Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 133, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 June 1919 — RETURNLINES TO OWNERS [ARTICLE]

RETURNLINES TO OWNERS

TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE SERVICE IS GIVEN UP BY UNITED STATES. Washington, June s.—Telegraph and telephone companies whose lines have been controlled and operated by the government since last August 1, were ordered tonight to resume immediate operation on their own account by Postmaster General Burleson. The postoffice department, however, under the terms of Mr. Burleson’s order, retains a measure of conltrol of the services, pending the final legislative action by congress. Regulations prohibiting discrimination against wire employes because of union affiliations, maintaining existing rates and 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 order with a statement giving the reasons which impelled him to take the action. “The president having recommended the return of the wire systems and the control of the owning companies with'certain legislation designed to stabilize their operation,” Mr. Burleson said, “and the senate committee having taken action looking to their immediate return and the 'house committee in its hearings on the proposed legislation having indicated concurrence in the suggested immediate return with or without legislation so recommended, I feel it my duty to now return the actual control of operations to the companies. Prepared Several Days. “Some days ago I directed the necessary orders to be prepared to accomplish this and 'have today issued same. These orders do not affect questions of rates arid finance with which the congress may determine to deal. The rates now in force and the financial relations between the government, the companies and the order of October 2, 1918, prohibiting discrimination because of union affiliation will continue unless the congress in its wisdom may decide to change them ar the ‘emergency’ is terminated by the proclamation of peace.”