McNairy County independent. (Selmer, McNairy County, Tenn.) 1902-1969, 1918-01-11
RAILROADS TAKEN
UNDER U.S.C0NTROL
FEDERAL CONTROL OF RAIL
ROADS FULLY EXPLAINED
TO CONGRESS.
PRESIDENT EXPLAINS ACT
Representative Sims, Chairman Of
House Interstate Commerce Com
mittee, Introduces Bill Garry
ing Out Recommendation.

Washington, D. C.-President Will
SON went before congress, assembled
in joint session, and outlined in detail
his recommendations for carrying out
government operation of railroads.
Bills to carry out the presidents ideas
already had been prepared under the
supervision of the department of JUS
tice, and were Immediately introduced
with plans for prompt consideration
In both house and senate.
This Is what he asked:
Necessary means for protecting the
interests of railroad stockholders.
Measures to protect travellers and
safeguard private shippers.
Compensation for the railroads based
on the average net railway operating
income of three years ending June 30,
1917.
ut is of the utmost consequence to
the government ITSELF" he said, that
all great financial operations be
stabilized and co-ordinated with the
financial operations of the govern
ment"
The president spoke as follows:
Gentlemen of the Congress: /
have asked the privilege of address
ing you in order to report to you that
on the 18th of December last, during
the recess of congress, acting through
the secretary of war and under the
authority conferred upon me by the
act OF congress approved August 20,
1915, | took possession and assumed
control of the railway lines of the
country and the system 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. AS our own experience de-
velops difficulties and makes it clear
what they are, / have deemed 1t my
duty to remove those difficulties
wherever have the legal power to do
SO. To assume control of the vast
railway systems of the country is, /
realize, very great responsibility,
but to fail to do so in the existing
circumstances would have been a
much greater. l assumed the less
responsibility rather than the weight
Ter.
Mobilize Resources.
II am sure that / 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 1t 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 Of mobilization. Unless 1t be
under single and unified direction,
the whole process of the nations
action is embarrassed.
ut was, in the true spirit of America
and 1t 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 it.
The directors of the railways respond.
ed to the need promptly and generous.
ly. The group of railway executives
who were charged with the task of
actual coordination and general direc.
ton performed their difficult duties
with patriotic zeal and marked abil-
ity, as was to have been expected, and
did, believe, everything that 1t was
possible for them to do In the circum-
stances. II I have taken the task out
Of their hands, It has not been be-
cause of any dereliction or failure on
their part, but only because there were
some things which the government can
do and private management cannot.
We shall continue to value most high
ly the advice and assistance of these
gentlemen, and am sure we shall not
find them Withholding 1t.
viii Be No Discrimination.
at has become Enthusiastically plain
that only under government admins.
tration can the entire equipment of
the several SYSTEMS of transportation
be fully and unreservedly thrown into
common service without injurious
discrimination against particular prop
critics. Only under government admin.
istration can an absolutely unrestrict-
ed and unembarrassed common use be
made of all tracks, terminals, terminal
facilities and equipment of every kind.
Only under that authority can new
terminals be constructed and de.
veloped without regard to the require
ments of limitations of particular
roads. But under government admin
istration all these things will be pos
sible-not instantly, but as fast as
practical difficulties which cannot be
merely conjured away, give way be-
fore the new management.
1.-THE common administration will be
carried out with as little disturbance
of the present operating organizations
and personnel of the railways as pos