ment, as essential agencies of COM
munication. He is firmly convinced if
such a policy were entered upon that
where there are now three telegraph
and telephone pole lines and sometimes
four, occupying the same highway, en-
cheaper service could be given by one
coordinate wire agency; that by the
abolition of various supervisory forces
of the wire systems which would then
be unnecessary; by complete unifica-
tion of the systems, thereby eliminat-
ing the operating cost of the useless
systems; by thoroughly co0rdinating
the remaining telegraph and telephone
services; by the consolidation of Of
fees and the utilizataion of postoffice
buildings where practicable; by the
use of stamps as a means of eliminat-
ing costly and complicated account
ings and the utilization Of the audit
ing and accounting forces of the Post
office Department, thereby largely
eliminating those of the wire systel. ),
that such savings could be effected
that would enable those in authority
during normal times to materially re-
duce the cost of the wire service to
the people.
Holds Same Views
GAS to the wisdom of this course the
Postmaster General has not changed
his views. At the time the government
took over the control of the wires ex-
traordinary and abnormal conditions
existed, resulting in a constantly in
creasing and very high operating cost,
which has necessarily continued"
"The accentuated cost of operation
and diminishing revenues, the uncer-
tainty in the period of government con-
troll, presented a situation that those
in charge for the government were able
to accomplish but little by way of uni
fication or to go forward with their
policies of economy, and consequently
we're soon brought face to face with
very serious but quite simple problem,
to wit: Given--increasing cost of op-
Grafton plus diminishing revenues,