The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1918-01-10

egai opwer to do So To assume cc1.
!!rol Of The vast railway SYSTEMS Of
the country is, realize, & very heavy
responsibility, but to fail to do SO in
the existing circumstances. would
have been much greater. I 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 their complete mobilization
OF the whole resources of America by
as rapid and effective means as can
he found. Transportation supplies all
the arteries Of mobilization. Unless
it be under a single and unified d.
rection, the whole process of the ma
tion's action is embarrassed.
Praises Executives.
"It was in the true spirit of Ameri-
ca and it was right that we should
first try to effect the necessary unih-
cation under the voluntary action Of
those who were in charge of the great
railway properties; and We did try 1t.
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 'irec-
ton performed tlair difficult duties
with patriotic zeal and marked abil-
ity, as was to have been expected, and
did, believe, everything that it was
possible for them to do in the circum.
stances. II have taken the task out
Of their hands, it has-Tiot been because
Of any derelictior or failure On their
part, but only because there were
some things which, the government
can do and the present management
can not. We shall continue to value
most highly the advce of these Off
cials and am sure we shall not find
them Withholding it. It had become
unmistakably plain that only under
government administration can the en-
tire equipment Of the several systems
of transportation be fully and unre-
servedly thrown into common SER
vice without injurious discrimination
against particular properties. Cnly
under government ADMINISTRATION can
an absolute and unena barrassed COM
mon use be made Of AL tracks, termi-
malls, terminal facilities and equipment
of every kind. Only under that author
ity can new terminals be constructed
end developed withcut regard to the
requirements or limitations of particu-
lar roads But under government ad-
ministration all these things will be
possible-not instantly, but as fast as
practical, difficulties, which can not
be merely conjured away. give way
before the new ma1,sLssement.
No Unnecessary Changes.
The common administration will be
carried out with as little disturbance
of the present operating organizations
and personnel of the railways as possi-
BILE. Nothing will be altered or dis
turbed which it Is not necessary to
disturb. We are serving the public
interest and safeguarding the public
safety, but we are also regardful of the
interest Of those b. whom these great
properties are owned and glad to avail
ourselves of the experience and train
ed ability of those who have been
managing them. 1t is necessary that
the transportation Of troops and ma
terials. Ct fGcd and of fuel and Of
everything that is necessary for the
full mobilization Of the energies and
resources Oh the country, should be
first considered, but it is clearly In
the prblic interest also that the ordi-
nary activities and the normal indus
trial and commercial life of the coun-
try should he interfcred with and dis.
located as little as possible and the
public may rest assured that the In
shipper will be as carefully served
and safeguarded as it is possible to
serve and safeguard it in the present
extraordinary circumstances.
Compensation For Owners.
while the present authority of the
executive sutflced for all purposes OF
administration, ard while, of course,
all private interests must for the pres
ent give way to the particular neces-
sity, it is, am sure you will agree
with me, right and necessary that the
owners ard creditors of the railways.
the holders of their stocks and bonds
should receive from the government
an unqualified guarantee that their
properties will be maintained through
out the period of federal control in as
good repair and as complete equip
ment as at present, and that the sew
eral roads will receive under federal
management such compensation as Is
reliable and just, alike to their owners
and to the general public. l would
suggest the average net railway Ope-
rating income of the three years end
ing June 30, 1917 earnestly recon-
mend that these guarantees be given
by appropriate legislation. and given
as promptly as circumstances permit.
'I need not point out the essential
justice of such guarantees and their
great influence and significance as ele-
inents in the present financial and in
dustrial situation of the country. In
deed, one of the strong arguments for
assuming control of the railroads at
this time is the financial argument. It
is necessary that the value OF rail
way securities should be justly and
fairly paid and that the large finan-
-'~l operations every year necessary
"a narrow escape! Howl"