The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-12-29

Whicn nave not proved possible UNI
der private management and control.
The com mittee of railway executives
who have been cooperating with the
government in this all important mat
ter have done the utmost that it was
possible Tor them to do: have done
1t with patriotic zeal and with great
ability; burt there were difficulties
that they could neither escape nor
neutralize. Complete unity of admin
istration in the present circumstances
involves upon occasion and at many
points a serious dislocation of earn
ings and the committee was. of course
without power or authority to rear
range charges, or effect proper COM
pcnsa.tions and adjustments of earn
ings. Several roads which were will
lingly and with admirable public spir.
IL accepting the order of the com
mittee have already suffered from
these circumstances and should not
be required to suffer further. In
mere fairness to them the full au-
thority Of the government must be
1 substituted. The government itself
will thereby gain an immense increase
OF efficiency In the conduct of the
war and of the innumerable activi-
ties upon which it's successful conduct
depends.
| THE public interest must be frs;
served and. in. addition, the financial
interests Of the government and the
financial interests Of the railways
must be brought under a common d.
rection. The financial operations of
the railways need not then interfere
with the borrowings of the govern.
ment and they. themselves can be con
Quoted at a greater advantage. In,
vestors in railways securities may res
assured that their rights and inter
ests will be as scrupulously looked af-
ter by the government as they could
be by the directors of the several
railway systems.
Immediately upon the reassem-
bling OF congress I shall recommend
that these definite assurances be Civ
en-: First, of course. that the rail
way properties will be maintained
the period of federal control in a.
good repair and complete equipment
as when taken over by the govern
ment. and second, that the roads shall
receive net operating income equal
in each case to the average net in
come OF the three years precedin:
June 80. 1917: and am entirely con
fdent that the congress will be dis
posed in this case. as In others. to see
that justice is done and full security
assured to the owners and creditors
of the great systems which the gov
ernment must now use under its own
direction or else suffer serious en-
barrassment-
| The secretary OF war and I arc
agreed that. all the circumstances be
ing taken into consideration, the bes,
results can be obtained under the
immediate executive direction of the
Hon. William G. McAdoo, who's,
practical experience peculiarly fit.
him for the service and whose au
thority as secretary of the treasury
will enable him to coordinate as n
other man could the many financia
interests which will be involved an,
which might unless systematicall,
directed. suffer very embarrassing en-
tanglements.
"The government of the United
States is the only great governmen
now engaged in the war which ha,
not already assumed control of thi,
sort 1t was thought to be in IN,
spirit OF American institutions to at
tempt to do everything that was
necessary through private manage
ment and If zeal and ability and pa
triotic motive could have accomplish
ed the necessary unification of ad
ministratiop 1T would certainly have
been accomplished: but no yea, q,
liability could overcome insuperable
obstacles, and I have deemed il M,
duty to recognize that fact in all
candor now that 1t Is demonstrated
and to use without reserve the rrea,
authority reposed in me. A grea
national necessity dictated the action
land I was therefore mt ot ,;,.
abstain from it.
Woodrow Wilson"
The Following is the presidents
/ proclamation:
by the President oil the United
! States of America: