The Washington herald., 1917-12-27

sary Of all other tranic there
OnI and that 20 far ne such eX-
elusive use be not necessary or
desirable, such systems of
transportation be operated aud
utilized In the performance of
such other services as the ma
tIonaI interest may require and
of the usual and ordinary bust
ness and duties Of common car
rIers.
1t is hereby directed that the pos
session. control. operation and uti-
lization OF such transportation sys-
tens hereby by me undertaken shall
be exercised by and through VIM.
G. McAdoo, who 10 hereby appoint
ed and designated Director General
of Railroads. Said director may
perform the duties imposed upon
him, SO long and to such extent as
he shall determine. through the
board OF directors. receiver Of
tiCers and employees OF saiA 'eF-
OF transportation. ''Rr' - =,
so far as said dlrcc, = 1GIi Il, u
time to time by gene. / or EpS al
orders otherwise provide, the
boards OF directors. receivers. Of
ficers and employees OF the various
transportation systems shall con-
tinue the operation thereof in the
usual and ordinary course OF the
business Of common carriers. in the
names Of their respective compan-
les.
Until and except so far as said
director shall from time to ume
otherwise by general or special or
ders determine. such. systems OF
transportation shall remain subject
10 all existing statutes and orders
OF the Interstate Commerce Com
mission. and to all statutes and or
ders OF regulating commissions of
the various States in which said
systems or any part thereof may
be situated. But any orders, gen.
eral or special. hereafter made by
said director. shall have paramount
authority and be obeyed as such.
Nothing herein shaIl be con-
strued as now affecting the pos
session. operation and control
of street electric passenger rail-
why's, including railways COM
monty called .interurbnns.
whether such railways be or be
not owned or controlled by such
BY subsequent order and proc
lnmatiOn, IL and when 1t shall
be found necessary or desirable
possession, control, or opera
tiOn may be taken OF all or any
part of such street railway sys-
tens, including subways and
tunnels; and by subsequent or
der and proclamation possess-
whole or I'm part may also be
rellnqulshed to the owners
thereof of any part of the rail-
road systems or rail and water
systems, possession and control
Of which are hereby assumed.
The director shall as soon as may
be after having assumed such pos
session and control enter upon ne
gotiations with the several compan-
les looking to agreements for just
and reasonable compensation for
the possession, use and control of
their respective properties on the
basis of an annual guaranteed
compensation. above accruing de-
probation and the maintenance OF
their properties, equivalent, as
nearly as may be, to the average OF
the net operating income thereof
for the three year period ending
June 80. 1917-the results Of such
negotiations to be reported to me
for such action as may be appro.
pirate and lawful.
But nothing herein contained. ex-
pressed or implied. or hereafter
done or suffered hereunder, shall b.
deemed in any way to impair thu
rights of the stockholders, bond.
holders, creditors and other per.
sons having interests in said sys