Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-01-05
SEVERAL BILLS PROVIDING
FOR MEANS ARE OFFERED
One Section Lays Heavy Penalty
on Any One Who I'm
pedes Possession.
WILL PROTECT SHAREHOLDERS
Place Financing Under Approval OF
President and Government
Will Support Credit.
IRv hraociatcd Press.

dent wilson LAID before Congress to-
day his recommendation for lcsisla-
tion to carry out government opera
t,on Of railroads. and administration
bills to that purpose were introduced
Immediately in both houses.
While tho President. in his address.
laid stress on the Importance OF prop
crly preserving tho properties for their
return. the administration bill sDecin-
cally provides that government control
shall obtain throughou, the war and
until Congress shall thereafter order
otherwise"
Many government officials and rail-
road men made no conccalment Of their
belief that the railways never would
return to private hands.
The Presidents program. besides
calling for a s5oo.ooo.oo0 appropriation
to be used as "revolvinS fund" with
railroad income for operation and main
tenancc, calls FOR compensation to the
roads At the rate OF their net opcrat-
ing income for the last three fiscal years.
Any deciencics would be pa i'd out of
tao s5o0.ooo.oo 900 fund. and meanwhile no
railroad may Increase its dividends; !;
roads that have skipped dividends may
resume with rates fixed by the prcsi-
dent
2ne section OF tho proposed law. con-
sidercd very significant. lays heavy
penalty on any one who impedes pos
session. use, operation or control" OF
tho roads. 1t is regarded as prcclud-
Ing a strike.
All new railroad financing would
DC under tho approval OF the Presi-
dent and the government would be
authorized to support railroad credi,
by buying railway securities and hold
them for better markets
All advances Of money to tho roads
or expenditures for bcttcrmcnts would
be reimbursablc TO the government.
In the House, the bill was nitro
duced by Chairman Sims, OF the In
ter5tatc Commerce Committee, which
Will meet Monday to consider IL.
In tho Senate, II was introduced by
Senator Smith. OF South Carolina, and
Will be considered by tho senate Com
mittcc also on Nondar.
The Presiden, spoke a. follows:
Gentlemen Of the Congress-:
II have asked the privilege Of nd
dressing you III order 10 report that
on the 2sth Of December last. during
the recess OF Congress. acting through
authority conferred upon me ly the
act OF Congress approved August -.
1916. ] took possession and ass S-ncd
control of the railway lines OF the
country and tho SYSTEMS OF water
transportation under their control. This
step seemed to be imperativcIy neces-
sary In the interest of the public vol
tare. In the presence of the gret tasks
u.hict, y...
AS our experience develops difficult
ties and makes it clear what they ar.
have deemed ii my duty TO remove
those difficulties wherever I haze III.
legal power Ia do so. To assume con-
troi OF the vast railway systems Of IN.
country is. ] realize a very great re-
sponsib!lity. but TO fail to do 50 in the
existing circumstances would have been
moro greater. | assume the less re.
sPonsloiiity rather than the weighticr.
CALLS FOR MOEILIZATIoS
OF ALL NATIONS RESOURCES
I am sure that am speaking tho
mind OF all thoughtful Americans when
say that 1t is our duty as the rcprc.
sentatives Of the nation to do cycrv-
thing that il Is necessary to do 10 Sc
cure the complete mobilization of the
whole resources OF America By as rapid
and effective means as can bc found.
transportation supplies ALI the arteries
OF mobilization. Unless il be under n
single and unified direction, the whole
process OF the nations action is en-
barrassed
1t was in the true spirit of America
and 1t was right-that we should first
try to effect the necessary unincation
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 re-
spondcd to the need promptly and gen
erously. The group of railway cNecu-
tive5 who werc charged with the task
OF actual coordination and general di-
rection performed their difficult duties
with patriotic zeal and marked abil-
ity, as was 10 have been expected, and
did. I believe. everything that il was
possible for them to do in the circum-
stances. If | have taken the task out
of their hands. it has not been because
3 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
shaIl continue TO value most highly tho
advice and assistance OF these gentle
men. and am sure we shall not find
them withholding it,
1t had become unmistakablv plain
d that only under government admins
sration can the entire equipment of the
several systems of transportation be
fully and unreservedly thrown Into a
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