Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-12-28
M'ADOO TO DIRECT
NATIONS RAILWAYS

NATIONS RAILWAYS
Continued From Page ~
while in the United States the gov
eminent will pay its freight, includ-
ing increases if they are found nee
essary.
Railroad experts estimate that the
government plan to guarantee earn
ings equivalent to average net OPP
Grating incomes of the last three years
will cost the government about $780,
100000 next year.
PRESIDENTS PROCLAMATION.
President Wilson's proclamation
follows:
Whereas, the congress Of the
United States, in the exercise Of the
constitutional authority vested in
them, by joint resolution Of the senate
and house Of representatives, bearing
date April 6, 1917; resolved,
'"rhat the state of war between the
perial German government, which has
thus been thrust upon the United
States, is hereby formally declared;
and that the president be, and he Ia
hereby authorized and directed to en-
ploy 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 gov.
eminent; and to bring the conflict to
a successful termination, all Of the re-
sources of the country are hereby
pledged by the congress Of the United
States.
QUOTES AUTHORITY.
"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 govern
meth; 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
resources of the government to carry
on war against the imperial and royal
government; and to
bring the conflict to successful ter
mination all the resources of the coun-
try are hereby pledged by the congress
of the United States.
"And. whereas, 1t is provided by sec
ton l of the act approved August %,
1916, entitled, An act making appro-
priations for the support OF the army
for the fiscal year ending June 30,
1917 and for other purposes as fol-
lows:
"The president, in time Of war. is
empowered, through the secretary OF
war, to take possession and assume
control of any system or systems OF
transportation, or any part thereof.
and to utilize the same, to the exclu-
sion as far as may be necessary OF all
other traffic thereon, for the transfer
or transportation of troops, war mate
rial and equipment, or for such other
purposes connected with the emer.
gency as may be needful or desirable.
NECESSARY FOR DEFENSE.
"And whereas. it 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 exclusion
as far as may be necessary OF other
than war traffic thereon, for the
of troops, war material
and equipment therefor, and for other
needful and desirable purposes con-
nected with the prosecution of the
war;
Nov, Therefore l, Woodrow Wilson,
President of the United States, under
and by virtue of the powers vested in
me by the foregoing resolutions and
statute, and by virtue of all other
powers thereto me enabling, do here
by. through Newton d. Baker, secre-
tary of war, take possession and as
sumo control at IL o'clock noon on the
twenty-eighth day of December, 1917,
Of each and every system Of transpor-
tation and the appurtenances thereof
located wholly or in part within the
boundaries of the continental United
States and consisting of railroads, and
owned or controlled systems of coast
wise and inland transportation, en-
gagged in general transportation,
operated by steam or by
electric power including also termi-
nails, terminal companies and termi-
nal associations. sleeping and parlor
cars, private cars and private car
lines. elevators, warehouses. telegraph
and telephone lines and all other
and appurtenances com
monty used upon or operated as a
part of such rail or combined rail and
water systems of transportation-to
The end that such systems of transpor-
tation be utilized for the transfer AMI
of troops, war material
and equipment, to the exclusion so
far as may be necessary of all other
traffic thereon: and that 50 far as
such exclusive use be not necessary