New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1918-01-04
The PRESIDENTS Statement
"A Great National Necessity Dictated the Action. Was Not
at Liberty to Abstain From It."
BY WILSON.

BY WOODROW WILSON,.
have exercised the powers rel the transportation systems Of the
country which we're granted me by the act Of congress Of August, 1916,
var Of resources no less than of men, perhaps ven more than of men,
and It Is necessary for the complete mobilization Of our resources that
pIoyed under a single authority and a simpifed method Of coordination
which have not proved possible under private management and control
The committee Of railway executives who have been cooperating
with the government in this all important matter have done the utmost
that it was possible for them to do; have done it with patriotic zeal and
with great ability; but there were difficulties that they could neither
escape neutraIlze. Complete unity Of administration In the present
circumstances involves upon occasion and at man points a serious disio.
cation of earnings, and the committee was, of course, without power or
authority to rearranee charges " effect proper compensatons and adjust.
Several roads which we're willingly and with admirable public spirit
accepting the orders of the committee have already suffered from these
circumstances and should not be required to suffer further. In mere
fairness to them the full authority of the government must be substituted.
The government itself will thereby gain an immense increase of efficiency
in the conduct of the val and Of the innumerabe activities upon which
it's successful conduct depends.
The public interest must be first served, and in addition the financial
must be brought under a common direction. The financial operations Of
Investors in raiiu.v .cnriti. nav res+ ,ssur. ~. +hs. Nv 49,.
interests will be a scrupulousIy looked after by the government as they
could be by the directors Of the several railway systems. Immediately
upon the reassembI,ne Of congress- shall recommend that these definite
guarantees be given: First, Of course, that the railway properties will
be maintained during the period Of federal control In as good repair and
as complete equipment a when taken YER by the government; and,
second, that the roads shall receive a net operating income equal in each
cas- to the average net income of the three years preceding June 80,
1917; and an entirely confident that the congress will be disposed in
this case, a S in others, to SEE that justice is done and full security assured
to the owners and creditors Of the great systems which the government
must nw ue under its WI direction o else suffer serious embarrass
ment
The secretary Of war and ire agreed that, all the circumstances
being taken into consideration, the best results can be obtained under the
immediate executive direction Of William G. McAdoo, whose practical
rotary of the treasury will enable him to coordinate al n other man
could the many financial interests which will be involved and which
might unless systematically directed suffer very embarrassing entanse-
The government of the United States is the only great government
now engaged in the var which has not already assumed control Of this
sort. It was thought to be in the spirit of American institutions to at.
tempt to do anything that was necessary through private MANAGEMENT
and if zeal and ability and patriotic motive could have Accomplished the
necessary unihcaton of administration it would certainly have been
accomplished; but n o zeal or ability could overcome insuperabIe obstacles,
and have deemed it my duty to recognize that fact in all candor, now
that it is demonstrated, and to Use without reserve the great authority
reposed in me. A great national necessity dictated the action and WA
therefore not at liberty II abstain from it.