, 1918-01-03

rot the DOarQ OF directors IeSoi'
ers, officers and employees of sale sys-
tens of transportation. Until n ex-
cept so far as said director shan,
from time to time by general or spe
cial orders otherwise provide, the
boards OF directors. receivers, Officers
and employees of the various transpor.
tation systems shall continue the op-
Grafton thereof in the usual and ordin'
airy course of business of common car
riers, in the names of their respective
companies.
Until and except so far as said di-
rectors shall from time to time other
wise by general or special orders de
termine, such systems of Transports
ton shall remain subject to all exist
ing statutes and orders of the Inter
state Commerce Commission, and to
all statutes and orders of regulating
commissions of the various states in
which said systems or any part there
of may be situated. But any orders,
general or special, hereafter made by
said director, shall have paramount au-
thority and be obeyed as such.
Does Not Affect Tramways.
Nothing herein shall be construed
as now affecting the possession, op-
tIdIlOh dllu COiltloi VI 5titcN i'SsAN
passenger railways, including rail-
Ways commonly called interurbans,
whether such railways be or be not
owned or controlled by such railroad
companies or systems. By subsequent
order and proclamation, if and when
it shall be found necessary or desir-
able, possession, control or operation
may be taken of all or any part OF
such street railway systems, including
subways and tunnels, and by subse-
quent order and proclamation, posses
sion. control and operation in whole
or in part may also be relinquished
to the owners thereof of any part of
the railroad systems or rail n water
systems, possession n control of
which + hereby assumed.
The director shall as soon as may
be after having assumed such posses
sion and control enter upon %negotia-
lions with the several companies
looking to agreements for just and
reasonable compensation for the pos
session, use and control of their re-
spectiye properties on h basis Of
an annual guaranteed compensation,
above accruing depreciation and the
maintenance of their properties,
equivalent, as nearly as may be, to
the average of the net operating in
come thereof for the three-year period
ending June 80, 1917-the results of
such negotiations to be reported to
me for such action as may be appro-
pirate and lawful.
Not to Impair Rights.
But nothing herein contained, ex-
pressed or implied, or hereafter done
or suffered hereunder, shall be
deemed in my way to impair the
rights of the stockholders, bondhold-
ers, creditors n other persons hav
ing interests in said systems of trans
p~ortation or in the profits thereof, to
receive just and adequate compensa-
tons for the use and control and op-
GRAFTON of their property hereby as
sumed.
Regular dividends hitherto declared,
and maturing interest upon bonds, de-
bentures and other obligations, may
be paid in due course; and such regu-
lar dividends and interest may con-
tinue to be paid until and unless the
said director shall from time to time
otherwise by general or special orders
determine; n subject to the approx
al of the director, the various carriers
may agree upon and arrange for the
80 eA tLAAe VI AloLul W.
legations.
Except with the prior written as
sent of said director, no attachment
by mesne process or on execution
shall be levied on or against any Of
the property used by any of the said
transportation systems in the conduct
of their business as common carriers:
but suits may be brought by and
against said carriers and judgments
rendered as hitherto until and except
SO far as said director may, by gen.
eral or special orders, otherwise de-
termine.
From and after ~ o'clock on said
28th day of December, 1917, all trans
p%ortation systems included in this or
der and proclamation shall conclusive
ly be deemed within the possession
and control of said director without
further act or notice. But for the pur-
of accounting said possession and
control shall date from IL o'clock mid
night on Dec. 81, 1917.
In witness whereof / have hereunto
my hand and caused the seal of
the United States to be affixed.
Done by the President, through
Newton d. Baker, secretary of war, in
the District of Columbia, this 26th day
of December, in the year of Our Lord
one thousand nine hundred and seven
teen, and of the independence Of the
States the one hundred and
fo~rty-second.
WOODROW WILSON.
NEWTON d. BAKER,
Secretary of War.