The Southern herald., 1918-01-11
FEDERAL CONTROL or RAIL
ROADS FULLY EXPLAINED
TO CONGRESS.
PRESIDENT EXPLAINS ACT
Representative Sims, Chairman OF
House Interstate Commerce Com
mlttee, Introduces Bill Carry
Ing Out Recommendation.

In Joint session, ana outlined IN detdH
his recommendations for carrying out
government operation of railroads.
Bills to carry out the presidents ideas
already had been prepared under the
supervision of the department of JUS
tice, and were Immediately introduced
with plans for prompt consideration
in both house and senate.
This is what he asked:
Necessary means for protecting the
interests of railroad stockholders.
Measures to protect travellers and
safeguard private shippers.
Compensation for the railroads based
on the average net railway operating
income of three years ending June 30,
1917.
1T is OF the utmost consequence to
the government itself" he said, that
all great financial operations be
stabilized and co-ordinated with the
financial operations Of the govern
ment"
The president spoke as follows:
Gentlemen Ct the Congress: l
have asked the privilege Of address,
ing you in order to report to you that
on the 2Sth of December last, during
the recess of congress, acting through
the secretary of war and under the
authority conferred upon me by the
act of congress approved August 29,
1916, | took possession and assumed
control Of the railway lines of the
country and the system Of water
transportation under their control
This step seemed to be imperatively
necessary in the interest of the public
welfare in the presence Of the great
tasks Of war with which we are now
dealing. AS our own experience de-
velops difficulties and makes it clear
what they are, | have deemed 1t my
duty to remove those difficulties
wherever have the legal power to do
so. To assume control of the vast
railway systems Of the country is,
realize, a very great responsibility,
But to fail to do so in the existing
circumstances would have been a
much greater | assumed the less
responsibility rather than the weight
Ter.
Mobilize Resources.
81 am sure that am speaking the
mind Of all thoughtful Americans
when say that 1t is our duty as the
representatives Of the nation, to do
everything that it is necessary to do to
secure the complete mobilization of
the whole resources of America by as
rapid and effective means as can be
found. Transportation supplies all the
arteries Of mobilization. Unless 1t be
under single and unified direction
the whole process of the nations
action is embarrassed
ut was in the true spirit Of America
and it was right that we should firsi
try to effect the necessary unifica
tiOn under the voluntary action Oh
those who were in charge Of the great
railway properties; and we did try it
The directors Of the railways respond
ed to the need promptly and generous
ly. The group of railway executive!
who were charged with the task o
actual coordination and general direc
tion performed their difficult dutiei
with patriotic goal and marked abil
ity, as was to have been expected, ant
did, believe, everything that It wa,
possible for them to do in the circum
stances. If have taken the task ou
Of their hands, 1t has not been be
cause Of any derellction or failure Of
their part, but only because there wer
some things which the government cal
do and private management cannot
We shall continue to value most higt
ly the advice and assistance of thes
gentlemen, and | am sure we shall no
find them withholding It,
Will Be No Discrimination.
at has become unmistakably plai
that only under government admins
tration can the entire equipment G
the several systems OF transportatfo
y fully and unreservedly thrown int
common service without injuriou
discrimination against particular pro-
critics Only under government admir-
istration can an absolutely unrestrlc
ed and unembarrassed common use t
made of all tracks, terminals, termini
facilities and equipment of erery kin
Only under that authority can ne
terminals be constructed and d
Yeloped without regard to the requlr
ments of limitations OF particul;
roads. But under government admi
istratiou all these things will be po
sibln-nOt instantly, but as fast
practical difficulties which cannot |
merely tonjured away, give way b
fore the new management.
"Ths common administration WIN
carried out with as little dlsturbant
OF the present operating organization
and personnel OF the railways as 20