The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-12-27
PRESIDENT WILSON ANNOUNCES
TAKING OVER RAILROADS

President Wilson's proclamation that he
will assume possession and operation of the
railroads of continental United States Fri
day at noon is as follows
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA:
"a proclamation
Whereas. The Congress of the United
States. in the exercise of the constitutional
authority vested in them. by joint resolu-
ton of the Senate and House of Represen-
tatives, bearing date April 6. 1917, re-
solved,
THAT the state Of war between the Unit
ed States and the imperial German govern
ment which has thus been thrust upon the
United States rs hereby formally declared ::
end that the president be, and he is hereby.
authorized and directed to employ the en-
tire naval and military forces of the Unit
ed States and the resources of the govern
niont to carry on war against the imperial
German government: and to bring the con-
flict TO a 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 7, 1917, resolved:
That a state of war is hereby declared
TO exist between the United States of
America and the imperial and royal Aus
tro-Hu ngarian government; 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 Aus
tro-Hungarian government; and to bring
the conflict to a successful termination, all
the resources of the country are hereby
pledged by the Congress of the United
States.
And, whereas, IL is provided by section
one of the act approved August 80 1916.
entitled An act making appropriations for
the support of the army for the fiscal year
ending June 80, 1917. and for other pur-
poses as follows:
1.-THE president, in time of war. is en-
powered, 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 exclusion as far IA may be necessary
of all other traffic thereon, for the transfer
or transportation of troops, war material
and equipment to the exclusion so far as
may be necessary of all other traffic there
on +; and that SO far such exclusive use
be not necessary or desirable, such systems
Of transportation be operated and utilized.
"And, whereas it has now become neces- /
sary in the national defense to take possess |
sion and to assume contro lof certain sys- |
TENS of transportation and to utilize the |
same to the exclusion far may be nee !
eBsary of other than war traffic thereon, |
for the transportation Of troops, war mate
rial and equipment therefor, and for the |
other needful and desirable purposes con-
nected with the prosecution of the war
Now, therefore, I, 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 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
thereof located wholly or in
part within the boundaries of the conti-
mental United States and consisting of
and owned or controlled systems
OF coastwise and inland transportation, en-
gagged in general transportation, whether
operated by steam or by electric power, in
GLIDING also terminals terminal companies
and terminal associations, sleeping and
parlor cars, private cars and private car
lines. elevators, warehouses telegraph and
lines and all other equipment and
commonly used upon or Cp-
Grated as a part Of such rail OF combined
rail and water systems of trans portation
TO the end that such systems of transporta-
lion be utilized for he transfer and trans
portation of troops, war material and
Equipment to the exclusion SO far as such
exclusive use be not necessary or desirable,
such systems of transportation be operated
md utilized in the performance of such
,ther services as the national interest may
require and of the usual mad ordinary BUSH
less and duties of common carriers.
ut is hereby directed that the possession,
control, operation and utilization of such
systems hereby by me I'M
ertaken shall be exercised by and through
William G. McAdoo. who Is hereby APP
pointed and designated director-general of
ailroads. Said director-general may per-
orm the duties imposed upon him, SO long