Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1918-01-10
ASKS CONGRESS TO CARE FOR
INTERESTS or PUBLIC AND
OWNERS OF RAILROADS.
ASSUMES RESPONSIBILITY
Joint Session Of Congress Hears
Presidents Message Outlining
Plan Of Taking Full Control
OF Transportation Lines.

and unrestricted powers TO conduct the
federal operation of the country's rail-
roads
Before Joint session OF the House
and Senate Friday the President out
lined the initial step necessary to the
success OF Director General McAdoos
administration OF the lines lie ex
planned that the action already taken
was necessary to secure the complete
mobilization OF the whole resources Of
America by as rapid and effective
means as can be found" Private in
terests. he said, must for the present
give way TO the public necessity"
This IL what he asked:
Necessary means for protecting the
interests OF railroad stockholders.
Measures to protect travellers and
safeguard private shippers.
Compensation for the railroads based
on the average net railway operating
income OF three years ending June 80.
1917.
II was a plain business message,
taking but rs minutes to deliver. and
was received quietly by the legisla
tors.
The President obviously sought 10
quiet any possible unrest which might
result from the sweeping action OF
the government
1T is of the utmost consequence to
the government ITSELF" he said. that
all great financial operations be
stabilized and co-ord!nated with the
financial operations of the govern.
| ment"
Immediately after the President
concluded. Representative Sims. chair
man OF the House Interstate commerce
committee, introduced a bill carrying
out the Presidents recommendations
The message follows:
Gentlemen Of the Congress:
have asked the privilege Of address
ing you in order to report TO you tina
on the 2Sth OF December last, durinl
the recess OF congress. acting through
the secretary OF war and under tn
} authority conferred upon me by tn
act OF congress approved August %
1916, ! took possession and assumed
} control OF the railway lines OF tn,
country and the system OF waite
| transportation under their control
This step seemed to be imperativell
necessary 81 the interest OF the publ,
welfare in the presence Of the grea
tasks OF war with which we are nov
dealing. As our own experience de
velops difficulties and makes it clear
what they are. have deemed Il my
/ IN a
wherever have the legal power to dc
so. To assume control Of the vas:
railway systems OF the country Is.
realize. a very great responsibility
but 20 fail 10 do so In the existing
circumstances would have been a
much greater. assumed the less
responsibility rather than the weight.
Ter.
Mobilize Resources.
81 am sure that | am speaking the
mind OF AL thoughtful Americans
when ! say that Il Is our duty as the
representatives of the nation. to do
everything that II Ia necessary TO do 20
secure the complete mobilization Of
the whole resources OF America by a.
rapid and effective means as can be
found Transportation supplies all the
arteries OF mobilization Unless Il be
under a single and unified direction,
the whole process OF the nations
action is embarrassed.
1T was In the true spirit OF America
and II was right that we should first
try TO effect the necessary unifica-
tion under the voluntary action Il
those who were in charge OF the great
railway properties: and we did try il.
The directors OF the railways respond.
ed 10 the need promptly and generous.
ly. The group OF railway executive
who were charged with the task of
actual coordination and general direc.
ton performed their difficult duties
! with patriotic zeal and marked abll-
ity, as was to have been expected. and
did, | believe, everything that d was
possible for them TO do In the circum-
stances. II have taken the task out
of their hands Il has not been be.
cause OF any deroliction or failure on
their part. but only because there were
some things which the government can
do and private management cannot
/ We shall continue To value most high.
ly the advice and assistance OF these
| gentlemen. and ! am sure we shall not
find them Withholding II.
Will Be No Discrimination.
1T has become unmistakably plain
that only under government admins
tration can the entire equipment OF
the several systems Of transportatioa
be fully and unreseryedly thrown into
common service without injurious
discrimination against particular prop
critics. Only under government admin.
I istration can an absolutely unrestftct-
ed 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 de
yeloped without regard to the require
ments OF limitations of particular
roads. Hut under government admin
istration all these things win be pos
sible-not instantly. but As fast as