Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1918-01-04
PRESIDENT CALLS
CONTINUED from Page one.)

way systems OF the country is I real
lie. very great responsibility, but to
fail to do so in. the existing circum-
stances would have been much great
err. I assumed the less responsibility
rather than the weightier. I am sure
that l am speaking the mind of all
thoughtful Americans when / say that
1t Is our duty as the representatives of
the nation to do everything that Is ne
cessary to do to secure the complete
mobilization of the whole resources OF
America by as rapid and effective
means as can be found. Transporta-
ton supplies all the arteries Of mob
iiization. Unless it be under a single
and unified direction, the whole pro-
cess of the nations action is embar-
raised.
GENEROUS RESPONSE.
1T was In the true spirit Of America
ana IT was right that we should first
try to effect the necessary unification
under the voluntary action of those
VINO were in charge Of the great PAIL
way properties; and we did try 1t. The
directors of the railways responded to
the need promptly and generously. The
group of railway executives who wer,
charged with the task Of actual co.. or
dination and general direction per-
formed their difficult duties with pat
riotic zeal and marked ability as was to
have been expected, and I believe ev-
erything that it was possible to do in
the circumstances
IL have taken the task out OF their
nands 1t has not been because of any
oereilctlon or failure on their part but
only because there were some things
"nlcn the government can do. which
private interests could not do. We
snail continue to value most highly the
advice and assistance of these gentle
men and ! am sure we shall not find
them Withholding it. It had. become
unriistakaply plain that only under
government administration can the en-
TIRE equipment OF the several systems
OF transportation be fully and unre-
serVeoiy thrown into common service
"i',oul INJURIOUS discrimination
against particular properties. Only
under government administration can
an absolutely unrestricted and unem-
parrassed common use be made Of all
tracks, terminals. terminal facilities
ana equipment Of every kind. ONLY
under that authority can new terminals
be constructed and developed without
regard to the requirements or linita-
tlons of particular roads.
But under government administra-
lon' all these things will be possible
not instantly but as fast as practical
dlHlcultles, which cannot be merely
con1ured away, give way before the
new management. The common adj
ministration will be carried out with
as little disturbance of -the present
operating organizations and personnel
or the railways as possible.
SERVING PUBLIC INTEREST.
Nothing will be altered or dist,rbed
which it is not necessary to disturb
We are serving the public interest and
safeguarding the public safety, but we
are also regardful of the interest of
those by whom these great properties
are owned and glad to, avail ourselves
or the experience and trained ability
of those who have been managing them.
1t Is necessary that the transportation
OF troops and of war materials, of food
and of fuel and Of everything that Is
necessary for the full mobilization of
the energies and resources of the coun-
try should be first considered; but it is
clearly in the public interest also that
the ordinary activities and the normal
industrial and commercial life of the
country should be interfered with and
dislocated as little as possible and the
public may rest assured that the in
terest and convenience of the private
shipper will be as carefully served and
safeguarded as it is possible to serve
and safeguard it in the present extra
ordinary circumstances.
while the present authority of the
executive suffices for all purposes of
administration and while, OF course, all
private interests must for the present
give way to the public necessity, it is,
1 am sure you will agree with me,
right and necessary that the owners
and creditors Of the railways, the hold
ers of their stocks and bonds, should
receive from the government an un-
qualified guarantee that their proper
ties will be maintained throughout the
period Of federal control in as good re-
pair and as complete equipment as at
present and that the several roads will
receive under federal management such
as Is equitable and Just
alike to their owners and to the gen.
eral public. I would suggest the aver
age net railway operating income of
the three years ending June 80, 1917.
Il earnestly recommend that these
be given by appropriate leg
islation and given as promptly as cir
permit.
PROTECT ALL INTERESTS. =
Il need not point out the essential
justice of such guarantees and their
great influence and significance as ele-
ments in the present financial and in
dustrial situation of the country. In
deed one of the strong arguments for
assuming control of the railroads at
this time is the financial argument. 1t
is necessary that the values of railway
securities should be justly and fairly
protected and that the large financial
operations every year necessary in con-
nection with the maintenance. opera
ton and development Of the roads