Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1918-01-12
PRESIDENT TELLS
RAILROAD PLAN
Outlines Method of Government
Operation.
ASKS FOR FAIR TREATMENT
Says Complete War Service Can Only
Be Given by Putting All Carriers
Under Government Control
Urges Prompt Action.

Washington, Jan. 5.-The admins
tratiOn's policy In regard to the gov
eminent control Of the railroads was
outlined by President Wilson in an ad-
iress delivered at a joint session OF
the two houses of congress yesterday
Bills TO carry out the presidents
IDEAS already had been prepared under
the supervision Of the department OF
Justice and were Immediately Intro
duced with plans for prompt consld-
GRAFTON in both house and senate.
The president spoke as follows:
"Cv.+lemen of the Congress l have
asked the privilege of addressing you
In order to report that on the 28th of
December last, during the recess OF
congress, acting through the secretary
of war and under the authority con
ferred upon me by the act of congress
approved August %. 1916, 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.
LAS our experience develops difficult
ties and makes it clear what they are
l have deemed 1t my duty to remove
those difficulties wherever l have the
legal power TO do so. To assume con
trOl of tho va CT roiIvro1v evetor,,e - +ba
country IS, 1 realize, very heavy re
spOnsibility, but TO fail to do so in the
existing circumstances would have
been a much greater. l assumed the
lesser responsibility rather than the
weightier.
Complete Mobilization Needed.
Il am sure that I am speaking the
mind of all thoughtful Americans when
l say that it is oul duty as the repre-
sentatives Of the nation to do every
thing that it Is necessary to do to Sc
cure the complete mobilization of the
whole resources of America by as rap
Id and effective a means as can be
found. Transportation supplies all the
arteries of mobilization. Unless it be
under single and unified direction
the whole process Of the nations &C.
ton is embarrassed.
ut was in the true spirit of America
and 1t was right, that we should first
try to effect ire necessary unifcati0n
under the voluntary action of those
who were in charge Of the great rail-
way properties; and we did try It, The
directors Of the railways responded to
he need promptly and generously.
Praises Railway Executives.
The group Of railway executives
who We're charged with the task Of
actual coordination and general direc-
ton with patriotic zeal and marked
ability, as was to have been expected,
and did, I believe. everything that if
was possible for them to do in the cir
cumstances. If have taken the task
out of their hands it has not been he
cause of any dereliction or failure on
their part, but only because there were
soma things which the government can
do and present management cannot.
We shall continue TO value most highly
the advice and assistance of these gen
tlemen, and am sure we shall NOT find
them Withholding it.
Government Control Needed.
ut had become Enthusiastically plain
that only under government admins
traion can the entire equipmenr ~
the several systems of TRANSFORMATION
he fully and undreservedIy thrown into
common service without iniuri-
Gus discrimination against DarticuIar
properties. Only under government
administration can an absolutely nm.
restricted and unembarrassed common
use be made Of all tracks, terminals
terminal facilities and equipment of
every kind. Only under that autboritv
can new terminals be constructed and
developed without regard to the re-
quirements or limitations of particular
roads. But under government admin.
istration all these things will be nos
sible-not instantly, but as fast Ms
practical difficulties which cannot no
merely conjured away give way before
the new management.
Little Disturbance as Possible
''The common administration viii he
carried out with as little disturbance
of the present operating organizations
and personnel OF the railways as NOS.
sible. Nothing will b Uttered or ms
turbed which 1t is not necess.,., - dis
turb. We are serving the public inter
est and safeguarding The public safety
but we are also regardful of the inter
est of those by whom these great pron.
critics are owned and glad to avail orr
selves Of the experience and trained
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