American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1918-01-08
BUSINESS or NATION
MUST BE PROTECTED
President Wilson Asks Congress to
Eliminate Uncertainty in Operation
of Big Business Enterprises-Why
Railroads Were Taken Over.


rnands for nationwide relief and elm
ination of financial uncertainty, Presi-
dent Wilson at - 80 on Friday, Janu-
AIRY 4, outlined before congress his
railroad legislative program.
The president arrived at the capitol
shortly before u 80, and was escorted
to the speakers rostrum of the house
chamber
The presidents address follows:
Gentlemen of the Congress: l have
asked the privilege of addressing you
In order to report to you that on the
twenty-eighth of December last, dur
ing the recess of the congress, acting
through the secretary of war and un-
der the authority conferred upon me
by the act of congress approved Au-
gust 20, 1916, 1 took possession and
assumed control of the railway lines
of the country and the systems of
water transportation under their con-
troll. This step seemed to be impera-
lively necessary in the interest of the
public welfare, in the presence of the
great tasks of war with which we are
now dealing.
"As our own experience develops
difficulties and makes it clear what
they are, | 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 sys-
TENS of the country is, realize, a very
great responsibility, but to fail to do
so in the existing circumstances would
have been much greater. assumed
the less responsibility rather than the
weightier. l am sure that l am speak
ing the mind of all thoughtful Ameri-
cans when l say that it is our duty as
the representatives of the nation to do
everything that it is necessary TO do
TO secure the complete mobilization of
the whole resources of America by as
rapid and effective means as can be
found. Transportation supplies all the
arteries of mobilization. Unless it be
under single and unified direction,
the whole process of the nations ac-
ton is embarrassed.
Railway Heads Praised.
SIT was in the true spirit of Amer
lea and it was right that we should
first try to effect the necessary unifica-
ton under the voluntary action of
those who were in charge of the great
railway properties and we did try 1t.
The directors of the railways respond
ed to the need promptly and gener-
Ously. The group of railway eXecu-
tives who were charged with the task
of actual coordination and general di-
rectiOn performed their difficult du-
ties with patriotic zeal and marked
ability, as was to have been expected
aud did, | believe. everything that il
was possible for them to do in the
circumstances. If | have taken the
task out of their hands it has not been
because of any derelictiOn or failure
on their part, but only because there
were some things which the govern
ment can do and private management
cannot. We shall continue To value
most highly the advice and assistanc,
of these gentlemen. and l am sure W,
shall not find them Withholding it.
Little Disturbance in Operation.
1T had become unmistakably plaiI
that only under government admin
istratiOn can the entire equipment o
the. several systems of transportation
be fully and unreservedly thrown int
a common service without injurious
discrimination against particular prop
critics. Only under government admin
istratiOn can absolutely unrestricted
and unembarrassed common use b.
made of all tracks, terminals. termina
facilities and equipment of every kind
Only under that authority can neN
terminals be constructed and deve
Oped without regard To the require
ments or limitations of particula
roads. But under government admin
istratiOn all these things will he pos
sible-nOt instantly, but as fast Il
practical difficulties. which cannot b
merely conJured away. give way b,
fore the new management.
"The common administration will h
carried out with as little disturbanC
of the present operating organization
and personnel of the railways as pOi
sible. Nothing viii be altered or di
turbed which it is not necessary to di
turb. We are serving the public il
terest and safeguarding the publ
safety. but we are also regardful
the interest of those by whom thes
great properties are owned. and gla
to avail ourselves of the eXperienS
and trained ability of those who haN
been managing them.
Ii is necessary that the transport
tion of troops and of war materials.
food and of fuel and of eyerythir
that Is necessary mobilization Of r
sources of the country should be fir
considered; but it is clearly in ii
public interest also that the OrdinaI
activities and the normal industrii
and commercial life of the cOuntI
should be interfered with and disl
Gated as little as possible and the pu
lie may rest assured that the intere
and convenience of tho ,,rfva 70 chfpn.