Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-12-27
M'AD0O NAMED DIRECTOR
FOR ALL THE RAILROADS
power or authority to rearrange
charges or effect proper compensa-
tions and adjustments of earnings.
ADMIRABLE PUBLIC SPIRIT

tions and adjustments of earnings.
ADMIRABLE PUBLIC SPIRIT.
Several roads which were willingly
and with admirable public spirit ac-
cepting the orders of the committee,
have already suffered from these cir
cumstances and should not be required
to suffer further. In mere fairness to
them the full authority of the govern
ment must be substituted. The gov
eminent itself will thereby gain an
immense incease of efficiency in the
conduct of the war and of the innum-
cradle activities upon which it's sue
cessful conduct depends.
The public interest must be first
served, and in addition, the financial
interests of the government and the
financial interests Of the railways
must be brought under common d.
rection. The financial operations Of
the railways need not then interfere
with the borrowings of the government
and they themselves can be conducted
at greater advantage.
Investors in railway securities may
rest assured that their rights and in
terests will be as scrupulously looked
after by the government as they could
be by the directors of the several rail-
way systems. Immediately upon the
reassembling of congress I shall rec
commend that these definite guaran-
tees be given: First. Of course. that
the railway properties will be main
tanned during the period of federal
control in as good repair and as COM
plete equipment as when taken over
by the government; and, second, that
the roads shall receive a net operating
income equal in each case to the aver
age net income Of the three years pre-
ceding June 80, 1917. and am entirely
confident that the congress will be dis
posed in tbs 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
eminent must now use under it's own
direction or else suffer serious en-
| barrassment.
M'ADoo AT THE HEAD.
The SECRETARY of war and l are
agreed that, all the circumstances be-
ing taken into consideration, the best
results can be obtained under the i'm
mediate executive direction of the Hon.
William G. McAdoo, whose practical
experience peculiarly fits him for the
| service, anu WUOSe dulhOIlly dS bCc-
rotary of the treasury will enable him
to coordinate as no other man could
the many financial interests which will
be involved and which might, unless
systematically directed, suffer very
embarrassing entanglements.
J The government of the United States
is the only great government engaged
in the war which has not already as
sumed control of this sort. 1t was
thought to be in the spirit of American
institutions to attempt to do everything
that was necessary through private
management, and If zeal and ability
and patriotic motive could have ac-
complished the necessary unification
of administration, 1t would certainly
have been accomplished but no zeal
or ability could overcome insuperable
obstacles, and l have deemed it my
duty to recognize that fact in all can
dor now that it is demonstrated and to
use without reserve the great authority
reposed in me. A great national ne.
cessity dictated the action and | was
therefore not at liberty to abstain
from it.
WOODROW WILSON.
i THE PROCLAMATION.
Following is the presidents proc
lamation:
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 Ii
them, by joint resolution of the sen.
ate and house of representatives, bear.
ing date April s, 1917, resolved:
That the state of war between the
United States and the imperial Ger.
man government which has thus beer
J thrust upon the United States Is here.
by formally declared and that the
J president be, and he is hereby, au.
thorized and directed to employ the
entire naval and military forces O
the United States and the resource,
of the government to carry on wal
against the imperial German govern
ment; and to bring the conflict to {
| successful termination, all of the re
sources of the country are hereb,
pledged by the congress of the United
States.
And by joint resolution bearins
date Of December Z, 1917, resolved:
That state of war is hereby de
clared to exist between the United
States of America and the imperia
and royal Austro- Hungarian govern
ment; and that the president be, ant
he Is hereby authorized and directed
to employ the entire naval and mill
tary forces of the United States ant
the resources of the government t.
carry on war against the imperia
and royal Austro- Hungarian govern.
ment; and to bring the conflict to
successful termination. all the re
sources of the country are hereb,
pledged by the congress of the United
States.
And whereas It Is provided by sec
ton I of act approved August 20
1916, entitled An act making appro
, 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 4,