Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1918-01-10
BUSINESS
DECLARES WILSON
PRESIDENT APPEALS FOR RE.
LIEF AND ELIMINATION OF
FINANCIAL UNCERTAINTY.
Explains Why Government Took Pos
session ann Assumed Control of
Railway Lines and Systems Of
Water Transportation.

Washington.-With wide appeal for
immediate action in the face of de-
mands for nationwide relief and elm
ination of financial uncertainty, Presi-
dent Wilson at u 80 on Friday, Janu-
airy 4, outlined before congress his
railroad legislative program
The president arrived at the capitol
shortly before II 80, and was escorted
to the speakers rostrum of the house
chamber
The presidents address follows:
Gentlemen of the Congress l have
asked the privilege of addressing you
in order to report to you that on the
twenty-eighth of December last, dur
ing the recess of the congress, acting
through the secretary of war and I'M
der the authority conferred upon me
by the act of congress approved Au-
gust 30 1916, / took possession and
assumed control of the railway lines
of the country and the systems of
water transportation under their con-
troll. This step seemed to be impera-
lively necessary in the interest of the
public welfare, in the presence of the
great tasks of war with which we are
now dealing
"As our own experience develops
difficulties and makes ii clear what
they are, have deemed it my duty to
remove those difficulties wherever |
have the legal power to do so. To as
sumo control of the vast railway sys-
TENS of the country is, realize, a very
great responsibility, but to fail to do
so in the existing circumstances would
have been much greater. 1 assumed
the less responsibility rather than the
weightier | am sure that | am speak
ing the mind of all thoughtful Ameri-
cans when | say that it is our duty as
the representatives of the nation to do
everything that it is necessary to do
to- secure the complete mobilization of
the whole resources of America by as
rapid and effective means as can be
found. Transportation supplies all the
arteries o. mobilization. Unless it be
under single and unified direction,
the whole process Of the nations ac-
ton is embarrassed.
Railway Heads Praised.
1T was in the true spirit cf Amer
lea and il was right that we should
first try to effect the necessary unifica-
ton under the voluntary action of
those who were in charge of the great
railway properties; and we did try IL
The directors of the railways respond
ed to the need promptly and gener-
ously. The group of railway execu
tives who were charged with the task
of actual coordination and general di
rection performed their difficult du
ties with patriotic zeal and marked
ability, as was to have been expected
and did, / believe, everything that il
was possible for them to do in the
circumstances. If | have taken the
task out of their hands it has not bee-
because of any dereliction o. Iailur,
on their part, but only because Their,
were some things which the govern
ment can De and private management
cannot We shall continue to valu,
MEET highly the advice and assistanc,
of these gentlemen, and l am sure W,
shall not find them Withholding it.
Little Disturbance in Operation.
ut had become Enthusiastically plail
that only under government admin
istration can the entire equipment o
the several systems of transportation
be fully and unreservedly thrown int
common service without injuriou
discrimination against particular prop
critic, Only under government admin
istration can absolutely unrestricte
and unembarrassed common use b
made of all tracks, terminals, termina
facilities and equipment of every kline
Only under that authority can neN
, terminals be constructed and deve
oped without regard to the requir,
ments or limitations of particula
roads. But under government admir-
istration all these things will be pc:
sible-not instantly, but as fast Il
! practical difficulties, which cannot b
, merely conJured away, give way b'
!, fore the new management.
"The common administration will L
carried out with as little disturbanC
:, of the present operating organization
and personnel of the railways as pc
sible Nothing will be altered or di
turbed which it is not necessary to di
turb. We are serving the public il
: terest and safeguarding the publ
safety, but we are also regardful
the interest of those by whom the.
great properties are owned, and 81,
to avail ourselves of the eNperien'
!, and trained ability of those who ha'
been managing them.
1t is necessary that the transport
; ton of troops and of war materials.
food and of fuel and of everythir