The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1918-01-10
PRESIDENT TELLS
RAILROAD PLAN
Outlines Method of Government
Operation.
ASKS FOR FAIR TREATMENT
Says Complete War Service Can Only
Be Given by Putting All Carriers
Under Government Control
Urges Prompt Action.

Urges prompt action.
Washington Jan. 5.--The admins
tration's policy in regard to the gov
eminent control of the railroads was
outlined by President Wilson in an adj
dress delivered at a Joint session of
the two houses Of congress yesterday.
Bills to carry out the presidents
ideas already had been prepared under
the supervision Of the department of
Justice and we're Immediately intro
duced with plans for prompt consid-
Grafton in both house and senate.
The president spoke as follows:
Gentlemen Of the Congress: ! have
asked the privilege Of addressing you
In order to report that on the 2Sth of
December last, during the recess of
congress- acting through the secretary
of war and under the authority con
ferred upon me by the act of congress
approved August 20, 1916 | took pos
session and assumed control of the
systems Of water transportation under
their control. This step seemed to be
imperatively necessary in the interest
Of the public welfare. in the presence
of the great tasks Of war with which
we are now dealing.
"As our experience develops difficult
ties and makes il clear what they are.
! have deemed 1t my duty ~ remove
those difficulties wherever | have the
legal power to do 40. To assume con
troll of the vast railway systems OF the
country is, | realize, very heavy re-
sponsibllity, but to fail to do so in the
existing circumstances would have
been a much greater. | assumed the
lesser responsibility rather than the
weigttier.
Complete Mobilization Needed.
II am sure that | am speaking the
mind of all thoughtful Americans when
| say that il Is our duty as the repre-
sentatives Of the nation to do every
thing that it Is necessary TO do to Sc
cure the complete mobilization of the
whole resources of America by as rap
id and effective means as can be
found. transportation supplies all the
arteries of mobilization. Unless II be
under q single and unified direction
the whole process Of the nations ac-
ton is embarrassed.
at was in the true spirit of America
and II was right that we should first
try 10 effect the necessary unifcation
under the voluntary action of those
who We're in charge of the great rail
way properties; and we did try II. The
directors of the railways responded to
the need promptly and generously.
Praises Railway Executives.
1.-THE group Of railway executives
who were charged with the task of
actual coordination and general direc-
tion with patriotic zeal and marked
ability, as was to have been expected,
and did, | believe, everything that it
was possible for them to do in the cir
cumStanCes. IF have taken the task
out of their hands it has not been be-
cause Of any dereIiction or failure on
their part, but only because there were
some things which the government can
do and present management cannot.
We shall continue to value most highly
the advice and assistance of these gen.
tlemen, and am sure we shall not find
them Withholding 1t.
Government Control Needed.
ut had become Enthusiastically plain
that only under government admins
tration can the entire equipment Of
The several systems of transportation
be fully and undreservedly thrown into
common service without injuri-
Gus discrimination against particular
properties. Only under government
administration can an absolutely I'M
restricted and unembarrassed common
use be made Of all tracks. terminals,
terminal facilities and equipment of
every kind. Only under that authority
can new terminals be constructed and
developed without regard to the re-
quirements or limitations Of particular
roads. But under government admin
istration all these things will be pos
sible-not instantly, but as fast as
practical difficulties which cannot be
merely conjured away give way before
the new Management.
Little Disturbance as Possible
"The common administration will be
carried out with as little disturbance
of the present operating organizations
and personnel Of the railways as pos
sble. Nothing will be altered or dis
turbed which It Is not necessary to dis
turb. We are serving the public inter
est and safeguarding the public safety.
but we are also regardful of the inter
est of those by whom these great prop
critics are owned and glad to avail our
selves of the experience and trained