The Arvada enterprise. (Arvada, Colo.) 1908-1970, 1918-01-03
WILSON'S
MESSAGE
TAKING OVER CONTROL OF ALL
RAILWAYS IN NAME OF
THE NATION.
NOT TO IMPAIR RIGHTS
Takes Possession Under Provision Of
Army Appropriation Act Of
Aug. %, 1915.
Western Newspaper Union New. Service.

Western Newspaper Union News Service
Washington. Dec. 81 President
Wilson issued the following proclama.
ton:
Whereas, The Congress of the Unit
ed States In the exercise OF the con.
stitutioral authority vested In them,
by joint 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 entire
naval and military forces Of the Unit
ed States and the resources of the
government to carry on war against
the imperial German government; and
to bring the conflict to successful
termination, all of the resources of the
country are hereby pledged by the
Congress Of the United States.
War Declared on Austria.
And by joint resolution bearing date
Of Dec. Z. 1917. resolved,
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 n success
full termination all the resources Of
the country are hereby pledged by the
Congress Of the United State1. And,
Whereas, II Is provided by Sec. 1
Of the act approved Aug. 90, 1916, en-.
titled "An act making appropriations
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. ID
empowered. through the secretary OF
var. to. take possession and assume
control Of any system or systems OF
transportation, or any part thereof
and to utilize the same. to the exclu
sion AZ far as may be necessary Of all
other traffic thereon. for the transfer
or transportation Of troops. war mate
rial and equipment. or for such other
purposes connected with the emer.
gency ~ may be ncedful or desirable
To Utilize Transportation system.
And, whereas. It has now become
necessary In the national defense 10
take possession and assume control
Of certain systems Of transportation
and TO utilize the same. to the exclu.
sion as far a. may be necessary of
other than war traffic thereon. for the
transportation Of troops, war material
and equipment therefor. and other
needful and desirable purposes, con.
nected with the prosecution Of the
war:
Now. therefore. ]. Woodrow Wilson,
President Of the United States. under
and by virtue Of the powers vested In
me by the foregoing resolutions and
statute. and by virtue Of all other
powers thereto me enabling. do here.
BY. through Newton ID. Baker. score.
tary Of war. take possession and a..
sumo control. At IL O'Clock noon on
the 18th day Of December, 1917. OF
each and every system Of transports.
tion and the appurtenances thereof,
located wholly or In part within the
boundaries OF the continental United
States and consisting of railroads
and owned or controlled systems OF
coastwise and inland transportation
0GA In
whether operated by steam or by cleo.
trio power. including also terminals,
terminal companies and terminal -.
sociations. sleeping and parlor cars,
private cars and private car lines,
elevators. warehouses. telegraph and
telephone lines and all other equip.
ment and appurtenances commonly
used upon or operated a. . part OF
such rail or combined rail and water
systems Of transportation to be uti.
llsed for the transfer and transports.
tion Of troops. war material and equip.
ment 10 tho exclusion 70 far a. may
be necessary OF all other traffic there.
on: and that NO far ~ such exclusive
use lie not necessary or desirable,
such systems Of transportation be Oh.
Grated and utilized in the performance
Of such other services ~ the national
interest may require and of tho usual
and ordinary business and duties Of
common carriers.
oy william q. MeAdoe.
II IL hereby directed that the DOS.
scssion. control. operation and utiiIxa
ton Of such transportation aystems
hereby by me undertaken shall lie OK.