Jasper County Democrat, Volume 22, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 June 1919 — WIRE SYSTEMS GIVEN TO OWNERS [ARTICLE]

WIRE SYSTEMS GIVEN TO OWNERS

Postmaster General Issues Order Which Is Effective Immediately. PRESENT RATES WILL STAND President of Commercial Telegrapher** Union Ordere Strike of All Western Union Operators in Southeast. Washington, June 6. —Postmaster General Burleson Issued an order returning the telephone and telegraph systems of the country to private ownership, effective immediately. In a statement accompanying the formal order the i>oetmuster general stated that the existing rates would remain in effect, and that orders forbidding discharge of employees because of union afllllatiom* also would stand.

Extend Atlanta Strike. Immediately upon receipt of thia Information a strike of all Western Union telegraph employees in the Southeast was called by S. J. Koneukamp, international president of the Commercial Telegraphers’ Union of America. The strike is effective immediately and is an extension of the present Atlanta Western Union strike. Employees of the Western Union Telegraph company in Florida, Alabama, Georgia, South and North Carolina, West Virginia, Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi and New Orleans, La., go out under the new order. Mr. Burleson’s Order. Mr. Burleson’s order turning back the wire properties read: “The preisdent having recommended the return of the wire systems and the control of the owning companies with certain legislation designed to stabilize their operation, 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. “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 and finance with which the congress may determine to deal. “The rates now in force and the financial relations between the government and the companies, and the order of October 2, 1918, prohibiting discrimination because of nnion affiliation will continue unless congress may decide to change them or the ‘emergency’ is terminated by the procclamatlon of peace. Resume Actual Control. “By the action now taken, however, the wire companies resume actual control of operations of their respective properties, ami are free to formulate and put into effect their own policies unrestricted by government control, which is to continue in any case but a few Ayeeks, and thus will be able to prepare themselves for a complete resumption of the management of their property. “It will be necessary for each comply to so keep its accounts during the continuance of government control, that its books may be closed on the day government control ends In order that a full and accurate statement may be promptly made when it is called on for same.”