The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-12-27

operating with the government in this
all important matter, have done the
utmost that it was possible for them
to do: have done ii with patriotic zeal
and with great ability; but there we're,
difficulties that they could neither
escape nor neutralize. Complete unity
of administration in the present cir 4
cunstances involves upon occasion and
at many points a serious dislocatfOT "
earnings and the committee was, Of
course. without power or authority 70
rearrange charges or effect proper
compensations and adjustments o.
earnings. Several roads, which were
willing and with admirable public spiry
it accepting the orders of the conn
mittee, have already suffered FROM
these circumstances and should not
he required to suffer further. In merk
fairness to them the full authority 81
the government must be substituted
The government itself thereby gains an
immense increase of efficiency in the
conduct of the war and Of the minus
merable activities upon which it's suck
cessful conduct depends. go
No Financial Losses. 1,
! The public interest must be first
served, and, in addition, the financial
interests of the government and the
financial interests of the railways must
be brought under common directions
The financial operations of the rails
ways need not then interfere With the
borrowings of the government and
they themselves can be conducted at 2
greater advantage. Investors tn rails
way securities may rest assured hat
| their rights and interests will be as
scrupulously looked after by the gov
eminent as they could be by the direc-
tors Of the several railway systems,
Immediately upon the reassembling Oh
congress, shall recommend that these
definite guarantees be given:
| First, of course. that the railway
properties will be maintained during
theperiod of federal control in as good
repair. and as complete equipment as
when taken over by the government
and, second, that the roads shall re-
ceive a net operating income equal in
each case to the average net income
of the three years preceding June 80
1917; and | am entirely confident that
the congress will be disposed in this
case as in others to sec that justice is
owners and creditors of the great sys-
Items, which the government must now
luse under its own direction or else. suf-
fer serious embarrassment
McAdoo the King.
/ The secretary Of war and II are
agreed that all the circumstances be-
ing taken into consideration. the best
| l., %oi, ,,,Hn hn I'm.
mediate executive direction of the Hon
William G. McAdoo, whose practical
Iexperience peculiarly fits him for the
service and whose authority as secre-
tary of the treasury will enable him .fc
CO. ordinate as no other man could, the
many financial interests which will II
Involved and which might unless sya-
tematically directed, suffer very err,-
harrassing entanglements.
The government of the Initee
States is the only great government
now engaged in the war which has no
already assumed control of this sort. l
was thought to be in the spirit .
american institutions to attempt to III
Everything that was necessary through
private management and if zeal ant
liability and patriotic motive could have
accomplished the necessary unificatioi
of administration. it would certainl,
have been accomplished; but no yea
or ability could overcome insuperabl
lobstacles, and | have deemed it m.
duty to recognize that fact in all can
dor now that it is demonstrated ant
to use without reserve the great au
tholtty reposed in me. A great nation
al necessity dictated the action and
Twas therefore not at. liberty to abstain
from it.
tSigned)
"WOODROW WILSON.
Presidents Proclamation.
, by the president of the Unite
States of America
A proclamation:
, Whereas, the congress of the tnite'
States in the exercise of the constitu
, tional authority vested in 1t by join
resolution of the senate and house o
representatives, bearing date April
1917, resolved.
That the state of war between TIL
limited States and the imperial German
government, which has been thrus
lupon the United States is hereby for
: mally declared and that the presiden
} be and he is hereby authorized an
l Iaiiected to employ the entire naval an
/. military forces of the United State
l. and the resources of the government
/ to carry on war against the imperia
t German government: and to bring tn
t conflict to a successful termination. a
E of the resources of the country ar
hereby pledged by the congress of tn
limited States.
Against Austria Hungary.
And by joint resolution, bearing dat
December T. 1917, resolved:
n That state Of war Is hereby de
|clared to exist between the Unite
States of America and the imperial an
: royal. Austro- Hungarian governmer
= land that the president be and he
: thereby authorized and directed to EN-
lploy the entire naval and militar
: forces Of the United States and the re
sources of the government to carry o
u war against the imperial and roy;
Il Austro- Hungarian government and
II bring the conflict to a successful tel
d mination all the resources of the couf
> try are hereby pledged by the eongfes
Il of the United States. aFa =
And, whereas, it is provided BY sd(