The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-12-27
STEP NECESSARY FOR EFFICIENCY.
 PRESIDENT SAYS
Private Zeal and Ability Have Failed to Overcome Obstacles to Transports tion and He Does Not Feel at Liberty to Withhold Taking Over Roads-War One of Resources.

operation for the war will be assum- ed by the government at noon tomor- row with Secretary McAdoo, still re- Saining his cabinet post, in charge as director general of railroads.
 This decision, the governments so- hutton for the difficulties of the pres ent Transportation situation, was an- knnounced last night in a proclamation by President Wilson effective at noon, Friday, Dec, 2S, and taking over every railroad engaged in general Transportation in continental United States. with it's appurtenances, in- cluding steamship lines. All lines will be operated as a single system under Director McAdoo.
 President Wilson planned to con fer with the railroad brotherhood chiefs today and the heads of the four Organizations indicated that further details of the scheme of gov ernment control as far as it effects pending wage controversies probably will be discussed
 In & statement accompanying his proclarnation the Presi dent announced that as soon as Congress reassembled ne would recommend legislation guar anteeing the maintenance of railroad properties in good repair and the pay s1nent of g. net operating income equal eo the average net operating income of each road for the three years ending June 30. 1917.
 The Presidents proclamation con- tefnpIaAes the mobilization of the rail- reads of the country and all their ap- purtenanceS, and while it will give the 'Rovrnment possession of water lines that figure in rail-and-water transpor- fation, 1t is not the intention to take over local water routes and those steamer lines which do not fit into the rail problem
 Through this action the President, hopes to end the tangle of confusion Into which the transportation facilities have been brought as a result of the war.
 The Presidents decision to take over the operation of the railroads in ad- vance of the reassembling of Congress was announced in a proclamation and the explanatory statement signed by himself L
 About five hours before the Presi- dent announced his determination to take over the railroads confidential messages went to the heads of the ' principal railroad systems of the coun- Cry, Indicating that when possession had been taken the transportation fa~ cilities a board of five or seven mem- bers wouad be appointed to advise with the director general of railways. The belief is that this board will be com- posed of representatives of the army and nayy. the food and fuel admins Tations, because f11e executive depart lnents of the administration mentioned ar the chief government shippers.
 The Presidents action is based on fine authority granted on Aug. g, 19i6. in the act which made appropri- ations for the support of the Army for the fiscal year 1917 and which pro yided that the President. in time of war, through the Secretary of War, might take possession and assume control of any or all systems of trans portation and utilize them, to the ex- clusion. as far as may be necessary, iof all other traffic. for the transport ation of troops war material, and equipment. and for such other pur- {71oses connected with the emergency as may be needfu1 or desirable.
 The Presidents Statement.
 The Presidents statement follows:
 T have exercised the powers over the transportatfon systems of the counzry which were granted me by the act of Congress of last August be- canse it has become imperative1y nec- essary for me to do so.
 eThis is a war of resources no less than of men, perhaps even more than of men, and it is necessary for the comp1ete mobilization of our resources that the transportation systems of the country should be organized and em- p1ored under a single authority and a eirnpHfed method of coordination which have not proved possible under private management and control
 The Committee of Railway Execu- lives who have been cooperating with the government In this all-important matter have done the utmost that 1t was possible for them to do; have done fl with patriotic zeal and with I great ability but there were differ ences that they could neither escape nor neutra1ize. Complete unity of ad- Inin1strat1on in the present circun- stances involves upon occasion and at many points a serious dislocadon of ezxnfngs. and the committee was, of course. without power or authority to rearTan1e charges or effect proper eonDensatons and adjustments of earnings Several roads which were willingly and with admirable public spirit accepting the orders of the eommtttee have already suffered from these Circumstances. and should not be required to suffer further. In mere Fairness to them the full authority of the government must be substituted. The government itself will thereby gain an immense increase of efficiency in the conduct of the war and of the lnnumeraable activities upon which its successful conduct depends.
 The public interest must be first served and, in addition. the fnancia Interests of the government and the Financial Interests of the railways must be brought under a common di. rectton. The financial operations ol the railways need not then interfere Hith the borrowings of the govern. nent, and they themselves can bt conducted at a great advantage. In festors in railway securities may res