Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-12-27
THE PROCLAMATION

Washington. Dec. 28.--President Will
sons proclamation that he will assume
possession and operation Of the railroads
of Continental United States Friday at
noon is as follows
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNI
TED STATES or AMERICA:
"a proclamation:
'Whereas, The Congress of the Uni
ted States in the exercise Of the consti-
tutional authority vested in them, Dy
joint resolution of the Senate and House
of Representatives bearing date April
6, 1917, resolved
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 for
mally 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 resources of the government to carry
war against the imperial German
government: and to bring the conflict
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 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 Austro- Hungarian
government and to bring the conflict
to successful termination, all the re-
sources Of the country are hereby
pledged by the Congress of the United
States.
And, whereas. it is provided by section
one of the act approved August 20.
ont lad 1rt
priations for the support of the army for
the fiscal year ending June 80. 1917 and
for other purposes, as follows:
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 transporta-
ton, or any part thereof. and to utilize
the same, to the exclusion as far as
may be necessary of all other traffic
thereon, for the transfer or transpOrta-
tion Of troops, war material and equip
ment to the exclusion SO far as may
be necessary Of all other traffic there
on; and that so far as such exclusive
use be not necessary or desirable such
systems of transportation be operated
and utilized.
And whereas, IT has now become
necessary in the national defense to take
possession and to assume control Of GER
tain 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 transporta tion
OF troops, war material and equipment
therefor. and for the other needfui and
desirable purposes connected 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 Decem-
Der, 1917. of each and every system of
transportation and the appurtenances
thereof located wholly or in part within
the boundaries of the Continental Uni
ted States and consisting of railroa ds
and owned or controlled system of coast
wise and inland transportation, engaged
in general transportation, whether oper-
ated by steam or by electric power, in
Guiding also terminals, terminal com.
panies and terminal associations sleep
ing and parlor cars. private cars and
private car lines, elevators. warehouses
telegraph and telephone lines and al
other equipment and appurtenances com
monty used upon or operated as a par
of such rail or combined rail and watel
systems OF transportation: to the enc
that such systems of transportation b,
utilized for the transfer and transpor
tation OF troops. war material and equip
ment to the exclusion SO far as sucl
exclusive use be not necessary or desir
able, such systems Of transportation b
operated and utilized in the perform
ance Of such other services as the ma
Il tional interest may require and OF tn
Il usual and ordinary business and dutie
i of common carriers.
1T is hereby directed that the posses
sion, control, operation and utllizatIo
/ of such transportation systems hereb
/ by me undertaken shall be exercised b
and through William G. MScAdoo, wh
Is hereby appointed and designate
| director general Of railroads Said direc
tor may perform the duties impose
/ upon him. SO long and to such exten
/ as he shall determine, through tn