The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1918-01-12
WILSON PROMISES
FAIR TREATMENT
Railroad Owners Are Entitled
to Adequate Compensation
He Tells Congress.
ASKED FOR new LEGISLATION
Executive Believes Return Should
Average Net Operating Income
for the Past Three Years.

Tor the FdSL nTSS ears
Westinghouse guarantee proper
returns TO the railroads in the period
of government operation, the Presi-
dent recommended that Congress pro-
vide compensation at the rate of the
same net operating income as the
roads have received for the three pre-
ceding fiscal years.
The Presidents address to Congress
follows:
Gentlemen of the Congress:
have asked the privilege OF addressing
you in order to report to you that De
cember %, during the recess of the
Congress, acting through the Secre-
tary of War and under the authority
conferred upon me by the act of Con-
gress approved August 29, 1916, l took
possession and assumed control of
the railway lines of the country and
the systems OF. water transportation
under their control.
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.
LAS our own experience develops
difficulties and makes it clear what
they are, 1 have deemed it my duty
to remove those difficulties wherever
have the legal power to do SO.
Must Mobilize All Resources.
ITO assume control of the vast rail-
way systems of the country is, L real
ize, very heavy responsibility, but
to fail to do so in the existing circum-
stances would have been much great
er | assumed the less responsibility
hoT ho
Il am sure that l am speaking the
mind of all thoughtful Americans
when l say that it is our duty as the
representatives of the Nation to do
everything that is necessary to do to
secure their complete mobilization of
the whole resources of America by as
rapid and effective a means as can
be found
Transportation supplies all the ar
teries of mobilization. Unless it be
under a single and unified direction,
the whole process of the Nations ac-
ton is embarrassed.
Voluntary Action Failed.
1t was in the true spirit of America
and it was right, that we should first
try to effect the necessary unificatiOn
under the voluntary action of those
who were in charge Of the great rail
way properties anu We Ulu II.
THE directors of the railways re-
.sponded to the need promptly and gen
erously 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, l believe, everything that it
was possible for them to do in the cir
cumstances.
IF l have taken the task out of
their hands it has not been because of
any derelictiOn or failure on their
part, but only because there were
some things which the government
can do and present management can
not.
I'VE shall continue to value most
highly the advice and assistance of
these gentlemen and l am sure we
shall not find them Withholding it.
1T has become Enthusiastically plain
that only under government admins
tration can the entire equipment OF
the several systems of trans pOrtatiOn
be fully and unreservedly thrown into
a common service without injurious
discrimination against particular prop
critics.
Only Government Can Do 1t.
only under government administra-
ton can an absolutely and unembar-
raised common use be made of all
tracks, terminals. terminal facilities
and equipment of every kind. Only
under that authority can new terml-
nails be constructed and developed
without regard to the requirements OF
limitations of particular roads.
Under government administration all
these things will be pOssible-not in
stantly, but as fast as practical diff
culties, which cannot be merely con
jured away, give way before the new
management.
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 it is not necessary tt
disturb.
Public Service First.
eve are serving the public interes
and safeguarding the public safety
but we are also regardful of the inter
est of those by whom these grea
properties are owned and glad to avail
ourselves of the experience and train
ed ability of those who have beer
managing them.
1T is necessary that the transporta
ton of troops and materials, of foot
and of fuel, and of everything that i:
necessary for the full mobilization o
the energies and resources of the coun