The Washington herald., 1917-12-27
Presidents Proclamation.

Ynployes.'
Presidents Proclamation.
Whereas, The Congress Of the United
States, in the exercise of the consti-
tutional authority vested in them, by
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 Ger
man government which has thus been
thrust upon the United States is here
by formally declared: and that the
President be, and he Is hereby. author
lied and directed TO employ the entire
naval and military forces of the Uni
ted States and the resources OF the
government to carry on war against
the imperial German government: and
to bring the conflict to n 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 !, 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
ment: and that the President he. and
he is hereby. authorized and directed
to employ the entire naval and mill
tary 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 cOnnict to a success
full termination, all the resources of
the country are hereby pledged by the
CnnUrnEC NJ tho ITnitAI
And, whereas, It is provided by Sec
ton ! of the act approved August %,
1916. entitled, IAN act making appro-
priations for the support of the army
for the fiscal year ending June 50. 1917,
and for other purposes" as follows:
1.-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 exclusion 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 emergen-
cy as may be needful or desirable
And, whereas. 1t 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 exclu-
sion as far as may be necessary of
other than war traffic thereon, for the
transportation Of troops, war mate
rial and equipment therefor, and for
other needful 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 resolution and stat
ute, and by virtue of all other
powers thereto me enabling, do
hereby, through Newton ID.
Baker, Secretary OF War, take
possession and assume control
mt II o'clock noon on the twen-
ty-eighth day of December,
1917. Of each and every system
OF transportation and the ap-
purtenances thereof located
boundaries of the continental
United States md consisting of
railroads, and owned or con-
"oiicu sybtemB Ot cOusvW1se ana
inland transportation, engaged
In general transportation,
whether operated BY steam or
by electric power, including
also terminals, terminal COM
panies and terminal associa-
tlons, sleeping and parlor cars.
private cars and privnte car
lines, elevators, warehouses,
telegraph and telephone lines
and all other equipment and
nppurtenances commonly used
upon or operated as n part OF
such rail or combined rail and
water systems OF transportn-
tion, to the end that such sys-
tens of transportation be utI-
iised for the transfer and trans-
portation OF troops, war mater
iai and equipment, to the ex-
EI09Ion 70 far a. may ne neces- :