The Morgan County press. (Wartburg, Tenn.) 1916-1926, 1918-01-11
President Wilson Assumes Con-
troll and Names McAdoo as
Director General.
ACTION TO SPEED WAR WORK
Roads VIII Be Operated by Precent
Officials but as One System-con-
uress to Be Asked to Guaran-
tee Earnings.

assumed COUCFOI Oh Tie eltlTc runway
system of the country as war meas
ure. The railroads will be controlled
and operated by the government under
direction of William G. McAdoo, secre-
tary of the treasury.
Mr.. McAdoos official title will be
director general of railways.
IN taking over the railways Presi-
dent Wilson has followed largely the
plan adopted in England. The govern
ment will guarantee each road shall
receive a net operating income equal
to the average net income of the three
years preceding June 30, 1917. The
president in his proclamation further
assures stockholders and bondholders
In the railroads that their interest Will
be scrupulously protected
All regular dividends hitherto de-
clared will be paid and the maturing
interest upon bonds and debentures
will be guaranteed by the government.
Immediately upon reassembling OF
congress the president will ask for
legislation providing definite guaran-
ties upon these points and also provid-
ing that the railways shall be main
tanned "in as good repair and as COM
plete equipment as when taken over by
the government"
Facilities Taken Over by U. S.
Under the presidents proclamation
the following are taken under United
States control:
All railroads, comprising 100000
miles of lines, valued at $17OOO,OOO,-
900.
All coastwise, lake and river steam
ship lines.
All terminals, terminal companies
and terminal associations.
The Pullman company's sleeping
cars and parlor cars.
The packers and other concerns
private car lines.
All railroad elevators and ware
houses.
All railroads telegraph and telephone
lines.
The president also will ask legisla-
ton enabling him to solve the labor
problem of the roads.
The application for wage increase
averaging 40 per cent is now pending.
The men have refused to accept COM
pulsory arbitration while the roads
were under private control.
This wage question, one Of the most
serious problems that confronts the
government in operation of the roads,
must be settled by Mr.. McAdoo.
The presidents proclamation states
he will take possession Of the rail-
ways through Newton d. Baker, Sec
rotary Of war. This emphasizes his de-
termination to run the roads strictly
as a part of the military system.
War Department Can Handle Draft.
The fact that the railways are I'M
der the war department will simplify
the matter of drafting men for work,
IN case an extreme step should be-
come necessary.
The presidents advisers do not be-
Ueve such measures will be needed.
The brotherhoods have demonstrated
their loyalty and are depended upon
NO adopt action now that will guar
tee enthusiastic continued operation
of the roads.
Tn selecting Mr.. McAdoO for the
most powerful place in the admins
tration, the president is known to have
heen Influenced by the fact that Mr..
McAdoo has thorough grasp not only
of railway and government finance, but
also of the worlds financial situation.
Furthermore, one of the presidents adj
yisers stated, he is man who does
things. He can cut through red tape.
These two considerations pointed to
the secretary of the treasury as the
one 10 unite the transportation knot
Power 10 Great.
The power placed in his hands is
greater than any ever before given a
single American other than presi-
dent.
He will take possession Of every
railroad and every system OF transpor-
tation located wholly or In part within
United States boundaries. Street rail-
wavs alone are excepted. All steam
shin companies owned or controlled by
railroads. will come under his control
and operation.
The present officers of the roads
win remain in their places, but can
he removed. or changed. at any time,
nv order OF the director general OF
railroads His authority is paramount
even 10 that Of the interstate commerce
commission. which hitherto has fixed ]