Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-01-04
Congress Is Told of Nation
Plans for Handling Roads

Washington, Jan. 4-FOll0wing
Is the complete text of President
Wilson's address before Congress
today in which he tells of the gov.
ernment's administration Of the
railroads:
Gentlemen of the Congress: I
have asked the privilege Of ad-
dressing you in order to report
that on Dec. Is, last, during the
recess of congress, acting through
the secretary of war and under
the authority conferred upon me
by act of congress approved Aug.
20, 1919, l took possession and
assumed control of the railway
lines of the country and the sys-
TENS Of water transportation un-
der their control. This step
seemed to be imperatively neces-
sary in the interest of the public
welfare, in the presence of the
great tasks of war with which we
are now dealing. AS our expert
ence develops difficulties and
makes it clear what they are, I
have deemed it my duty to remove
those difficulties. wherever have
the legal power to do so. To as
sumo control of the vast railway
system of the country is, I realize.
a very heavy responsibility, but to
fail to do so in the existing cir
cumstances would have been a
much greater. I assumed the less
responsibility rather than the
weightier. l am sure that am
speaking the mind of all thought
full Americans when I say it is our
duty as the representatives of the
nation to do everything that it is
necessary to do to secure the COM
plete mobilization of the whole
resources of America by as rapid
and effective a means as can be
found. Transportation supplies
all the arteries of mobilization.
Unless it be under a single and
unified direction, the whole pro-
cess of the nations action is en-
barrassed.
Was Right To Try. .
1t was in the true spirit of
America and it was right, that We
should first try to effect the nee
essary unification under the vol
untary action OF those who were
in charge of the great railway
properties; and we did try It. The
directors of the railways respond
ed to the need promptly and gen.
erously. The group of railway ex-
ecutives who were charged with
the task Of actual coordination
nd general direction performed
their difficult duties with patriotic
zeal and marked ability, as was
to have been expected. and did.
believe, everything that 1t was
possible for them to do in the cir
cumstances. II l have taken the
task out Of their hands it has not
been because of any derelicition
or failure on their part but only
because there were some things
which the government can do and
the present management cannot.
We shall continue to value most
highly the advice and assistance
of these gentlemen and am sure
we shall not find them withhold
ing it.
Government Control Needed.
1t had become Enthusiastically
plain that only under government
administration can the entire
equipment of the several systems
of transportation be fully and un-
reservedly thrown into a common
service without injurious discrim-
ination against particular prop
critics. Only under government ad-
ministration can an absolutely I'M
restricted and unembarrassed
common use be made of all tracks,
terminals, terminal facilities and
equipment of every kind. Only
under that authority can new ter
minals be constructed and devel-
oped without regard to the re-
quirements or limitations of par
ticular roads. But under govern
ment administration all these
things will be possible-not in
stantly but as fast as practical
difficulties, which cannot be
merely con1ured away, give way
before the new management.
No Unnecessary Bother.
The common administration
will be carried out with as little
disturbance Of the present operat-
ing organizations and personnel
of the railways as possible. Moth
ing will be altered or disturbed
which it is not necessary to dis
turb. We are serving the public
interest and safeguarding the pub
lie safety but We are also regard
full of the interest Of those by
whom these great properties are
owned and glad to avail ourselves
of the experience and trained abil-
ity OF those who have been man.
aging them. 1t is necessary that
the transportation Of troops and Of
war materials, Of food and of fuel,
and Of everything that is neces-
sary for the full mobilization Of
the energies and resources OF the
country should be first considered.
but 1t is clearly in the public in
terest also that the ordinary ac-
tivities and the normal industrial
and commercial life Of the coun-
try should be interfered with and
dislocated as little a. possible and
the public may rest assured that
the interest and convenience Of
the private shipper will as care
fully be served and safeguarded
as 1t is possible to serve and safe
guard it in the present extraordi-
nary circumstances.
Should Have Guarantee.
While the present authority OF
the executive suffices for all pur-
poses Of administration. and