Evening journal., 1917-12-27
Government TO Take Over
Control Of Kafion's Railroads

after made by said director shall have
paramount authority aud be obeyed as
such.
Nothing herein shall be construed as
now affecting the possession, opera
tion and control Of street electric pas
senger railways. including railways
commonly called interurbans, whether
such railways be or be sot owned or
controlled by such railroad companies
or systems. BY subsequent order and
proclamation, If and when it shall be
found necessary or desirable, posses
sion, control or operation may be taken
of oil or any part of such street rail-
way systems, including subways and
tunnels, and by subsequent order and
proclamation possession, control and
operation in whole or in part may also
be relnquished TO the owners thereof
Of any part of the railroad systems or
rail and water systems, possession and
control Of which are hereby assumed.
The director shall as soon as may be
after having assumed such possession
and control enter upon negotiations
with the several companies looking 10
agreements for just and reasonable
compensation for the possession, use
| UNlM INNNLWl Nl IlIf lfEIANEtlNE II0ltIliNf
on the basis OF an annual guaranteed
compensation, above accruing depreci-
alton and the maintenance of their
properties, equivalent, as nearly as may
he, TO the average of the net operating
income thereof for the three-year per
iod ending June 80 i9i7-the results OF
such negotiations TO be reported 10 me
/ for such action as may be appropriate
and lawful
But nothing herein contained, eX-
pressed or implied. or hereafter done
or suffered hereunder shall be deemed
IN any way TO impair the rights Of the
stockholders, bondholders, creditors and
other persons having interests in said
f systems OF transportation for the use
and control and operation Of their prop
crly hereby assumed
Regular dividends hitherto declared,
and maturing interest upon bonds. de-
benturcs 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 di-
rector shall, from time 10 time, other
/ wise by general or special orders, de-
termine and, subject TO the approval Of
/ the director. the various carriers may
agree upon and arrange for the re-
ncWal and extension of maturing Obli-
I cations.
Except with the prior written assent
Of said director. 10 attachment Dy
mesne process or on execution shall
be levied on or against any Of the prop
eriy used 10y any Of said transportation
systems I'M the conduct Of their bust
ness as common carriers; but suits
may be brought by and against said car
riers and judgments rendered as hiih-
orto until and except so far as said di
rector may, by general or special or
ders, otherwise determine.
From and after i2 o'clock. on said
tWenty-eighth day Of December 1871
am transportation systems included iu
This order and proclamation shall con
clusyelv be deemed within the pos
session and control Of said director
without further act or notice. but for
the purpose Of accounting said posses
sion and control shan date from f.
o'clock midnight, on December 81, 1871
In witness whereof. | have hereunio
set my hand and caused the seal Of the
United States To be affixed.
Done by the President, through New
ton ID. Baker Secretary Of War. in the
District Of Columbia. this twenty-siXth
day of December i'm the year Of our
Lord one thousand nine hundred and
seventeen, and Of Independence Of the
United states the one hundred and
foriy-Second.
WOODROW WILSON.
NEWTON u. BAKER, Secretary OF War
BY the President:
ROBERT LANSING, Secretary OF State