The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-12-25

WASHINGTON. Dec. 94.-PreSldent
Wilson tonight announced he would re-
turn tho railroads 10 private ownership
March !.
The president also announced that
tn" railway express companies would DC
returned at the same time.
white House Statement.
In announcing these decisions OF the
president secretary rumulty issued the
following statement:
Last May in his message to the CON
grcSs the president announced thar tnr
railroads would be handed over to thclr
owners at the end Of this calendar
year. 1t is now necessary 10 act oy
issuing the proclamation. In the pres
ont circumstances. no agreement having
been reached by tho tw" houses OF CON
Grcss in respect /" Legislation on nv
public interest to allow a reasonable
iinlr TO c!apSc between the issuing ot
the proclamation OF the date OF It's ac
tuallv taking effect" The president -
advised that the railroads ana express
companies are not organized To make II
possible for them To receive and man
age their properties if actually turned
over To them on December Il ana IL
TINS wcr. don" il would raise financial
and legal complications OF serious
character. ,
Tho railroad and express companies
should be given ample opportunity 10
adequately prepare Tor tn" resumption
OF their business under the c"nIroi anu
management OF their own StocknoiuerS,
directors and officers. ThcreLnTe' lne
transfer Of possession back To the ran,
road COMPANIES will become effective at
y :0l a. M March ].
Presidents Proclamation.
The decision OF the president In re-
gard to the railroad properties ID SOU
forth in the following proclamation;
"a,
States If America:
"A proclamation: ,
"Relinuur;hnent OF federal control OF
railroads ard systems Of transportation.
''NhercuS, in the exercise OF autRorlly
committed To mo by law | have here|o-
fore through the secretary OF war. tax
rem roSScSSiou Of, and have. through IhS
director Ecncral Of railroads. cN"rc'Sea
control over control over certain ran
roads, systems of transportation anu
rrupcrtv Appurtcnant or cunnecleu
herewith. Including systems OF coast
wise and inland trnnsportalloh ch6aEcu
in general transportation and owned or
cont rolled by said railroads or s!s'eHta
Of transportation; including also teI Ii'
nails terminal companies Hld let1hlha'
asSoC!ations, sIr"rlnE an" p', ."I -
prikat,. cars and privat" car lines cie-
V3tCrS warehouses, telegraph anu teic
nhvuc nnr., and all ether equipment anu
annurI,nanccS commonly used upon or
operated a q part uf such raiir"aus anu
Sy.tcmS Of ESIurtatiDn: ana
"NShcrraS | u"w deem H. necdIu anu
desirable lnrt all railroad systems oil
Transportation and property row under
xuch fedora. control hc rrlinquishcd
,hcrcfrCm: now therefore. under uthor-
i,y of section Il Of The federal control
act approved March Il. 1918. ana oi all
other poErrs and provisions OF law
,hcrctp me enabling. |. Woodrow VIII
son President " the United states, 10
hereby r"linuuish from federal contr"'
effective the first day Of MarCh. l'-V'
ot t2:Oi o'clock a. m. all railroads. SyS-
tens Of transportation and property OF
whatever kind tuk IN or held under *u"h
federal control ;Jnd not hcr"totor" re-
ljnutishCd, and restore the Same I" th'
nosscssion and control Of their rcSpcc-
tive owners.
"Walkrr u. Hines. director general ot
railroads or his successor II office. Is
hereby auihnri ed or directed. through
such agent and agencies as h" may d"'
,crmirr in onv manner not inconsistent
Wi hth" provisions "F such act ol
March 81. l1IS. Ia adjust. s"ttl" ana
close pll matters. including thr maKlnE
.f agreement: f"r compensation, ana all
uucstions and disputes Of what so"v"r
n
cral control. until otherwise provided
by proclamation Of the president or DN
net Of congress: and generally 10 dC
and ncrform as fully in all respects aS
Tho president is authorized "a do. al
end singular the acts and things n"ceS'
.srv or proper in or insofar carry into
effect this proclamation and tho re-
liuouishmrnt Of said railroads. systems
of transportation and property.
For tho purposes of accounting anc
for all other purposes This prnrlama
! tion shall become effective on tn" mrs
! dav OF March. 1890. at 1901 n. m.
In witness. whereof. | have here
unto set my hand and caused the sea-
| Of the United states 10 b" affixed.
! "ponc by tn" president through Now
! ton. u. Baker. Secretary of W"r. IN TN
! District Of Colurlhia. this 24tih day O
| December. the var Of our Lord. ont
| thousand nine hundred and nineteen
and Of tho Independence Of tho United
| states OF America. thu ono hundrcc
! and fortyfourth.
| lSigncd) NoOl'Np" "lL"ON
! "Ry the President:
ROREGT LANSING.
/ Secretary OF state
NEWTON y. BAKER.
Secretary of War.
! Telegram Prom Hines.
! Director General Hines sent tho fol
lowing telegram tonight to all officer
! 4. fnln