The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1918-01-11
TEXT If WILSyh'5
TALK TO CONGRESS
ON RAIL CONTROL

President Wilson has laid before
Congress. assembled in joint session.
his recommendations for carrying out
government operation of railroads.
Bills TO carry out the Presidents
ideas already had been prepared un-
der tho supervision Of the Department
OF Justice and were Immediately intro
duced with plans for prompt consider
alton in both House and Senate.
The President spoke as follows:
Gentlemen Of the congress-:
have asked the privilege of al
dressing YOU in order to report that
on the 18th day OF December last.
during the recess Of congress, lasting
through the secretary Of war and iin-
der the authority conferred upon me
by the act Of congress approved Aug.
90. 1916, | took possession and as
sumed control of the railway lincs
of the country and the systems OF
water transportation under their con
troll. This step seemed to be impera-
lively necessary In the interest OF
tho public welfare in the presence
Of the great tasks Of war with which
we are now dealing.
AS our experience develops diff.
cuities and makes it clear what they
are, ! have deemed 1t my duty to
remOvc those difficulties wherever !
have the legal power to do SO. To
assume control OF the vast railway
systems OF the country is, I realize,
a very heavy responsibility, but to
fail to do so in the existing circum-
stances would have been a much
greater. ! assumed the less response
bility rather than the weightier.
Must Mobilize Resources.
] am sure that | am speaking the
mind OF all thoughtful Americans
when say that 1t is our duty to do
everything that it Is necessary to do
to secure their complete mobilization
OF Che whole resources Of America
by as rapid and effective means as
can be found. Transportation sup
plies all the arteries of mobilization.
Unless it be under a single and uni
fled direction the Whole process OF the
nations action is embarrassed II
was in the true spirit of America and
it was right, that we should first try
10 effect the necessary unification
under the voluntary action OF those
who were in charge of the great rail
way properties; and we did try il.
The directors Of the railways respond
ed to the need promptly and gener-
Dusty. The group Of railway execu-
tiyes who were charged with the
task Of actual coordination and gen.
eral direction performed their diff
cuit duties with patriotic zeal and
marked ability, as was to have been
expected, and did, l believe. every
thing that ii was possible for them
to do in the circumstances.
If | lave taken tho task out Of their
hands it has not been because OF
any dereliction or failure on their
part. but only because there were
some things which the government
a do and the present management
cannot. We shall continue to value
most highly the advice and assist
ance Of these gentlemen and | am
sure we shall not find them with
holding it.
Government Control Only Solution.
1t had become Enthusiastically plain
that only under government admins.
tration can the entire equipment OF
the several systems OF transporta-
ton be fully and unrescryedly thrown
into a common service without in
JnrinuC fiCcrinaiYafinr 1ooincf no r.
ticular pI properties. Only under gov
eminent administration can an abso-
lltely unrestricted and unembar-
raised ommon use be made Of all
tracks. terminals, terminal facilities
and equipment Of every kind. Only
under that authority can new term
inals be constructed and developed
without regard to the requirements
or limitations OF particular roads.
But under the government all these
things will be possible-not instantly,
but Us fast as practical difficulties,
which cannot be merely conjured away
give way before the new management.
The common administration will be
carried out with as little disturbance
Of present operating organizations and
personnel Of the railways as possible.
Nothing will be altered or disturbed
which 1t is rot necessary to disturb.
We are serving the public interest and
safeguarding the public safety. but we
are also regardful Of the interest Of
those by whom these great properties
arc owned and glad to avail ourselves
OF the experience and trained ability
Of those who have been managing
them.
War Traffic First Consideration.
Il Is necessary that the