Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 78, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 April 1919 — BURLESON ANNOUNCES INCREASE IN WIRE RATES. [ARTICLE]

BURLESON ANNOUNCES INCREASE IN WIRE RATES.

Mr. Burleson’s order was issued by the department without comment, other than the explanation that the increase would not affect press rates and charges on wires leased by newspapers and press associations. Increased wages for employes of all departments of telegraph systems under Federal control, except employes at /‘nonfunctional’’ offices and messengers, became effective ast Dec. 1. •• Employes in service more than a year and a half received an increase of 10 per cent ana those employes less than a year’and a half, 5 per cent. . Increase of 20 per cent in domestic telegraph rates, effective April 1 have been announced by Postmaster General Burleson. The increase was agreed upon at a meeting of the Federal wire board and was made necessary, Mr. Burleson’s announcement said, to meet “the increased cost of operation, occasioned by wage increases now in effect, made during the past year, Mr. Burleson added that the advance would be “barely sufficient” for this order affects both government and commercial messages, but it was announced that there would be no increase in special press rate for newspapers or in charges for special wires leased by press association and newspapers. Under the order, however, commercial and government leased wires will be charged for at an advance of 20 per cent over existing rates whether such wires be furnished by a telegraph or a telephone system under government control.