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Show President Issues Proclamation Procla-mation Placing Wire Lines Under Government Govern-ment Control, Under Provision by Congress. BURLESON WILL BE IN CHARGE i i New Order Effective July 31 and for Period i of Hostilities; Future i of Concerns Will Be 1 Varefully Guarded. r jl WASHINGTON, July 23. Acting nn-V'pr nn-V'pr the authority recently conferred by ' tVress, President Wilson today issued , a proclamation taking all telephone and telegraph lines under government operation opera-tion and control at midnight, Wednesday, Wednes-day, July 31. Although congress empowered him to do so, the president did not include wireless wire-less systems, because the navy already is In control of them; and'he also did not Include ocean cables presumably because contracts the cable companies have with foreign governments on whose shores they land contain clauses respecting government gov-ernment operation which raised involved lestlons. The navy already is in prac-tk'.il prac-tk'.il control of the cables through its censorship. cen-sorship. 9 Tho president's proclamation placed administration ad-ministration of tho wire systems with Postmaster General Burleson and provided provid-ed that until otherwise decided the present pres-ent managements and employees will continue with the approval of the postmaster post-master general. 1" a statement accompanying the President's proclamation. Postmaster General Burleson announced to the country coun-try that his' policy would bo one of the 'east possibio interference with the wire communication systems consistent with the Interests and needs of the government. govern-ment. MR. BURLESON OUTLINES PLANS. I'ress wire service, Mr. Burleson said, would be interfered with only to improve lls facilities, and farmers' telephones . Wo"M bo Interfered with only to facili-L facili-L tdto their connection with the larger lines. I No general policy has been decided upon, Vho postmaster general announced, and '(hlic notico will be given of any plans to Kngo present arrangements. . Pledging to tho public: his best efforts f"r tho most efficient service at the least 1 cost, the postmaster general declared he Welcomed the suggestions and eo-opcra-fion of the men who have built up the systems. Postmaster General Burleson wlil personally per-sonally take charge of the administration administra-tion of tho -- communications and will l,e assisted by a committee of three composed com-posed of John l. Koons. first assistant Postmaster general, in subjects of organisation organi-sation and administration; Pavid .1. Iw--! 's, former congressman from Maryland, low u member of tho torit'f commission, on subjects of operation; and William It. I.aniar, solicitor for the postofi'ice department, de-partment, on matters of finance. ''resident Wilson's proclamation, after quoting the law by which congress authorized au-thorized him, says: Whereas it Is deemed necessary for the national security and defense to supervise and to take possession and assuuio control of all telegraph nnd telephone systems and to operate t''C same in such maimer as may be needful or desirable; PRESIDENT GIVES OFciAL NOTICE. k-Now. therefore, I, Woodrow Wilson, I President of the United Stales, under un-der and by vlrtuo of tho powers vested vest-ed in me by the foregoing resolution yvirtuo of all other powers l (Continued on Page Three.) NATION'S WIRE LIES JJiER I). S, CONTROL (Continued from Page One.) j thereto, amenably do hereby take possession pos-session and assume control and supervision su-pervision of each and every telegraph and telephone system, and every part thereof within the jurisdiction of the United States, including all equipment equip-ment thereof, and appurtenances thereto whatsoever and all materials and supplies. It Is hereby directed that the supervision, su-pervision, possession, control, and operation of such telegraph and telephone, tele-phone, systems hereby by me under- ! taken shall be exercised by and through the postmaster general, Al- ! bert S. Burleson. Said postmaster general may perform the duties hereby here-by and hereunder imposed upon him, so long and to such extent and in , such manner as he shall determine, r through the owners, managers, boards of directors, receivers, officers and employees of said telegraph and telephone tele-phone systems. WILL CONSERVE FUTURE OF LINES. Until and except so far as tost-! tost-! master general shall from time to 1 time by general or special orders oth-i oth-i erw'se provide, the owners, managers, boards of directors, receivers, officers and employees of the various telegraph tele-graph and telephone systems shall continue the operation thereof in the usual and ordinary course of the business busi-ness of said systems, In the names of their respective companies, associations, associa-tions, organizations, owners, or managers, man-agers, as the case may be. Regular dividends hitherto declared and maturing interest upon bonds, debentures, and other obligations, may be paid in due course; and such regular dividends and interest may continue to be paid until and unless the said postmaster general shall from time to time otherwise by general gen-eral or special orders determine: and subject to the approval of said postmaster post-master general, the various telegraph and telephone systems may determine upon and arrange for the renewal and extension of maturing obligations. ! Accompanying President Wilson's proclamation, proc-lamation, Postmaster General Burleson made this statement: I realize the immensity of the task which has been entrusted to me by the president's order. The telegraph and telephone service, conducted under un-der conditions heretofore existing, has been remarkably successful considering con-sidering the unprecedented difficul-- difficul-- ties which have arisen out of the war, difficulties which could be overcome only by a unity of administration, which could not be realized without the aid of the government. Improvements Forecast. Under the president's order conditions condi-tions are changed and greater oppor-i oppor-i t unity is afforded to effect improvements improve-ments and economies and a larger use by the people of these facilities which have become an imperative need in their everyday life. It will be the purpose of the postoffice department de-partment to broaden the use of the service at the least cost to the people, keeping in mind that a high standard of efficiency must be maintained. The operation or control of what are commonly called farmers' telephone tele-phone lines will be interfered with only for the purpose of facilitating their connections with the longer lines. There will be no change affecting affect-ing the press wire service except to ' improve it wherever possible. Of course, no general policy has been decided de-cided upon and will not be until a most careful survey of the whole situation sit-uation is had and a grasp of conditions condi-tions as they now exist secured. I shall freely avail myself of all advice and suggestions which those in a position po-sition to make same valuable may be good enough to offer me. Whenever it is necessary to inaugurate in-augurate any changes of policy announcement an-nouncement of such will be made through the postmaster general. |