Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1918-01-02

washington, Dec. 26.-tPresident
4 Wilson announced tonight that he
will assume possession and operation
b OF every railroad in the continental
United States at noon Friday Decem-
ber %, and that he had appointed
n Secretary McAdoo director general of
railroads.
ii ( Secretary McAdoo, whose appoint
ment Is made by formal proclama-
3 ton, is expected to direct the unfit
cation and operation of the roads
through their present mana tsA
He will retain his place in the cabi-
net as Secretary Of the Treasury.
Guarantee to Railways.
In statement accompanying his
proclamation the President ANNOUNCE
ed that when Congress reassembled
ne would ask that definite guaran-,
4 toes be given that the railroad prop
critics will be maintained in as good
repair and as. complete equipment
as when taken over, and that the net
operating income IN each case shall
equal the average net Operating in
come Of three years preceding June
SO. 1917.
NThe railroads will be taken over
. under war authority already granted
by Congress, through the Secretary
Of War.
Statement by President.
.i The Presidents statement follows:
II have exercised the powers over
the transportation systems. Of the
country which were granted me by
the act Of Congress Of last August
because 1t has become imperatively
necessary for ME to do so. This is
war of resources no less than Of men
perhaps even more than men-and
1T Is necessary for the complete mo
bilization Of our resources that the
try should be organized and employ
ed under single authority and a
simplifled 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 1t
was possible for them to do, have
done it with patriotic zeal and with
great ability, but there were Difficult
ties that they could neither escape
TOR neutraliZe.
Complete unity Of administration
In the present circumstances involves
upon occasion and at many points
serious dislocation Of earnings and
the committee was, of course, with
out power or authority to rearrange
charges or effect proper compensa-
{ tions and adjustments Of earnings.
Several roads which were willingly
and with admirable public spirit ac-
copting the orders Of the committee
have already suffered from these cir
cumstances and should not be. re-
quired to suffer further. In mere
fairness to them the full authority
Of the government must be substi-
tuted. The government itself will
thereby gain an immense increase of
efficiency In the conduct Of the war
and the innumerable activities upon
which its successful conduct depends.
Public Interest First.
"The public interest must be first
served and, in addition, the financial
interests of the government and the
financial interests Of the railways
must be brought under common d.
rection. The financial operations Of
(. the railways need not then interfere
with the borrowings Of the govern
ment and they themselves can be con-
Quoted at greater advantage. In-
& vestors, in railways securities may
s rest assured that their rights and in
I terests will be as scrupulously look
ed after by the government as they
< could be by the directors Of the sew
\ oral railway systems. Immediately
upon the reassemblage of Congress I
shall recommend that these definite
guarantees be given: First, Of course,
that the railway properties will be
majntained during the period Of Fed
eral control in as good repair and as
complete equipment as when take,
! over sby the government; and, sec-
y Ond, that the roads shall receive a
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