Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1918-01-11
ASKS CONGRESS TO CARE FOE
INTERESTS OF PUBLIC AND
OWNERS OF RAILROADS.
ASSUMES RESPONSIBILITY
Joint Session OF Congress Hears
Presidents Message Outlining
Plan Of Taking Full Control
Of Transportation Lines.

~N''NH 'l"' '' 49, 1900
and unrestricted powers 10 conduct the
federal operation of The country's rail.
roads.
Before n 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 Of the lines, He eX.
planned that the action already taken
wa necessary to secure the complete
mobilization of the whole resources OF
America by as rapid and effective
means IS can be found Private in.
Serests, he said, must for the present
give way to the public necessity"
This Is what he asked:
Necessary means for protecting tho
interests Of railroad stockholders.
Measures to protect travellers and
safeguard private shippers,
Compensation for the railroads based
on tho average net railway operating
income of three years ending June 80,
1917.
1t was n 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
result from the sweeping action Of
the government.
1T Is Of the utmost consequence to
tho government itself" he said. that
all great financial operations be
stabilized and co-ordinatcd with the
financial operations of tho 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.
Tho message follows:
Gentlemen OF the Congress: /
have asked tho privilege Of address.
Ing you in order to report to you that
ON tho 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 80.
1916. | took possession and assumed
control of tho railway lines of the
country and the system of water
transportation under their control.
This step seemed to be imperatiyely
necessary In the interest Of the public
Weliare III the presence of the great
tasks of war with which we are now
dealing. AS our W experience de.
Nelops difficulties and makes il clear
what they are, | have deemed it my
duty to remove those difficulties
wherever | have the legal power to do
so. To assume control of the vast
railway systems Of the country is. |
realize, a very great responsibility,
but to fail tc do so I'm the existing
circumstances would have been a
much greater, | assumed the less
responsibility rather than the weight.
Ter.
Mobilize Resources,
Il am SURE that | am speaking the
mind of all thoughtful Americans
when ! say that II is our duty AZ the
representatives OF the nation. TO do
everything that il Is necessary to do to
secure tho complete mobilization of
The whole resources OF America by IA
rapid and effective means as can be
iound 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 it was right. that we should first
try to effect the necessary unifica.
tion under the voluntary action II
those who were in charge of thc. great
railway properties; and we did try it.
The directors of the railways RESPOND.
ed 10 the need promptly and generous.
Iy. The group of railway executives
who were charged with the task of
actual coordination and general direc.
ton performed their difficult duties
with patriotic zeal and marked abil.
ity. as was to have been expected, and
did, | believe, everything that II was
possible for them to do in the circum.
stances, II | have taken the task out
Of their hands, it has not been be.
cause OF any dereliction 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.
Ia fhn anNirn and aSCiutu prn 30 tl,,,
gentlemen, and | am sure we shall not
find them Withholding It.
viii Be No Discrimination,
ut has become Enthusiastically plain
that only under government admins.
tratiOn can the entire equipment OF
the several systems of transportation
be fully and unreServedly thrown into
n common service without Injurious
discrimination against particular prop
critics. Only under government admin.
lstration can an absolutely unrestrict.
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 ami De.
vejoped without regard TO the require
ments of Limitations of particular
roads, But under government admin,
ist'ation all these things will be pos.
sibic-not instantly, but as fast as
practical difficulties which Cannot be
merely conjured away, give way be.
fore the new management.