New Britain herald., 1917-12-27
ExpEeB AppNoVA.

New York, Dec. 27.-Almost with out exception, leading bankers and executives of railroads having their here today expressed their approval Of the action of Pres ident Wilson in taking over the rail- road lines. Most of them agreed that the governments action as . whole was merited.
 Tn the financial district it was as- serted tho presidents statement re- guarantee of compensation to tho roads will have the effect of re- assuring holders of railway securities
 Washington, Dec. 27.-The govern ment will take over all railroads in the country Frriday at noon. Presi- dent Wilson last night issued the fol- lowing proclamation:
 Whereas, Tho Congress of the United States, in the exercise of the constitutional authority vested in them. by Joint resolution of the Sen ate and House of Representatives. bearing date April 6, 1917. resolved:
 That the state of war between the United States and tho Imperial Ger man Governme ant which has thus been thrust upon the United States Is here by. authorized and directed to employ the entire naval and military forces of the United States and the resources of the Government to carry on war against the Imperial German Govern mont, and to bring the conflict to a successful termination, all of the re- sources of the country arc hereby pledged by the Congress of the United States
 And by joint. resolution, bearing date Dec. 7, 1917, resolved:
 That 8 state of war is hereby de- clared to exist between the United States of America and the Imperial and Royal Austro- Hungarian Govern ment, and that the President be, and he is hereby, authorized and directed to employ the entire naval and mili- tary forces of the United States and the resources of the Government to carry on war against the Imperial and Royal Austro-Hungarian Government, and to bring the conflict to a success full termination, all the resources of the country are hereby pledged by the Congress of the United States.
 Whereas, It is provided by Section 1 of the act approved Aug. 29, 1916, entitled "An Act Making Appropria- tions for the Support of the Army for the Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 1917, and for Other Purposes as follows:
 '"The President, in time of war. is empowered, through the Secretary of War, to take possession and assume control of any system or systems of transportation, or any part thereof, and to utilize the same, to the exclu- sion as far as may be necessary of all other traffic thereon, for the transfer or transportation of troops. war ma terial and equipment, or for such other purposes connected with the emergency as may be needful> or desirable.
 And Whereas, It has now become necessary in the national defense to take possession. and assume control of certain systems of transportation and to utilize the same, to the exclusion as far as may be necessary of other than war traffic thereon, for the transporta- tion of troops, war material and equipment therefor, and for other needful and desirable purposes con- nected with the prosecution of the war;
 Now, therefore, I, Woodrow Wilson, President of the United States, under and by virtue of the powers vested in me by the foregoing resolutions and statute, and by virtue of all other powers thereto enabling, do hereby, through Newton D. Baker, secretary of war. take possession and assume control at 12 o'clock noon on the twenty eighth day of December, 1917, of each and every system of trans rortation and the appurtenances thereof located wholly or in part within the boundaries of the contin- ental United States and consisting of railroads, and owned or controlled systems of coastwise and inland trans engaged in general trans whether operated by steam or by electric power, including also terminal companies and terminal associations, sleeping and parlor cars, private cars and private car lines,- elevators, warehouses, tele- graph and telephone lines and all oth- CT equipment and appurtenances, com monly used upon or operated as a l.art of such rail or combined rail and water systems of transportation-to the end that such systems of trans portation be utilized for the transfer and transportation of troops war ma terial and equipment to the exclusion so far as may be necessary of II other traffic thereon, and that so far>aB such exclusive use be not necessary or de- sirable, such systems of transporta- ton be operated and utilized in the of such other services as the national interest may require and of the usual and ordinary business and duties of common carriers.
 It is hereby directed that the pos- session, control, operation, and utili- "a tion of such transportation systems hereby by me undertaken shall be ex- ercised by and through William G. McAdoo, who is hereby appointed and designated Director General of Rail- roads. Said Director may perform the duties imposed upon him 50 long, &o nla nHtank hn AhAl dA.