Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1919-12-26
u. s. To TURN BACK
RAIL ROADS MARCH |
Presidents Proclamation Also In
cIudes the Express Lines.
SAYS DELAY is NECESSARY
Two Months Given Corporations tt
Adequately Prepare for the Re-
sumption of Their Business on
a Prewar Basis.


would be returned to private owner
ship March /.
TIE president also announced that
the railroad express companies would
be returned at the same time.
In announcing these two decisions
of the president, Secretary Tumulty
ISSUED the following statement:
Last May, In his message to the
congress- the president announced
that the railroads would be handed
over to their owners at the end OF this
calendar year. It IS now necessary to
act by issuing the proclamation.
I'm the present circumstances, no
agreement having yet been reached
by the two houses of congress in re-
spect to legislation on the subject, II
becomes necessary in the public inter-
est to allow reasonable time to
elapse between the issuing of the proc
lamation and the date of its actually
taking effect.
"The president is advised that the
railroads and express companies are
not organized to make 1t possible for
them to receive and manage their
properties If actually turned over to
them on December 81, and If this were
done it would raise financial and
legal complications of serious char
acter.
start at Midnight.
"The railroad and express companies
should be given ample opportunity to
adequately prepare for the resumption
of their business under the control and
management of their own stockhold-
ers. directors and officers. Therefore,
the transfer Of possession back to the
railroad companies will become effec-
tive at :01 a. M, March /, 1920"
The decision Of the president with
regard to the railroad properties was
set forth In the following proclama-
ton:
by the President of the United
States Of America:
"A proclamation:
REIMBURSEMENT of federal contr5f
of railroads and systems Of tfansper-
tation.
swhereas. in the exercise of author
fly committed to me by law, ! have
heretofore through the secretary Of
war, taken possession Of. and have.
through the director general Of rail-
roads, exercised control over certain
railroads, systems Of transportation
and property and pertinent thereto or
connected Herewith. systems of coast
wise and inland transportation, en-
gagged In general transportation and
owned or controlled by said railroads
or systems of transportation, including
also terminals, terminal companies and
terminal associations, sleeping and
parlor cars. private car lines eleva-
tors, warehouses, telegraph and tele-
phone lines and all other equipment
and appurtenances commonly used
upon or operated as a part Of such
railroads and systems of Transports
ton; and.
ReIinquishes Control.
ssWhereas, / now deem ii needful
and desirable that all railroads, sys-
now under such federal control, be re-
hnauished therefrom now therefore,
under authority of section IA of the
federal control act, approved March
81. 1918, and of all other powers and
provisions of law thereto me enabling,
I, woodrow Wilson, president of the
United States. do hereby relinquish
from federal control effective the first
day of March. 1920, at Il :01 o'clock a.
M. all railroads, systems Of transpor-
tation and property of whatever kind
taken or held under such federal con
troll, and not heretofore relinquished
and restore the same to the possession
and control of their respective own
ers.
"Walker u. Hines, director general
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 q, 1915, to adjust.
settle and close an matters. including
the making of agreements for compen-
sation, and all questions and disputes
of whatsoever nature arising out of os
Incident to federal control until oth-
erwise provided by proclamation Of
the president or by act of congress,
and generally to perform rs fully in
all respects as the president is author
tied to do. all the acts ard things nee
essary or proper in order to carry into
effect this proclamation and the relin-
quishmcnt of said railroads, systems
or transportation and property.
For the purpose of accounting and
for all other purposes. this pr5clama-
ton shall become effective on the first
day of March. 1920. at II :01 a. m.
I'm witness whereof have here
unto set my hand and caused the seal
of the Upited States to be affixed.
"Done by the president through
NewtoS d. Baker, secretary of war. in
.e a.