Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-01-04
u. S. TO SPARE NO
COST TO WIN WAR
[Continued from First Page.I

CONTINUED from First Page.I
executives who were charged with
the task of actual coordination and
general direction performed their
difficult duties with patriotic zeal
and marked ability, as was 20 have
been expected and did, 1 believe
everything 1t was possible for them
to do in the circumstances. If /
have taken the task out of their
hands it has not been because OF
any dereliction or failure on their
part but only because there were
some things which the government
can do and private mana cement can
not. We shall continue to value most
highly the advice and assistance OF
these gentlemen and I am sure we
shall not find them Withholding IL.
U. S. Control Necessary
1t had become Enthusiastically plain
that only under 80 "ernment adj
ministration can the entire equip
mept of the several systems of trans
poTtation be fully and unreserVedly
thrown into a common service with
out injurious di Sc iiuilatiGn against
particular prape tic.' Only under
government administration can al
solutely uni .str' ste1 and unenIbar-
rassed common use be made of all
tracks, terminals, terminal facilities
and equipment of every kind. Only
under that authority can new termin-
ais be constructed and developed
without regard to the requirements
or limitations of particular roads.
But under government administra-
ton all these things will be possible
not instantly, but as fast as prac-
tical difficulties, which cannot be
merely conjured away, give away be-
fore the new management.
Few Changes Desired
The common administration will
be carried out with as little disturb
ance of the present operating organ
izations and personnel of the rail-
ways as possible. Nothing will be
altered or disturbed which it is not
necessary to disturb. We are Serv-
ing the public interest and safe
guarding the public safety but we
are also regardful of the interest of
those by whom these great proper
ties are owned and glad to avail our
selves of the experience and trained
ability Of those who have been man.
aging them. 1t is necessary that the
transportation of troops and war
materials of food and of fuel and of
everything necessary for the full
mobilization of the energies and re-
sources of the country should be first
considered but it is clearly in the
public interest also that the ordinary
activities and the normal industrial
and commercial life of the country
should be interfered with and dis
located as little as possible, and the
public may rest assured that the in
terest and convenience of the private
shipper will be- as carefully served
and safeguarded as it is possible to
serve and safeguard it in the present
extraordinary circumstances.
Maintenance Guaranteed
While the present authority of the
executive suffices for all purposes
of administration. and while, of
course, all private interests mist for
the present give way to the public
necessity, it is, / am sure You will
agree with me. right and necessary
that the owners and creditors of the
railways, the holders of their stocks
and bonds, should receive from the
government an unqualified guaran-
tee that their properties will be
maintained throughout the period
of federal control in as good repair
and IS complete equipment as at
present, and that the several roads
will receive under federal manage
ment such compensation as is euuiL-
able and just alike to their owners
and to the general public. Z would
suggest the average net railway
operating income of the three years
ending June 80, 1917. I earnestly
recommend that these guarantees be
given by appropriate legislation and
given as promptly as circumstances
permit.
Values to BE Protected
l need not point out the essential
justice of such guarantees and their
great influence and significance as
elements in the present financial and
industrial situation of the country.
Indeed, one of the strong arguments
for assuming control of the railroads
at this time is the financial argument
1t is necessary that the values OF
railway securities should be justly
and fairly protected and that the
large financial operations every year
necessary in connection with the
maintenance, operation and develop.
ment of the roads should, during the
period of the war, be wisely related
Ito the financial operations of the
| government. Our first duty is, OF
course, to conserve the common in.
| terest and the common safety and tC
make certain that nothing stands ir
! the way of the successful prose
| tion of the great war for liberty anC
! justice but 1t is an obligation of pub,
! lie conscience and of public honor
| that the private interests we disturb
| should be kept safe from unjust in.