Luxemburger gazette. [volume] (Dubuque, Iowa) 1871-1918, 1918-01-10
PRESIDENTS
RAIL PLAN.
Bills Have Been Presented i'm Congress
To Garry Out Wilson's Plan As Out
lined in His Rail Speech; Law-Mak-
ers Say Private Rule Over Lines
Hangs On Their Will At End Of
the War.

the War.
Washington, Jan. 6.-American rail-
roads are not 10 be turned back to
their private owners until congress de-
creeS, under the terms of the admins
tration's railroad bill introduced Fri
day in the house after the president
had made his special address to con-
gress.
The bill was Introduced by Chairman
Sims Of the house interstate commit
tee, who will handle legislation in the
lower branch. The measure is under
stood to have been prepared after con
sultatiOn with Director General Nc
Adoo.
1t carries with it guarantees that
the government will compensate the
private owners, on the basis Of the
met railway operating income for the
three years ending June 80. 1917, slip
ulating that the government shall
maintain the roads in as good condi-
ton as they have been under private
control and authorizes the use of gov
eminent funds up to $50O.0OO,OOO.
Prompt action will be taken by con
gress in the passage Of the measure
though there are objections from more
radical elements. Some say that COM
p~ensation is too liberal. There is also
a demand for outright government
ownership. For this Senator Hiram
Johnson Of California fatty declared
himself. He held that the state Of
affairs which made necessary govern
ment operation OF the roads proved the
inability Of private managers to meet
an emergency.
Presidents Rail Speech.
Washington, Jan. 4.-President Will
son in his address before Congress on
railway legislation said in part:
Gentlemen of the Congress:-I
have asked the privilege of addressing
you in order to report that on the 2Sth
Of December last, during the recess Of
Congress. acting through the Secretary
of War and under the authority o
ferred upon Inc by the act of Congress,
approved August %. 1916, l took pos
session and assumed control Of the
railway lines Of the country and the
systems of water transportation under
their control.
This step seemed TO be imperatively
necessary in the interest of the public
welfare in the presence Of the great
tasks of war with which we are now
dealing.
1T had become Enthusiastically plain
that only under government admins
tratiOn can the entire equipment Of the
several systems Of transportation he
fully and unreservedly thrown into a
common service without injurious dis
elimination against particular prop
critics.
THE common administration will be
carried out with as little disturbance
Of the present operating organizations
and personnel of the railways as pos
sible. Nothing will be altered or dis.
turbed which 1t Is not necessary TO
disturb. We are serving the public in
terest 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 Of the experience
and trained ability Of those who have
been managing them.
1T is necessary that the transport
tation Of troops and Of war materials.
of food and Of fuel, and Of everything
that is necessary for the full mobiliza-
ton Of the energies and of
the country should be first considered,
but 1t 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 pos
sible.
1T is, l am sure you will agree with
me, right and necessary that the own
ers and creditors of the railways, the
holders Of their stocks and bonds,
should receive from the government an
unqualified guarantee that their prop
critics will be maintained throughout
the period of federal control in as
good repair and as complete equipment
as at present, and that the severa
roads will receive under federal man
agement such compensation as Is eQui-
table and just alike to their owners
and to the general public.
The Secretary Of War and I easily
agreed that, I'm view Of the many com.
pick interests which must be safe
guarded and ha~r1nonized, as well as
because of his exceptional experience
and ability in this new field of govern
mental action. the Honorable William
q. McAdoo was the right man to as
sumo direct administrative control of
this new executive task.
1T is probably too much to expect
that even under the unified railwa!
administration which will now be pos
sible sufficient economies can be
effected in the operation of the rail
ways to make 1t possible to add t.
their equipment and extend theii
operative facilities as much as the
present extraordinary demands upon
their Use will render desirable without
resorting to the national. treasury for
the funds. For the present suggest
only the guarantees i have indicated
and such appropriations as are neceS-
sary mt the outse. Of the task. / take
the liberty Of expressing the hope that
thp Congress- may grant these nrOmptly