The Era-leader. [volume] (Franklinton, La.) 1910-current, 1918-01-10
WILSON ASKS LAWS
To AID R.R. CONTROL
ASKS coNeRRes TO CARE FOR
INTERESTS OF PUBLIC AND
OWNERS or RAILROADS.
ASSUMES RESPONSIBILITY
Joint Session Of Congress Hears
Presidents Message Outlining
Plan Of Taking Full Control
of Transportation Lines.

OF transportation Lines
Observation-Disclosures Wilson has
called upon congress to give him full
and unrestricted powers to conduct the
federal operation Of the countrys rail-
roads.
Before a joint session Of the House
and Senate Friday the President out
lined the initial step necessary to the
success Of Director General McAdoo's
administration It the lines. He ex-
planned that the action already taken
was necessary to secure the complete
mobilization Of TIE 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 Is 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.
It was a plain business message,
| taking but Is minutes to deliver, and
was received quietly by the legisla'
tors.
The President obviously sought to
quiet any possible unrest which might
J :esult 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-ordinated with the
financial operations Of the govern.
ment."
Immediately after the President
concluded, Representative Sims, chair.
man Of the House interstate commerce
committee, introduced 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 that
| on the 18th Of December last, during
the recess of congress, acting through
the secretary Of war and under the
authority conferred upon me by the
act Of congress approved August 29
l916, took possession and assumed
ooatlol Of the railway lines OF the
esunty and tAs system Of water
transportation u1lR their control
This stsp seemed 10 be imperatively
necessary in the interest Of the public
: welfare In the presence Of the grea,
tasks Of war with which we are now
dealing. As our own experience de
velops difficulties and makes it cleal
what they are, have deemed 1t my
, duty to remove those difficultie:
wherever l have the legal power to d.
so. TO assume control of the vas
railway systems of the country is.
realize, a very great responsibility
e but to fail to do so in the existing
/. circumstances would have been
!. much greater. | assumed the les!
: responsibility rather than the weight
: Ter.
Mobilize Resources.
i "I am sure that / am speaking thu
!. mi-d Of all thoughtful Americana
= ven say that it is our duty as tn
!, REPRESENTATIVES Of the nation, to d.
= everything that 1t Is necessary to do Il
secure the complete mobilization o
y the whole resources Of America by q
q rand and effsetive means as can b
, found. Transportation supplies all tn
u arteries Of mobilization. Unless it b
l, under a single sAd unified direction
IS the whole process Of the nation
h action is embarrassed.
"a ut was in the true spirit OF Americ
\ and It was right, that We should firs
. try to effect the necessary unlfics
x tion under the voluntary action Q
n those who we're in charge Of the grea
railway properties; and we did try i
II The directors Of the railways responi
ed to the need promptly and generous
p " The group of railway executive
ut who were charged with the task
,e actual coordination and general dire
\, tion performed their difficult dutle
- with patriotic zeal and marked abl
:" ity as was to have been expected an
10 did, / believe. everything that 1t wa
Ill possible for them to do in the circun
o. stances. II have taken the task OF
"a of their hands, it has not been D
49, cause Of any dsreliction or failure Q
eI their part, but only because there wei
er some things which the government ca
" do and private management canno
ke We shall continue to value most mig
~ " the advice and assistance OF the'
:. gentlemen, and am sure We shall n'
" find them withholding it.
as viii Be No Discrimination.
"1t has become unmistakably pla
that only under government admin
mr.