, 1918-01-03
TAKING OVER CONTROL OF ALL
RAILWAYS IN NAME OF
THE NATION.
NOT To IMPAIR RIGHTS
Takes Possession Under Provision of
Army Appropriation Act of
Aug. 90, 1916.
Western Newspaper Union News Service.

Western Newspaper Union News Service.
Washington, Dec. 27.- President
Wilson Issued the following proclama-
ton:
Whereas, The Congress of the Unit
ed States, in the exercise of the con-
st%itutioral authority vested in them,
by joint resolution of the Senate and
House of Representatives, bearing
date April 6, 1917, resolved,
That the state of war between the
United States n the imperial Ger
man government which has thus been
thrust upon the United States is here
by formally declared; and that the
President be and he is hereby author
lied and directed to employ the entire
naval and military forces of the Unit
ed States and the Jul of the
government to carry on war against
the imperial German government; and
to bring the conflict to a successful
termination, all of the resources of the
country are hereby pledged by the
Congress of the United States.
Wal Declared on Austria.
And by joint resolution bearing date
of Dec. Z, 1917. resolved,
That a state of war is hereby de-
clared to exist between the United
States of America and the imperial
and royal Austro-Hungarian govern
ment; and hat the President be n
he is hereby authorized n directed
to employ the entire naval n mill
tary forces of the United States and
the sourc of the government to
carry on war against the imperial and
royal Austro-Hungarian government;
and to bring the conflict to a success
full termination all the u of
the country are hereby pledged by the
Congress of the United States. And,
Whereas, 1t is provided by Sec. /
of the act approved Aug. 20, 1916. en-
titled IAN act making appropriations
for the support of the army for the
fiscal year ending June 30, 1917, and
for other purposes" as follows:
The President, in time of var is
empowered, through the secretary of
war, to take possession and assume
control of any system or systems of
transportation, or n part thereof.
and to utilize the same, to the exelu-
sion as far as may be necessary of all
other traffic thereon, for the transfer
or transportation of troops, war mate
rial n equipment, or for such other
purposes connected with the emer-
gency as may be needful or desirable.
To Utilize Transportation System.
And, whereas, 1t has now become
necessary in the national defense to
take possession and assume control
of certain systems of transportation
and to utilize the same, to the exclu-
sion as far as may be necessary of
other than wal traffic thereon, for the
transportation of troops, war material
and equipment therefor, and other
needful and desirable purposes, con-
nected with the prosecution of the
war;
Now, therefore, /, Woodrow Wilson,
President of the United States, under
and by virtue of the powers vested in
me by the foregoing resolutions and
statute, and by virtue of all other
powers thereto me enabling. do here
by, through Newton D. Baker, secre-
tary of war, take possession and as
sumo control, at ~ o'clock noon on
the 2Sth day Of December, 1917, of
each and every system of tr%ansporta-
ton and the appurtenances thereof,
located wholly or in part within the
boundaries of the continental United
States and consisting of railroads,
and owned or controlled systems of
COdSI"lbt anu ullduu transportation,
engaged in general transportation,
whether operated by steam or by cleo
trio power, including also terminals,
terminal companies and terminal as
sociations, sleeping and parlor cars,
private cars and private car lines,
elevators. warehouses, telegraph and
telephone lines and all other equip
ment and appurtenances commonly
used upon or operated as a part of
such rail or combined rail and water
systems of transportation to be uti-
liked for the transfer and ~transporta-
ton of troops, war material and equip
ment to the exclusion so far as may
be necessary of all other traffic there
on; and that SO far as such exclusive
use be not necessary or desirable,
such systems of transportation be op-
Grated and utilized in the performance
of such other services as the national
interest may require and of the usual
and ordinary business and duties of
common carriers.
BY William G. MeAdoo.
It is hereby directed that the pos
session, control, operation and utiliza-
ton of such transportation systems
hereby by me undertaken shall be ex-
ercised by and through William G. Nc.
Adoo, who is hereby appointed and