The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1918-01-10
WILSON TELLS Of.
| HIS RAIL POLICY
PRESIDENT WANTS PROPER RE.
TURNS TO THE ROADS.
FAIR TREATMENT FOR OWNERS
Declares Complete War Service Can
Only Be Given by Putting All Car
riers Under Control Of Govern
ment--Urges Prompt
Action.

washington, Jan. GA Dill carry
Ing out the suggestions of President
Wilson that the earnings Of the rail-
roads be guaranteed by the govern
ment on a basis Of the average net
railway operating income of the three
years ending June 80, 1917, was intro
duced in the house by Representative
Sims, chairman of the house interstate
commerce committee. The house win
make the bill special order.
The bill is entitled "a bill to provide
for operation Of transportation sysr
TENS while under federal control, for
the just compensation of their owners
and for other purposes"
Washington, Jan. 5.-Congress was
asked by President Wilson TO guaran-
tee the value of the existing railway
securities. to, the nation. The basis Of
guarantee fixed by him was the aver
age net railway operating income Of
the three years ending June 80, 1917.
The president called for speedy ac-
tion along this line to protect the hold
ers Of the "ten or eleven thousand mill
lions" Of existing securities. BY do
ing this, he explained, congress will
safeguard the financial structure of the
nation and will prevent railroads re-
funding plans interfering with the
financing of the war. The president
asked no money from congress for Inn
mediate financing of operations. new
equipment and the. like. He made, II
plain, however, that such operations
will be necessary, He also made II
plain that suspension of private owner
ship and operation of the railroads
had been necessary to meet the great
problems raised by the war. But in
explaining this he paid tribute to the
good work done by the railway exec
utives themselves. And he expressed
hope, that they would continue to serve
under federal control
The Presidents Message.
Gentlemen of the Congress: I
have asked the privilege of addressing
you In order to report to you that on
the oSth of December last, during the
recess of congress, acting through the
secretary of war and under the au-
thority conferred upon me by the act
of congress, approved August 20, 1916,
took possession and assumed con-
troll of the railway lines of the coqn-
try and the systems of water trans
portation under their control. This
step seemed to be imperativelY neces-
sary in the interest of the public well
fare. in the presence of the great task
of war with which we are now dealing.
AS our own experience develops diff
ficultles and makes ii clear what they
are, ! have deemed 1t my duty to re-
move these difficulties wherever have
the legal power to do so. To assume
control Of the vast railway system of
the country is. realize, very great
responsibility, but to fail. to do so in
the existing circumstances would have
been much greater. I assumed the
less responsibility rather than the
greater.
II am sure that I am speaking the
mind Of all thoughtful Americans when
/ say that 1t is our duty as the repre-
sentatives of the nation to do every
thing that 1t Is necessary to do to Sc
cure the complete mobilization Of the
whole resources Of America by as rap
I'd and effective means MS can he found.
unless 1t be under single and
united direction. the whole process
of the nations action Is embarrassed.
ut was In the true spirit of, America,
and 1t was right that we should first
to effect the. necessary unifieation UNI
der the voluntary action of those who
were In charge of the great railways
properties; and we did try 1t. The d.
rectors of the railways responded to
the need promptly and generously. The
group Of railway executives who are
charged with the task of actual CO.
ordination and general direction per-
formed their, difficult duties with pa
triotic Zeal and marked ability. as was
TO have been expected, and did, be-
lieve, everything that 1t was possible
for them to do. In the circumstances.
If had to take. the task out OF their
hands, 1t has not been because of any
dereliction or failure on their. part, but
only because there were some things
which the government can do and prl-
vate management cannot.
1--WE shall continue to value most
highly the advice and assistance Of
these gentlemen and ! am sure we
shall not find them withholding 1t.
at had become Enthusiastically plain
that only under government admins
tration can the entire equipment of
I the several systems Of transportation
be fully and unreservedly thvown into
a common service without injurious
discrimination against particular prop
critics. Only under government admin
istration can an, absolutely unrestrain-
ed and unembarrassed common use be
made Of all tracks, terminals, terminal
facilities and equipment of every kind.
Only under that authority can new ter
minais be constructed and developed
without regard to the requirements or
limitations Of particular roads. But
under government administration all
these things will be possIble--not In
AL 81 l.