The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-12-27

much unsald as to details, but the gen
eral scheme appears to follow closely thu
British system except the United States
government will pay for its freight as il
the past
President Explains His Act.
! The presidents statement follows:
Il have exercised the powers over the
/ transportation systems of the country
which were granted me by the act OF
Congress of August, 1916, because it has
become imperatiyely necessary for me ia
do so. This is a war OF resources no less
than of men, perhaps even more than
men, and it is necessary for the complete
mobilization of our resources that the
transportation systems of the country
should be organized and employed under
a single authority and simplitied meth
cd of co ordination which have not
proved possible under private manage
ment and control. The committee of
railway executives who have been CO.
operating with the government in this
all important matter have done it with
patriotic zeal and with great ability; but
there were differences that they could
neither escape nor neutraliZe. Complete
unity of administration in the present
circumstances involves upon occasion and
at many points a serious dislocatlon OF
earnings to rearrange charges or effect
proper compensations and adjustments
of earnings. Several roads were willing
and with admirable public spirit accepted
the orders of the committee and have
already suffered from these circumstances
and should not be required to suffer fur
ther. In mere fairness to them the full
of the government must be
The government itself will
thereby gain an immense increase of efii-
cheney in the conduct of the war and of
the innumerable activities upon which its
conduct depends.
''The public interest must be first
served and, in addition, the financial in
terests of the railways must be brought
under common direction. The financial
operations of the railways need not then |
with the borrowings of the gov
and they themselves can be .
at greater advantage In |
gestors in railway securities may rest I
assured that their rights and interests
will be as scrupulously looked after by ;
he government as they could be by
he directors of the several railway sys-
ems. Immediately upon the reassem
bling of Congress | shall recommend
hat these definite guarantees be given;
First, of course, that the railway
properties will be maintained during the
,eriod of federal control in as good re-
'air and as complete equipment as when
AIKEN over by the government, and. sec
md, that the roads shall receive net
perating income equal in amount to
hat of the three years preceding June
O, 1917; and | am entirely confident
hat the Congress will be disposed in this
ase, as in others, to see that justice is
one and full security assured TO the
wners and creditors of the great sys-
ems which the government must now
Sc under its own direction or else suf
ar serious embarrassment.
"The secretary of war and / are agreed
hat, all the circumstances being taken
ito consideration, the best results can
e obtained under the immediate eXecu-
We direction of the Hon. William G.
IcAdoo, whose practical experience pc
lliarly fits him for the service and /
hose authority as secretary of the .
'easury will enable him to coordinate /
no other man could the many financial
lterests which will be involved and
hich might, unless Systematically di-
cted, suffer very embarrassing entan- q
ements
THE government of the United States
the only great government now en- >,
lged in the war which has not already
sumed control of this sort. 1t was
ought to be in the spirit of American
stitutions to attempt to do everything b
at was necessary through private man n
and if zeal and ability and pa Z
iotic motive could have accomplished :,
e necessary unifcation of administra- Al
IN it would certainly have been accom-
ished; but no zeal or ability could over
me insuperable obstacles, and ! have
emed it my duty to recognize that fact
all candor now that it is demonstrated v
d to use without reserve the great au-
ority reposed in me A great national
cessity dictated the action and ! was
erefore not at liberty 10 abstain from X
(Signedl Woodrow Wilson >
nTEn