Middletown transcript. [volume] (Middletown, Del.) 1868-current, 1918-01-12
WILSON SUBMITS
RAILROAD PLANS
Declares Seizure Necessarily FOR
Mobilization of Resources.
QUICK ACTION PROMISED
Senate And House, In Joint Session,
Receive acknowledgements
tlons Expected To Relieve Con-
uestion OF Traffic.

gestion OF Traffic.
Washington.-Presid Wilson laid
before Congress-, assembled In joint
session, his recommendations for
carrying out Government operation OF
railroads.
Bills to carry out the Presidents
ideas already had been prepared un-
der the supervision of the Department
Of Justice and were Immediately in
troduced with plans for prompt con-
sideration in both House and Senate.
The Administration bill for Govern
ment operation of railroads proposes
that the Government shall pay COM
pensation at an annual rate as near
as possible to the net operating in
come for the three years ended June
80, 1917.
The bill also would appropriate
$500, 100000 to be used as a 'revolv-
ing fund" with the excess earnings
Of the roads for the operation of the
law
The full text Of the Presidents ad-
dress follows:
"Gentlemen of the Congress: l have
asked the privilege of addressing you
In order to report to you that, on the
18th day of December last, during the
recess of the Congress, acting through
the Secretary of War and under the
authority conferred upon me by the act
Of Congress approved August 20, 1916,
I took possession, and assumed con-
troll, of the railway lines of the coun-
try and the systems of water trans
portation under their control. This
step seemed to be imperatively neces-
sary in the interest of the public well
fare, in the presence of the great tasks
Of war with which we are now deal
Ing.
"As our own experience develops
difficulties and makes it clear what
they are, have deemed it my duty to
remove those difficulties wherever
have the legal power to do so. To
assume control of the vast railway sys-
TENS of the country is, realize, very
great responsibility, but to fail to do
SO in the existing circumstances would
nave been a much greater. assumed
the less responsibility rather than the
weightier.
Must Mobilize Resources.
II am sure that l am speaking the
mind of all thoughtful Americans wher
say that it is our duty as the repre-
sentatives of the nation to do every
thing that it is necessary to do t.
secure the complete mobilization o.
the whole resources Of America by as
rapid and effective means as can be
found. Transportation supplies all thu
arteries of mobilization. Unless it b.
under single and unified direction thu
whole process of the nations action il
embarrassed.
1T was in the true spirit of America
and it was right, that we should frs
try to effect the necessary unifcatiol
under the voluntary action Of thos
who were in charge of the great rail
way properties, and we did try it. Tn
directors of the railways responded t
the need promptly and generously
The group of railway executives VIII
were charged with the task of actua
coordination and general direction
performed their difficult duties wit
patriotic zeal and marked ability, a
was to have been expected, and did,
believe, everything that it was pOssibl
for them to do in the circumstance
II l have taken the task out of tAei
hands, it has not been because of an
dereliction or failure on their part, bl
only because there were some thing
which the government can do an
private management cannot. We sha
continue to value most highly the a
vice and assistance of these gent
man, and am sure we shall not fir
them withholding it.
Can Get Better Results.
1T had become Enthusiastically pla
that only under government admin
tration can the entire equipment of Il
several systems of transportation
fully and unreseryedly thrown into
common service without injurious &
elimination against particular prop'
ties. Only under government adm
istration can an absolutely unrestri
cd and unembarrassed common use
made Of all tracks, terminals. termir
facilities and equipment of every XIII
"Only under authority can termin;
be constructed and developed witho
regard to the requirements or limi
lions of particular roads. But und
government administration all the
things will be possible-not instant
but as fast as practical difficult
which cannot be merely conjur
away, give way before the new m;
agement.
To Retain Employees.