The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-12-27


the transportation systems of the
country which were granted me by
act Of congress Of August, 1915, be-
cause 1t has become imperatively
necessary for me to do so. This Is a
war Of resources no less than of men,
perhaps even more than of men, and
1t is necessary for the complete mob
ilization Of our resources that the
/ transportation systems OF the coun-
try should be organized and employed
under single authority and a sim
plifted method of coordination which
have not proved possible under priv
ate management, and control. The
| committee of railway executives who
have been cooperating with the
government in this all-important
matter have done the utmost that 1t
was possible for them to do; have
done it with patriotic zeal and with
great ability; but there were diff
culTies that they could neither escape
nor neutralize. Complete unity Of
administration in the present circum-
stances involves upon occasion and
at many points a serious dislocation
OF earnings, and the committee was,
of course, without power or authority
to rearrange charges or effect proper
compensations and adjustments of
earnings. Several roads which were
4 DUUAAC
spirit accepting the orders Of the
from these circumstances and should
not be required to suffer further. In
mere fairness to them, the full au-
/ thority Of the government must be
substituted. The government itself
will thereby gain an immense in
crease Of efficiency in the conduct Of
the war, and Of the innumerahle &C
tivities upon which its successful
conduct depends.
Public Interest First.
'HThe 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 a common dt-
rection. The financial operations of
the railways need not, then interfere
with the borrowings Of the govern
ment, and they themselves can be
conducted at a 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 by the
directors of the several railroad sys-
TENS. Immediately upon the reas-
sembling Of congress, l shall recon-
mend that these definite guarantees
be given: First, Of course, that the
railway properties will be maintained
during the period Of federal control
in as good repair and as complete
equipment as when taken over by the
government and, second, that the
roads shall receive net operating
income equal in each case to the aV-
erage net income of the three years
preceding June 80, 1917; and / am
entirely confident that the congress
viii be disposed iA this case, as in
others, to see that justice is done and
| fun security assured to the owners
and creditors of the great systems
which the government must now use
under its own direction or else suIer
serious embarrassment.
McAdoo As Director.
THE secretary of war and are
agreed that, all the circumstances
being taken into consideration, the
best results can be obtained unoeL
the immediate executive direction or
the Hon. William G. McAdoo, whose
practical experience peculiarly fts
him for the service and whose au-
thority as secretary Of the treasury
viii 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.
States is the only great government
now engaged in the war, which has
not already assumed control or TINS
| sort. 1t was thought to be in the
spirit of American institutions to at
| tempt to do everything that was nee
essary through private management
and IL skill and ability and patriotlc
motive could have accomplished the
necessary unification of administra-
ton. il would certainly have been &C
complished: but no skill or ablilty
could overcome insuperable obstacles
and I have deemed it my duty 10
recognize that fact in all candor now
that it is demonstrated and 70 use
without reserve the great authority
reposed in me. A great national ne
cessity dictated the action and was
| therefore at liberty to take It.
WOODROW WILSON"
The Proclamation.
Following is the Presidents procla-
sBy the President Of the United
States of America.
"a proclamation:
Whereas, the congress Of the
United States in the exercise or the
constitutional authority vested IN
them, by joint resolution or the sem
ate and house of representatives,
/ hearing 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
il hereby formally declared; ana
/ that the President be and he is here
nv authorized and directed to employ
the entire naval and military forces
of the United States and the re-
sources of the government TO carry
on war against the imperial German
government, and to bring the con-
/ fiict to a 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 Dec. Z, 1917, resolved:
THAT q state of war is hereby
declared to exist between the United
/ States of America and the imperlal
and royal Austro- Hungarian govern
ment; and that the President be, and
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
1 Austro- Hungarian government, and
"a bring the conflict to a successful
/ Termination all the resources of the
country are hereby pledged by the
congress of the United States.
And whereas it is provided by
section / OF the act approved Aug.
%. 1915. entitled IAN act making ap-
i propriations for the support OF the
army for the fiscal year ending june
Il so. 1917, and for other purposes, as
follows.
Power to Assume Control.
1.-THE President in time Of war, is
empowered through the secretary OF
M .rar tn take nosaesslan and assume