The Ordway new era., 1918-01-04
TAKING OVER CONTROL OF ALL
RAILWAYS IN NAME OF
THE NATION.
NOT TO IMPAIR RIGHTS
Takes Possession Under Provision of
Army Appropriation Act of
Aug. 90, 1916.
western Newspnper Union News servlce.

| Western Newspaper Union News Service
Washington, Dec. 27.- President
Wilson issued the following proclama-
ton:
Whereas, The Congress of the Unit
ed States. in the exercise of the con-
stituticral 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 Unit
ed States and the resources of the
government to carry on war against
the imperial German government; and
to bring the conflict to successful
termination, all of the resources of the
country are hereby pledged by the
Congress of the United States.
War Declared on Austria.
And by joint resolution bearing date
of Dec. Z, 1917, resolved,
That 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 be 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;
Il to, 1. Is.4 L.
full termination all the resources of
the country are hereby pledged by the
Congress of the United S.ates. And,
Whereas, 1t is provided by Sec. /
of the act approved Aug 20, 1916, en-
titled "An act making appropriations
for the support of the army for the
fiscal year ending June 30, 1917, end
for other purposes" as follows:
The President, in time of war, is
empowered, through the secretary of
var, to take possession and assume
control of any system or systems of
transportation, or any part thereof,
and to Utilize the same, to the exclu-
sion as far a. 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 emer-
To Utilize Transportation System.
And, whereas, it 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 material
and equipment therefor, and other
needful and desirable purposes, con-
nected with the prosecution of the
war;
Now, therefore, !, Woodrow Wilson.
President of the United States. under
and by virtue of the powers vested in
me by the foregoing resolutions and
statute, and by virtue of all other
powers thereto me enabling, do here
by, through Newton ID. Baker, secre.
tary OF war, take possession and as
sumo control, at 10 O'Clock noon on
the 2Sth day of December, 1917. of
each and every system of transporta-
ion and the appurtenances thereof,
ocated wholly or in part within the
boundaries of the continental United
states and consisting of railroads,
ma owned or controlled systems of ,
,oastwise and inland transportation.
'h5"S'N III transportation,
whether operated by steam or by cleo /
ric power, including also terminals.
criminal companies and terminal as ,
'ociatioas, sleeping and parlor cars, +
private cars and private car lines. r
elevators. warehouses, telegraph and :
elephone lines and all other equip :
nent and appurtenances commonly :
lsed upon or operated as a part of T
uch rail or combined rail and water
ystems of transportation to be uti-
lied for the transfer and transporta-
ion of troops, war material and eauip-
nent to the exclusion so far as may
re necessary of all other traffic there
n; and that so far as such exclusive 4,
se be not necessary or desirable, :,
uch systems of transportation be op-
rated and utilized in the performance .
+ such other services as the national D
interest may require and of the usual I
nd ordinary business and duties of v
ommon carriers. C
BY William G. McAdoo u
1t is hereby directed that the pos
ession. control, operation and utiliza-
on of such transportation systems p
ereby by me undertaken shall be ex- Ii
rcised by and through William G. Nc b
doc, who is hereby appointed and 81
BoIshevik Emissary Seeks Peace