The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-01-05

md general direction performed their
difficult duties with patriotic Hea! ana
marked ability was to have lm:h cN-
pected and did. l believe everything thnt
il was possible for them To Il" In the
circumstances. have taken the task
out Of their hands. it has not been be-
cause Of any derilIctnn or failure OH
tbeir mart. bur only because there were
some things which the government can
do and private management cannot. We
shall continue tn value most hiHhly me
advice and assistance of these gentle
mon and I am sure we shall not hnu
them withholding il.
It. mas become Enthusiastically pam
that only under government aumihlsira-
ton can, the entire equipment Oh the
several systems Of transportation DE
fully. and unrrs"rvcdly thrown int"
common service without discrimination
against popular properties only uh-
der government administration can an
absolutely unrestricted and uncmhar-
:IrSscrl common use be made or MI the
tracks. terminals. terminal faciihtcS
an dcuuinment OF every kind. only
under that authority can new terminals
be constructed and developed without
regard to the rcuuirrmrl-S nr limita-
lions OF particular ro;tis. l:ut under
government administration all these
things will BE- roSsihl" not instantly
but as fast AS iIraCtichl difficulties.
which cannot hr merely c"nJured away
give way before III" licw management
Will be Conserved.
Tho common administration will be
carried out with as little disturbance
OF tho present operating drEaniZatlonS'
and personnel Of the railways rs posi-
hc ultrrpl % disturb
ed which Is not necessary 10 disturb.
We are serving the public interest and
safeguarding the public safety. bat we
are also rcgardful Of the interests of
those by whom the great properties ar"
owned and glad to avail ourselves. or
tho cXpcriencc and trained ABILITY OF
those who have been managing them.
II is necessary that the transporta-
tiuu Of troops and Of var material. oil
food ami OF fuel. of everything that Is
necessary for the Hul! mobilization OF
the energies and resources OF IN" cuuh-
try, should he first considered. but II
is clearly in thr public interest also
that the ordinary activities "f the nor
mai industrial and commercial 'lf" OF
The country SHOULD he .ntrrfcrcd with
aud disl1catcd IS it'll" as possible ana
the public may rest assured that IN"
interest and convenience "f the priNat"
shipper will lie as carefully served ana
safcguardcd as ii is possible /" serve
and Safeguard II IN the present eNtTa"r-
binary circumstances.
Asks Legislation.
WniI" the present authuittH "f the
cxccutiv" suiiirrs for all PURPOSES Of ad-
ADMINISTRATION. and while % course. al!
private interests must for the present
give way t. the public necessity. Il IS.
ain sure YOU will agree with me- right
and nrccS Sary tina. IN" owners anu
creditors T." the railways the holders OF
stocks ami bonds should receive from
the government al unqualified suaran-
tee that their properties VIII he main
iaIncd throughout the period Of federal
control. in aS good repair anu ms COM
plcte equipment as vt present and that
tho several reads viii receive under
federal management such compensation
az is equitable and just alike to their
owners and to tho general public.
would suggest the average net RAILWAY
operating income of the three years
ending June ~. 1917. ! earnestly rec
oIninrnd that those guarantees he given
by appropriate legislation. and given as
promptly ~ circumstances permit
Matter or Justice.
I nosd not point ont tho essential JUS
tiCe Of such guarantees and their great
influence and Significance as clements
in the present financial and Industrial
situation Of the country. Indeed. one or
tho str6aS arguments for assuming con
troll OF the railroads ut this dime is the
financial argument X is necessary thal
the value OF railway securities should
b. justly and fairly protected and th"f
tho large financial operations every
year necessary. in connection win lh'
maintenance. operation and d"v"!o"n'"t
OF the roads. should. during I'll" pcrio
OF the war. be wiSrl? related IL the -
nancIal operations Of the government.
Our first duty, is OF course To conserve
tho common interest and the common
safely and TO lhak. certain that noth'
ing stands in the way Cf the success
!ul prosecution If the great war for I'D
cr;y and justice. but II Is All obligation
OF public conscience anil OF public non
or that the private interests we disturb !
should be- kept safe from unjust INJURY.
and Il is Of the utmu-t consequence l"
tho government itself that all great fl
nanciai operations should be stabilized
and cuUrdnateG with the financial opcT-
atoms Of tho government. No borrowing
should run athwart the bnrr"wlnES ~ !
the federal treasury, and no Fundamental
industrial values should anywhere b"
impaired In tho hands of many thou
sands OF small Investors in the country.
as we'll as in national banks IN lilsuF-
ancc companies. IN savings hunks IN
trust companies in financial agencies
of every KIND, railway securities. the
sum total Of which runs up /" some ten
or eleven millions constitute Il fliuH q
mart Of the structure Of credit and the
unouestioncd solidity Of thut structure
must be maintul ned
Naming Of M'Adoo.
The secretary Of war and l easily
agreed that in Wow OF the many com
nlcX interests which must he Sarc- :
guarded and harmonizcd us we'll as be
Cnusc Of his exceptional experience and
ability, in this new field OF govern
mental action. the Hon. William q. Nc
Adoo was the right man 10 assume di-
rect control Of this new great war task.
At our request he consented To assume
tho. authority and duties of organizer
and director general OF the new railway
administration. He has assumed those
duties and his work is in active prog ,
rrSs.
1t is probably too much TO expect
that even under the unified railway
administration which Will now be pos
sihlr sufficient economies can be CT
fcctrd in the operation OF tho railways
to make 1t possible To add 10 their
equipment and extend their operative
facilities as much as the present extra
ordinary demands upon their use Will
render desirable without rcsurtlng To
the national treasury for the funds. II
it Is not possible it WILL Of course, he
necessary 10 resort To the congress for
grants OF money for that purpose. The
secretary Of thu treasury Will advise
with your committees with regard Ia
this very practical aspect Of the mat
ter.
For tho present. l suggest only the