Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1920-01-01
END U. S. RAIL
RULE MARCH |.
Express Lines Are Included in
President Wilson'S Proc
IamatiOn.
DELAY MAY PREVENT DISASTER
Gives Corporations Ample Opportunity
TO Adequately Prepare for the Re-
sumption of Their Business
Under Owners Control.


Washington. Dec. %. - President
Wilson announced that the railroads
would be returned to private owner
ship March l.
The 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 mt the end of this
calendar year. 1t is now necessary TO
act by issuing the proclamation
"In the present circumstances, no
agreement having yet been reached
by the two houses of congress in re-
spect to legislation on the subject, 1t
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 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 control
of railroads and systems Of transpor-
tation.
"Whereas, in the exercise of author
lty 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 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, eleya-
tors, warehouses, telegraph and tele-
phone lines and all other equipment
and appurtenances commonly used
upon or operated as n part of such
railroads and systems of transporta-
ton; and.
Whereas. | now deem it needful
and desirable that all railroads, syS-
TENS of transportation and property
now under such federal control be re-
linquished 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 relinqush
from federal control effective the first
day of March, 1920, at l. :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 D. Hines, director general
Of railroads. or his successor in office,
IS hereby authorized ana directed,
through such agent ana agencies as
he may determine, in any manner not
inconsistent with the provisions Of
said act of March n, 1918. to adjust,
settle and close all matters, including
the making of agreements for compen-
Satiou, and all questions and disputes
of whatsoever nature arising out of or
incident to federal control, until 9th
erwise provided 10y proclamation of
the president or by act of congress,
and generally 70 perform as fully in
all respects as the president is author
lied to do, all the acts and things nee
eSSary or proper in order to carry into
effect this proclamation and the relin-
quiShment Of said railroads. systems
or transportation aud property.
"lor the purpose OF accounting and
for all other purposes, this proclama-
ton shall become effective on the first
day of March, 1920 at 12:0l "a. m.
'ln witness whereof ! have here
unto set my hand and caused the seal
of the United States TO be affixed.
Done by the president. through
Newton n. 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 tie Independence Of the United
states Of America, the one hundred
and forty fourth.
tSigued)
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