Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-12-27

The chief practical erect OF gov
ernment operation will he to permit
complete unification of all rail- sys-
toms impossible under private opera
ton by reason of statutes prohibiting
pooling of rail traffic and ca 'nhgs.
The roads themselves had gone as
far as they dared In this direction,
and II became known only today that
they had been warned by Attorney
General Gregory that violation OF
anti pooling laws could not be per-
mitted.
This situation was fully realized ny
President Wilson, who In his state
ment declared the roads had gone as
for as they could and that already
some systems were endangering their
earnings In attempting unification.
Excmpts Hntcrurbans.
Altho the proclamation applies TO
all electric lines engages in general
TRANSFORMATION local interurban sys-
tens are specifically exempted. Con-
gress will be asked to guarantee earn
irgs equivalent to the average net
operating income of each railroad in
the three-year period ending June
30. 1917. Railroad experts estimate
that this will cost the government
next year in the neighborhood or
100000 900. which can be raised in
large part by increased freights II
the interstate commerce commission
grants the roads application for the
10 per cent rate increase now pending
Otherwise 1t will be paid largely out
of the general government funds.
The interstate commerce commits
sion and other government agencies
which have to do with the RI lroads
VIII continue to perform their func-
tions as heretofore, except that they
will be subject to orders Of the di-
rector of railroads.
Railroads Did Their Best.
The president makes II clear that
mis- decision was not made because or
any failure on the part of the rail-
roads to perform their whole duty
insofar as they could while hamperCd
as they were by legal restrictions
THE committee of railroad eXecu-
tiVes," said his statement. have done
the utmost that II was possible for
them to do but there were difficult
tiles they neither could escape nor
neutralize. In mere fairness TO them
the full authority of the government
must be substituted"
The plan of control as outlined in
much unsaid as to details, but the
general scheme appears to follow
closely the British system. In Eng
land. however, government freight Is
carried free and the guaranteed earn
ings require an enormous amount of
money from government funds, while
in the United States the government
will pay for It's freight as I'm the past
and will stand it's part OF increased
freight tariffs II they are found to be
necessary
Aside from the presidents state
ment there was no comment In the
capital tonight on the governments
move. Secretary McAdoo declined TO
be quoted and members OF the rail-
roads war board said they would have
no statement TO make until tomorrow
Presidents Proclamation.
Following Is the presidents procla-
nation:
by the president OF the United
States OF America.
"a proclamation:
"Whoieas, the congress OF the
United States in the exercise of the
constitutional Authority vested jim
them by Joint resolution OF the senate
and house OF representatives, bearing
date April 6, 1917, resolved.
THAT the state OF war between the
United States and the imperial Ger
man government which has thus been
thrust upon the United States, Is here
by formally declared; and that the