The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1918-01-11
PROTECT BUSINESS
DECLARES WILSON
PRESIDENT APPEALS FOR RE.
LIEF AND ELIMINATION OF
FINANCIAL UNCERTAINTY.
Explains Why Government Took Pos
session and Assumed Control Of
Railway Lines and Systems Of
Water transportation.

WashingtoR.-w with wide appeal for
Immediate action Ia the face Of de
ihahds Tor nation wide relief and elm
lnalon Of financial uncertainty. Presl.
dent Wilson at - 10 on Friday, Iantl-
airy !, outlined before congress his
railroad legislative program.
The president arrived at the cnpifGl
shortly before II 30. nnd was escorted
To the speakers rOstrum Of the house
chamber
The presidents address follows.
Gentlemen OF the Congress have
asked the privilege Of addressing Won
IN order 10 report 10 you that on the
tWehty-eighth Of December last. dur
Ing the recess Of the congress. acting
through the secretary Of war ana nm.
der the authority conferred upon me
ny the net ~ congress approved Au.
gust ~, 1916, / took possession and
assumed control Of the railway lines
az the country and the systems Of
water transportation under their con
troll This step seemed Ia be impera-
lively necessary IN the interest Of the
public welfare. Ia the presence of the
great tasks of war with which We nre
now dealing
As our own experience develops
difficulties and makes II clear what
they are, have deemed II my duty 10
remove those difficulties wherever 1
have the legal power TO do so. 10 az.
sume control Of the vast railway sys.
TENS OF the country ~. | realize. Il very
great responsibility, but 10 fail 10 do
so In the existing circumstances would
have been much greater | assumed
the less responsibility rather than the
weightier. am sure that am speak
Ing the mind Of all thoughtful Amcrl-
cans when ! say that II Is our duty as
the representatives Of the nation to do
everything that II Is necessary to do
To secure the complete mobilization of
the whole resources Of America by as
rapid and effective means AK cun be
found. Transportation supplies all the
arteries of mobilization Unless It be-
under single and unified direction,
the whole process OF the nations ac.
ton Is embarrassed
Railway Heads Praised.
ut was Ia the true spirit III Amer.
lea and II was right that we should
fiTst try To effect the necessary unlfica.
tion under the voluntary action OF
those who were In charge of the great
railway properties; and We did try II.
The directors of the railways respond.
ed TO the need promptly and gener,
ously. The group of railway execu.
tiVes who were charged with the task
of actual coordination and general III.
Tectlon performed their difficult du.
ties with patriotic zeal and marked
ability, as was to have been expected.
and did. | believe, everything that II
was possible for them 10 do I'm the
circumstances. II | have taken the
task out OF their hands Il has not been
because of any derelictlon or failure
ON their part. but only because there
were some things which the govern.
ment can do and private management
cannot. We shall continue To value
most highly the advice aud assistance
OF these gentlemen, aud | AIN sure we
shall not find them withholding Il.
Little Disturbance In Operation.
1T had become Enthusiastically plain |
that only under government admin. |
istration can the entire equipment of |
the several systems of transportation |
Ia fully and unrcscrVcdly thrown into |
IA common service without lnIurlous !
discrimination against particular prom. |
critics. Only under government admin |
istration can absolutely unrestricted |
ana unembarrassed common use be- |
made Of all tracks. terminals, terminal |
facilities aud equipment Of every Kind. !
Only under that authority can new
terminals be constructed and deyrl.
oped without regard tn the require I
ments or limitations OF particular /
roads but under government admtn- .
istrauon ali these things viii be nos.
slbie-not instantly. but as fast nS 4
practical difficulties, which cannot be /
dnereiy conJured away. give way be 4
fore the new management.
The common administration will be-
carried out with as little disturbance .
OF the present operating organizations /
and personnel of the railways as pos.
sible. Nothing will be- altered ar dis.
tnTbed which II Is not necessary Ia dis
turb- We are serving the public IA,
terest and safeguarding the bubble
safety but We are also rrgur,ifll Of
the Interest Of those hy whom ihrs,.
great properties are owned. aud glad
To avail ourselves OF the experience,
aud trained ability uf those, who have
been managing them.
1t II necessary that the tranSparta.
'ipn of troops aud Of war materials, of
i"cd and Of fuel and oI everything