Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1917-12-27
j. 6. MAY ALSO
TAKE OVER ALL
EXPRESS LINES
CONGRESS WILL BE ASKED FOR
TWO HUNDRED MILLIONS WITH
WHICH TO BUY NEW EQUIP
MENT AT ONCE.

WASHINGTON, d. c., Dec. 81
President Wilson announced last night
that he will assume possession and
operation of every railroad in the con-
tinental United States at noon, Friday,
December %, and that he had appoint
ed Secretary McAdoo director general
of railroads.
Secretary McAdoo, whose appoint
ment is made by formal proclamation,
is expected to direct the unification
and operation of the roads through
their present managements. He will
retain his place in the cabinet as sec
retary of the treasury.
In statement accompanying his
proclamation, the president announced
that when congress re-assembled he
would ask that definite guarantees be
given that the railroad properties viii
be maintained in as good repair and
as complete equipment as when taken
over. and that the net operating in
come in each case shall equal the ay-
erage net operating income of three
wears preceding June 80, 1917
The railroads will be taken over un-
der war authority already granted by
congress, through the secretary OF
war.
The plan of control as outlined in
the proclamation and statement leaves
much unsaid as to details, but the gen.
eral scheme appears to follow closely
the British system IN England, how
ever, government freight is carried
free and the guaranteed earnings re-
ouire an enormous amount of money
from government funds, while in the
United States the government will pay
for it's freight as nthe past and will
stand its part of increased freight ta-
riffs if they are found to be necessary.
Every railroad engaged in general
TRANSPORTATION with appurtenances, in
GLIDING steamship lines, is taken over
and all systems will be operated as
one under the director general.
Direct management of the roads will
remain in the hands of railroad
officials and the railroad board, com
prised Of five railroad heads, will con-
tinue to direct actual operations under
Secretary McAdoo's general supervis-
ion.
Securities to be issued while the
government is in control of the rail-
roads will not bear less than 4 per
cent. interest, and the president will
ask congress to empower the govern
ment to buy any quantity of new Sc
curities. All of the earnings over and
above an amount yet to be agreed up-
on will go into the government treas
ury. Congress will also be asked to
appropriate large fund, probably to-
falling two hundred million dollars,
for the immediate supplying of ROLLING
stocks which will enable the roads to
hande the flood of traffic which has
swamped the various systems.
The director general will have au-
tbority to decide whether or not the
government shall also assume opera
tion and control of the express com
panies.
In his dual position, Secretary Nc
Adoo will be in position to pass on
securities issued, as well as on inter
state raes charged 1t will also be his
duty to determine when the govern
ment shall purchase new railroad se-
crrities and by this plan prevent
the purchase Of railroad securities in.
terfering with the fiotation of future
issue of Liberty bonds, without neo-
essitating~actual government financing
? of the roads