Evening star., 1943-12-28

sential to the successful prosecution
of the war: and
! Whereas the continuous operation
OF some transportation systems is
threatened by strikes called to com
mence on December 80, l943;
Now, therefore, by virtue Of the
authority vested in me by the Con-
stitution and laws of the United
States, including the act of August
70, 1916, 80 Stat. 645, and as Presi-
dent Of the United States and Com
mander in Chief Of the Army and
Navy, 1 hereby order:
l. Possession and control of all
common carriers by railroad, express
companies. terminal companies and
associations, sleeping. parlor and
railroad owned or controlled private
car companies 'all hereinafter re-
ferred to as carriers located III the
continental United States, together
with any and all appurtenances and
facilities used in connection there
with, are hereby taken and assumed
through the Secretary of War
as Of 7 o'clock PM, on the 27th
day OF December, l943. Car
riers taken over under this order
shall not include, because not now
deemed necessary, street electric
passenger railways. including rail-
ways commonly called interurbans,
or local public transit systems
whether or not the same be owned
or controlled by any of the systems
of transportation taken hereunder
but il and when the Secretary finds
1t necessary or appropriate to carry
out the purposes Of this order, he
may. by subsequent order, take and
assume possession, control and oper-
alton of all or any part of any trans
portation system. including subways
and tunnels, and any transportation
system so taken shall be deemed a
carrier for the purposes of this order
2. The Secretary of War is di-
rected to manage and operate or
arrange for the management and
operation of the carriers taken under
this order in such manner as he
deems necessary to assure to the
fullest possible extent continuous
and uninterrupted transportation
service.
3. In carrying out this order the
Secretary may act through or with
the aid of such public or private in
strumentalities or persons as he may
designate. and may delegate such Of
his authority as he may deem neces.
sary or desirable. with power OF sue.
cessive le-delegation. The Secre.
tary may issue such general sne
special orders. rules and regulations
as may be necessary or appropriate te
for carrying out the purposes of this
order. All Federal agencies shall
comply with the directives of the
Secretary hereunder and shall CO.
operate to the fullest extent of .heil
authority with the Secretary in car
rying out the purposes of this order
4. The Secretary shall permit the
management of carriers taken under
this order to continue their ,espec-
tive managerial functions to the
maximum degree possible consistent
with the purposes of this order
Except SO far as the Secretary shall
from time to time otherwise provide
by appropriate order or regulation
the boards of directors, trustees, re.
ceivers. officers and employees Of
such carriers shall continue the
operation of the carriers, including
the collection and disbursement Of
funds thereof, in the usual and or.
dinary course of the business of tn,
carriers, in the names of their re.
spective companies. and by mean!
OF any agencies, associations ol
other instrumentalities now utilizet
by the carriers.
S. Except so far as the Secretar,
shall from time to time othervls.
determine and provide by appro.
pirate orders or regulations, existing
contracts and agreements to wnici
carriers taken hereunder are partie