Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-12-25
RAILROADS AND EXPRESS
COMPANIES TO GO BACK
TO OWNERS ON MARCH |
Proclamation
TWnngR0ads
BQckMQrch I

Government control of the rail-
roads is to be relinouished March !
next. by virtue OF y proclamation
issued by President Wilson last
night. the original date of January
| having been extended two months
TO allow a reasonable time to
elapse between the issuing OF the
proclamation and the day it be-
comes effective. The text OF the
proclamation follows:
by the President of the United
States OF America:
a PROCLAMATION:
"Relinquishment of federal con-
troll of railroads and systems Of
transportation.
Whereas in the, exercise OF -au-
thority committed to me by law L
have heretofore, through the Sec
rotary of War. taken possession
of, and have, through the director
general of railroads, exercised con-
troll over certain railroads, systems
of transportation and property ap-
purtenant thereto or connected
herewith; including systems of
coastwise and inland transporta-
ton, engaged in general transpor-
tation and owned. or controlled b.
said railroads or systems o. trans
Dortation; including also terminals,
terminal compa MES and terminal
associations. sleeping and pariOr
cars. private cars and private car
lines. cieva tors. warehouses. tele-
graph and telephone lines. and all
other equipment and appurtenances
commonly used upon or operated
as part of such railroads and
systems of transportation: and
Wv hereas 1 now deem il needful
and desirable that all railroads.
systems of transportation and
property now under such federal
control be relinquished therefrom;
now, therefore. under authority of
section 4 Of the federal control act
approved March Il, 1918. and of
all other powers and provisions OF
law thereto me nabling, /. Wood
row Wilson, President OF the Unit
ed States. do hereby relinquish
from federal control, effective the
first day of March. 1920, at 1901
O'Clock am, all railroads. systems
of transportation and property. of
whatever kind taken or held under
such federal control and not here
tofore relinquished, and restore the
same to the possession and control
OF their respective owners.
Walter D. Hines, director gen
eral Of railroads. or his successor
in Office is hereby authorized and
directed, through such agent and
agencies as he may determine, in
any manner not inconsistent with
the provisions OF said act of March
II, 1918, to adjust settle and close
all matters, including the making
or agreements for compensation.
and all questions and disputes of
whatsoever mature arising out OF
n
otherwise provided by proclama-
ton OF the. President or by act Of
Congress; and generally TO do and
perform as fully in all respects as
the President is authorized to do.
all and singular the acts and
things necessary or proper in or
der to carry into effect this procla-
nation and the REIMBURSEMENT of
said railroads. systems of trans
portation and property.
For the purposes of accounting
and for all other purposes, this
proclamation shall become effective
on the first day of March, 1920, at
12:01 am.
In witness whereof I have
hereunto set my hand and caused
the seal OF the United States to be
affixed.
Done by the President, through
Newton D. Baker. Secretary Of
War. in the District of Columbia.
this oath day of December, the
year of our Lord one thousand
nine hundred and nineteen, and of
the independence of the United
states of America. the one hundred
and forty fourth.
WOODROW WILSON.
by the President:
ROBERT LANSING.
Secretary of State.
NEWTON D. BAKER.
Secretary of War"