Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-12-27
Public Interest Comes First.

+ ollO"lHR is inc fTeSlQent pfoCla
nation assuming government control 0
the railroads of the United States:
by the. President of the United
States of America
"a Proclamation
Whereas the Congress of the
constitutional authority vested in
them. by joint resolution Of the
Senate and House of Representa-
tives. bearing date April 6, 1917. re-
solved:
THAT the state of war between
the United States and the imperial
German government which has thus
been thrust upon the United States
is hereby formally declared: and that
the President be. and he is hereby,
authorized and directed to employ
the entire naval and military forces
OF the United States and the re-
sources of the government to carry
on war against the imperial German
government; and to bring the con-
fIict to successful termination all
of the resources of the country are
hereby pledged by the Congress Of
the United States.
And by joint resolution bearing
date Of December Z. 1917. resolved:
THAT a state OF war is hereby de-
clared to exist between the United
States OF America and the imperial
and royal Austro- Hungarian gov
eminent: and that the President be.
and he is hereby. authorized and d.
rected 10 employ the entire naval
and military forces of the United
CO. = ~
eminent 20 carry on war against
the imperial and royal Austro- Hun
rarian government: and to bring the
conflict to successful termination
all The resources OF the country are
hereby pledged by the Congress OF
the United States.
And whereas It is provided by
section / of the act approved August
20. 1915, entitled An act making ap-
propr!ations for the support of the
Army for the fiscal year ending
June 30. 1917. and for other pur-
poses AZ follows:
THE President. in time of war. is
empowered. through the Secretary
OF War, to take possession and as
sumo control Of any system or sys-
tens OF transportation, or any part
thereof, and to utilize the same, to
the exclusion as far as may be me-
cessary of all other traffic thereon,
for the transfer or transportation Of
troops. war material and equipment,
or for such other purposes con-
nected with the emergency as may
be needful or desirable:
And whereas 1t 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 ex-
clusion as far az may be necessary
Of other than war traffic thereon.
r%nx 80
war material and equipment there
fore. and for other needful and de-
sirable purposes connected with the
prosecution of the war:
Now, therefore, I, Woodrow Will
son. President Of the United States,
under and by virtue of the powers
vested in me by the foregoing resp
lutions and statute, and by virtue Of
all other powers thereto me enabling.
do hereby. through Newton D. Baker,
Secretary of War. take possession
and assume control at IL O'Clock
noon on the 2sth day of December,
1917. Of each and every system of
transportation and the appurte-
nances thereof located wholly or in
part within the boundaries of the
continental United States. and con-
sisting of railroads, and owned or
controlled systems of coastwise and
inland transportation. engaged in
general transportation, whether OPP
Grated by steam or by electric
power. including also terminals
associations. sleeping and parlor
cars, private cars and private car
lines. elevators, warehouses, tele-
graph and telephone lines and all
other equipment and appurtenances
commonly used upon or operated as
a part of such rail or combined rail
and water systems of transnorta
ton: to the end that such systems
of transportation be utilizel for the
transfer and transportation of
troops, war material and equipment.
to the exclusion. so far as NAV be
necessary, of all other traffic there
on; and that so far as such excIu-
sive use be not necessary or desira
BILE. such systems OF TRANSPORTATION
be operated and utilized in the per-
formance of such other services as
the national interest may reouire
and of the usual and ordinary bust
ness and duties of common carriers
1T is hereby directed that the pos
session. control operation and utilt-
cation OF such transportation sys-
TENS hereoy by me undertaken shall
be exercised by and through VIII
liam @, McAdoo. who is hereby an
pointed and designated director gen
eral or railroads. Said director may
perform the duties imposed upon
him. so long and to such extent as
he shall determine. through the
boards Of directors. receivers, off,
GERS and employees of said systems
of transportation. Until and except
so far as said director shall from
time to time by general or special
orders otherwise provide. the boards
OF directors, receivers. officers and
employees Of the various transpor-
tation systems shall continue the
operation thereof in the usual and
ordinary course Of the business Of
common carriers. in the names Of
their respective companios.