Le MeschaceÌbeÌ. [volume] ([Lucy] La.) 1853-1942, 1918-01-05
GOvERNMNET WILL
OPERATE ALL OF The
NATIONS RAILWAYS
PRESIDENT BY PROCLAMATION
TAKES OVER RoADs-McADoo
NAMED DIRECTOR GENERAL.
POSSESSION DEC. 2S
Every Railroad Engaged In General
Transportation With Its Appurte-
nances, Including Steamship Lines,
Under Government Control.

Washington. - Government posses
sion and operation of the nations raj
roads for the war was proclaimed b,
President Wilson Wednesday, effec
tive at noon Friday, December %.
William G. McAdoo, retaining hi
place in the cabinet as secretary o
the treasury, is placed in charge as di
rector general of railroads.
Every railroad engaged in genera
transportation with its appurtenances
including steamships, is taken Over
and all systems will be operated as
one under the director general.
Following is the presidents proc
lamation:
by the president of the United
States-A proclamation:
Whereas, the congress of the Unit
ed States in the exercise of the con,
stitutiona1 authority vested in them,
by 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 en-
tire naval and military forces of the
United States and the resources of
the government to carry on war
against the imperial German govern
ment, and to bring the conflict to a
successful termination, all of the re
sources of the country are hereby
pledged by the congress of the United
States
And by joint resolution bearing
date of December Z, 1917, resolved:
Renews War Declarations.
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,
and to bring the conflict to a success
full termination all the resources of
the country are hereby pledged by the
congress of the United States
And, whereas, it is provided by
section of the act approved August
20, 1915, entitled an act making ap-
preparations for the support of the
army for the fiscal year ending June
30, 1917, and for other purposes, as
follows:
The president in time of war is
empowered through the secretary of
war to take possession and assume
control of any system or systems of
TRANSPORTATION, or any part thereof,
and - utilize the same to the exclu-
sion as far as may be necessary of
all other traffic thereon for the trans
fer or transportation of troops, war
material and equipment, or for such
other purposes connected with the
emergency as may be needful or de-
sirable'
"And, whereas, 1t 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 exclusion as
far as may be necessary of other than
war traffic thereon, for the transpor-
tation of troops, war material and
equipment therefor, and for other
needful and desirable purposes con-
nected with the prosecution of the
war.
Nov. therefore, ], Woodrow VIII
son, president of the United States.
under and by virtue of the powers
vested In me by the foregoing resolu-
ions and statute and by virtue of all
other powers thereto me enabling. do
hereby, through Newton D. Baker, sec
'etary OF war, take possession and as
,ume control at IL o'clock noon on the |
18th day of December, 1917, Of each |
md every system Of transportation |
md the appurtenances thereof located |
wholly or In part within the boun-
laries of the continental United States
nd consisting Of railroads owned or
controlled, systems of coastwise and
inland transportation, engaged in gen.
raj transportation, whether operated
y steam or electric power, including
Iso terminals, terminal companies
nd terminal associations, sleeping
nd parlor cars, private cars and pri-
ate lines, elevators. warehouses, tele-
Taph and telephone lines and all
ther equipment and appurtenances