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'tP'tF't? fl Oklahoma's Greatest Kewtpaper VOL. XIII, NO. 101 TULSA, OKLAHOMA, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27, 1917 12 PAGES PRICE 5 CENTS WIL FAKES OVER RAILROAD SON MAYOR BACKS UP LIGHTLESS ORDER Issues Proclamation Calling on Tulsans to Assist in Fuel Conservation. POLICE TO AID ENFORCEMENT Violations Will Be Reported to Proper Government Authorities. Uncle Sain lins enlisted the assist ance of Mayor John H. Simmons in the enforcement of his demit nil for fuel conservation. Yesterday, after noing provided by J. Hurr Gibbons, head of tho Tu'su county council of defense, with .a copy of the state fuel administrator's orders concerning the elimination of hiiperf luous lights, the mayor Issued a proclamation calling upon the citi.ons of Tulsa to live up to the spirit anl letter of the request and ordei ing the police to use dili gence in reporting violations to the proper authorities. ' Imihtht Llghtles N iulit. Ijist Sunday was the first "lighH 1b" niirht for Tulsa. It was sup posed to no. .-tit ma y uTn- tne orner wore reponeu. '"" the second, . arAfr Arritri u1 n i IIIU J .L VI I. H " , mniie to reo nun i..c .KBu.- L-nforced The mayor's proclamation follows: "Pursuant to an order issued by the United States fuel administrator at Washington, D. C I, J. H. Sim mons, maor of the City of Tulsa, . . ' ...... ,l.lln. ar.L.hlMnn U'hll CrOMS his PHttl. Slate of tiklahoma. do hereby urgO'New South Wales.- who appeared in nnd request the business men a:id!,ng cty yesterday as a representative other citizens of Tulsa to co-opera te I L,f tne government, and under tho In the enforcement of the following 1 m-splces of the council of defense to order by living up to Its provisions ,'nddress Tulsans on the subject of the nnd I iln hereby instruct the chief of tl(,iioVes Prussianism deserves. police to instruct the members -of the j nolle., force to co-operate In the t.n forcement -f this order by reporting all violations to the Tulsa County fuel board. . . , , . The Unite! States Ttiei auniirii- ti-ator hereby orders and directs that until further or other order of i niiui stnins fuel administrator 'I l subject to modification hereafter from time to time at any time,, -No corporation, association, par tnership, or person enraged wholly or In part In the business of furnishing electricity for Illumination or pow ir purposes, and no corporation, a3 socition. tmrtnersliip or person, main taining a Plnnt for the purposo of mining i - - - . .i.,. Z ; .n, V"' "; '" w7 shall use I any coal, oil, gas. or other rtici roi the purpose of supplying electricity for Illuminating or displaying adver tisements, notices. unnouDcements, or nnis iioiiij l. " ! Xe r fl 'ce of b siness or'the' na- ocratic leader that the Knglsh speak ture of any business, tor electric' ir,g world had ever produced. In this sea?chliKhts, or for external illumlni- ! connection he declared tiat one of the ? n for ornamentatl.m of any bu.W-; world's greatest masterpieces written In or lights in the interior of the. In the Knglish language was the Oet stores. or'othe- places of liusinesi. tsburg address of the great Kmiincl- v.-hen'such stores are not open foripntor. business excepting such light;, us are In President llson, the Knglish necessary for the public safety or n speaking people of the world tlnd a rcnulred by law; not for excefslvi- Ureat democrat, according to the Hon- street lighting intended for oispiay or; arable valgnan, ana rustory win maKe advertising purposes, whether aurhihK. name greater. "We are living so llchts aro maintained oy tne mue pality or by other. Two XltthtM IVteli Week. "Thiso prohibitions and all or them are effective on Thursday and flundny nlcht? only, of each and every w-ek suo'crt to the following cxceP- (Ions: (a) This order shall not apply to lights used for governmental pul pites only by the l nitea niaius nuinu--.ent. the government of any com monwealth or stste of the rolled States. , , "(b) This order shall not apply to !Vio maintenance of street lights by my city or town within any city or: town under contract -.vim me -i m thereof for such maintenince: except thnt no municipality may use fuel for tho mairtemnce cf lights eon.pion'V known as 'white way' or cluster lights, or other decorative street lighting or -nter Into a contract for the lighting of same, except as to such extent as such lights are necessary for the safety of the public. tn This order shall not apply to s-.ich pureh lirhts noon houses or ho tels or to entrances to buildings oceu- pled or oper. for Ingress or egress dur- J Ing the nleht times, or ta lights upon i private, driveways, w.hkh, or in mc grounds of ,.nv hotel, manufacturing establishment or residence, or uon the platform of railway stations, ap proaches thereto or In railroad yards or grounds or sre necessary for safety or to llchts for any similar purposes when authorized by the state fuel ad ministrator of the state within which such llchts are located. Provided, however, that such lights shall be only In such numbers of sizes as nre noc esfiarv to meet the requirements of public safety, and provide that such lights shall bt- reduced at any tinib upon direction of the rtate fuel ad ministrator of the state w.'thin which such buildings or grounds are lo cated. "The state fuel administration with in the several states are hereby direct ed and nuthoilzd to see that the pro visions of this order are observed and carried out within their seer.-tl states, to report violations threof to the CONTINl ED ON PAGE TWELVE , S"fK000 fic Road Improvement Donds of Carter county, Oklahmna, Interest payable semiannually, principal payable In annual equal install ments. Funds invested In these bonds on January 1 are exempt from ad valorem tax. Income Is exempt from Federal Income Tax. Honda can always be readily re sold. Will, sell all or any part. Ponds legal obligation of entire county. Price par and Interest. Telephone or write W. A. RHOOKS 1 1 IS Slate National Hunk, Oklahoma City Tlic Weather. l in, ' ' II jn Tfl.HA. u. ?. liu lh wlnJn, part cloudy. OKLAHOMA: Tl.un-dm- and Fri4yk fair; rodlnr Frldiy. l.OUMIANA: T'iiit ,iy, fiilr: wmn?r in r-t portion; Fridsv, partly cloudy, ruldai (n th northwest f linn. ARKANSAS: Tlui'i dy, fulr: vtiniwr in mitt portion: Friday, cloudy roldor. EAST TfcXAfi: Thuriidav, lair; wurire it Friday; .-oldr In north portion. WIST T K X A 8 : ThurVUy. fair; older XtDi Of IMJWM sr you over Thce nnxfrton the vrone 'Zimmie' in the l'arhand.: Friday. .r' '.'' ,.ld KANSAS: tiin.Tlly fair Ihumday .io Friday; co'jor Friday and in we.t portion Thuraday. NATIONS WILL LEAGUE THEMSELVES FOR PEACE llitn. Crawford Vaughn Sees a Guarantee for Feeace When Prussianism Is Beaten The International murderer should .hnu-n mi ninre merry than would be shown the hundit who, as an In . z - arm,kcnlv down the i"".:";.., " .t. u,rn and rttppi. niiiiiik mr m ... " - . Each ,h, ...s. 0(. found In i short piece of rnpe and the nearest tree. Each should ne leu w no dance on nothing. This Is the fate which the lion. Crawford Vaughan, ex-premier of Tne Honorable Vnughan spoke yes terday at the noonday luncheon of the Tulsa Rotary club, and again last n Rht at a public meeting held In the. auditorium of the Central high ... i 1 It. n I -j, urflfl the truest Of minop at a dtnnet. ot the Country club !iHt nKnt nt 6:30 o'clock, being the . m . I. . . .. I w . ,r,,vtviltA uest of the entertainment committee which had been appointeu oy j. uurr Oibhons, county chairman of the council of defense. I'erhaps no greater, element of the speaker's nddresses created a Bentl nient which will link his audience with the citizens of hs country more than his often repeated tribute to Abraham Lincoln. In each of his ad- dresses the premier took occasion to quote from the speeches and letters of Abraham Lincoln, and In an Inter view he declared that the Australians and many of the Hrltlsh statesmen considered Lincoln the. greatest dem- CICSB lO Ollll HOW. wwienun; MUM n'f closely now," he declared, "that we are not apt to attribute to him the things which are attributed to Lin coln, but the end of the war and his tory will give him many things, manv qualifications which he does not now possess in tne minus 01 we r.ngnsn K1,Caklng people. He left last night for Muskogee, w here ho will appear today In a noon day address before tho notary club of that place. Among those who attended the din ner at the Country club last night irj his honor were the Hon. Crawford Vaughan, C. S. Avery, K. W. Sinclair. K. Itoger Kemp, J. Hurr Gibbons, A. I Farmer, Dave Easterly, John H. Meserve, L. .lollidon. Fred Shaw, Clarence It. Douglas, Knight P. Doug las, (leorge West, H. Owen, Harvey Rhodes, J, Crosble and X. H. Cra ham. SENATOR OWEN TO CONFER WITH OIL MEN ABOUT TAX Will Spend Today Coi gallon-Uoiii-crulnj ndocting Invctl- ruing- Interpret". Hon of Kovcuue Law. For the purpose of getting the oil man's side of the war tax question. Senator Hubert I Owen will bo In conference with the leading oil pro ducers of Oklahoma here today. It Is the understanding that Sena tor Owen's desire Is to secure Infor mation which will aid In expediting the proper Interpretation of the law levying a war tax on petroleum and petroloum products. Until this law can be definitely Interpreted the pro duction of oil will be more or less crippled, owing to the fact that the producers fear a construction may fie placed on the law which would mike the tax what they claim would prohibit development of new fields. The senator's stay will be only for a day. General Bliss to Be Retained in Service WASHINGTON, Deo. 26. Cloneral Tas'rrer It. Hllss will be retained on active service as chief of staff of the army after he reaches the retirement age next Monday, December SI. Secretary Haker announced lata to day that this had been decided upon by President Wilson. It had been generally believed General Bliss would contlnuo In active service but that some younger officer would assume the burdens of the chief of staff. Thompson Hcnigris, HIN'GLINO, Okla., Deo. 26. Dan Thnmm.nn has resigned aa assistant manager here of the Twin State OH company and Is succeeded Djr J. J. Holette of Shawnee. Mr. Thompson returned to Hyan, hia former home. t . I TEXAS RANGERS PURSUE BANDITS Eight Mexican Outlaws Killed When United States Cav alrymen Open Fire. WOMEN SEE ir.f,-E KILLED Stage Coach and Store Robbed by Band Believed to Be Villa Henchmen. m I.I.KTIV. MAllKA. Texas. !. 20. I'mlcd Slates lioow crosM-cl th Itio tiiiind' Into Mrxicti late tMlay In pursuit nt the bandits who rallied tile llrllo ! council of defense, said tonilil' ranch liotiso (iirlstmas morning nod "l'resldent Wilson Indicated th. ps klllcd the I'liltcd States mall currier sibility of such action ns be has tak-'ii ami two .Mexican nassnmers In tlu ; at a conlerence with railroad mi ll i"i - inail far. The nMirt of tho criw-iinjj, erul weeks ago. I believe tho presl-1 which reached CnL f-orge T. I.ans-1 djnt has a denp s.'tise of his respou-j home. In eoiiimanil lierc tontglit, s:ild 1 slblllty to tho people and to the rail Ihat one .iiieriean soldier ami an nn-I road.:. He realizes the difficult'!- ' f known nunila-r of Mcx(ans lm:l hi't-nithe railway heads In securing capital kllhil In u running; fight. under prci.-nt war conditloiu . The I railroad men will co-operate with him! MAItKA. Texas. I ec. 20. Mexican baniiils nlded the Kitzgerald ranch . betweeii here and the river late las: night and drove off all of the hoisas from this ranch, also taking a larjo i, quantity of provisions, a'-cording to a report received here. The raiders wore believed to have been a part of th band which raided Candelaria yes terday and were attempting to get back across the Mexican border. Klght bandits were killed yester day whon ranchers and American cav alrymen fired 'jn the Mexican raiders after thev Imd killed Michael Welch, the I'nitcd States mail carrier, and his two Mexican pnss'ngcrs and had looted the L. C. llrlte store at Can delaria. Texas. TIiIh was the official leport received here today hut addl-, tionsl reports of fighting between scattered bi:nds of the bandits and the American cavalrymen and Texas rangers have been brought here all day from the river front. It was be lieved here a number of raiders were overtaken and killed when they re sisted the Htate and army officers. Troons Si-onr District. Tonight troops guided by Texas Rangers were- scouring the Him Koclt nistrici in senrcn or scatteren nanns nais In New York expressed a sur (jf the bandiln and' reinforcements i vnHe tonight at President Wilson's were belrg sent from here in com- decision to take over control of all mandeered rlvllian automobiles and the lines In this country, covered the approach from the rear Frederick I'nderwood of the Krle It is now believe.! the bandits were -was enthusiastic over the ucllon a part of Francisco Villa's force, which : taken. bus been operating In the Ojlnaga dls. j "This Is the best news I have heard trlct. The report received today that in many a day," he said. "It Is the they were Mexlcnn federal troops from I biggest and finest thing that has ever the Ojinnga garrison was refuted to- I happened to our railroads. It has night by later development This 8l, many big sides that I hesitate teport started from the fact th-u nldiscuas them without being familiar number of the dead bandits wore ! with the details of the president's Mexican federal uniforms nnd carried ; plan. On the basis of the general federal swords. Mut this wns ex- announcement I would say Instantly Idnined t'-ni-ht bv the fact that when that it will be a grand thing for tho Villa captured O.ilnnpa he obtained country as a war-time measure; a quantities of uniform, and side nrms grand liitiis lor the railroads them nivl it was believed his men had dji- selves, nnd a grand solution of the gulsed themselves in fed err I uniforms COXTlNTEl) ON PAKE TEN New Dutch Minister to U. S. Obtaining Data AMNTKKDAM, Dec. 26. Augustus Phillips, the new Dutch minister to the I'nited States, a newocmer in the diplomatic service, is busy studying the aspects of various matters with which he will have to deal when ho reaches his post. Mr. Phillips has been selected from outside the din lomatic corps and is the first purely business man 10 represent tho king- dom of the Netherlands abroad. When visited at his home by a rep resentative of the Associated Press, he was reading some of the profes sional writings of President Wilson. Spare of figure, smooth shaven, Ister hass the appearance of a -lawver Ister has the apeparunce of a lawyer and In fact holds a degree of master of law at Leyden university. He Ins a iranK, oreezy manner mat sug gests the capacity to put thru a busi ncss deal successfully. Pioneer India Street Railway Operator Diesvivfih nnOCKLlNE, Muss., Dec. 26. ; soldiers of America and her allies has Qeorge Kittredge, a pioneer In the , been exp.jsed and frustrated here, operation of street railways In India, Three thousand four hundred sug dled at his home here today, aged , eical dressings, rolled ITy patriotic 84 years. Mr. Kittredge lived In j women In Toledo, were Infected with Homhny for more than half a cen-ia mysterious greenish poison while tury, going their as u representative ; In transit between Toledo and Clevo of consular interests soon after his ! land. Immediately every one of the graduation from Yale. Canadian Railroads to Make Advance in Rates OTTAWA, Dec. 26. The railway hoard has granted the applications of the Canadian railways for a general udvance In freight and passenger rates. These Increases are, roughly, for freight. 10 per cent. In the west. and 15 per cent In the east. On coal an increaso of 16 cents a ton is al lowed. ANOTHER Hl'SS GOVERNMENT Capital Has Horn Sot Up at Voroncgo, Says HcMrt From India. SEATTLE, Wash., Dec. 26. Nicho las Hoglolavensky. Russian consul at Seattle, announced today he had re ceived a cable sent by way of India telling of the establishment of a new Russian government at Voronege, the capital of a province of the same name between Moscow and Rostov, on the Azov sea. Private la Klll-fl. WAPHINOTON, Deo. 26. Qeneral Pershing reported today that Private Andrew Aubuchon, engineers, was ac cidentally killed In France December 22. Aubuchon's mother, Mrs. Theodora F. Aubuchon, Uvea at Bonn Terra, Mc, RAILROAD MEN TO HELP GOVERNMENT Transportation Heads Had Been Apprised That Presi dent Might Take Action BEST SOLUTION OF SITUATION Federal Operation Will Also Preclude Further Serious Coal Shortage. CHICACO, Dec. 26. Hale Ilobl.-i, preside! i uf the Chicago, Hurlingtor Ai (Juiiii-y railroad and ,i mcii'bci- ol ; the railway board of the natlonil to the lullest in solving tho pi-oldeius of tru',:iorlation pre.sentod liy the un- usual coi.ditiuns, Mr. Holileu added that he woeM depart in tho morning for Washing ton for a conference with Mr. Mc Adoo and other officials. Konils Are for It. DALLAS, Texas, Dec. 28. "If that is whai l'resldent Wilson wants, wo are for it," said W. A. Webb, chief operating officer for the Missouri. Kansas A Texas Kailroad company of Texas, here nlht. J. If Klliott, general manager of the Texas & I'a'clflcc railroad. :.ild: "Kvery railroad man will give l'resldent Wilson the best he h is in 'shop.' Hailroads desire to aid In every way possible toward winning the war " H. It Cain, vice-president and gen eral manager of the llulf, Texas -4 Western railway, said: "Taking over the railroads by the president is the best way to hunJlo the situation during the war." I'lidorwooil F.iilliu-lasllo. N'EW Y KK, ' Dec. Kb. I'reaidetits of the railroads hnvlnir their teritil- labor problem W. II. Truesdale of the Iickawanna also expressed his approval. L. K. Loree of the Delaware & Hud son declined to comment. K. K. Loomls of the Lehigh was non-committul, altho he said the move was not u surprise. Do Mist They Can. ST. LOUIS. Dec. 26. 11. F. lt:th. president of the Missouri Pacific railroad, in commenting on President Wilson's proclamation today, undir whleh the government takes coi.tr 1 of the lailroads, declared he t-jiievid all the railroads "will go ahoud and Ljo thy best they can I believe tho situation will be clarified." he said, "but I do not be lieve the rank and file of tho people realize what the railroads hav-j had to contend with during the past few months.' Mr. Hush said the conge-dij'i of freight had barely affected tho ter ritory west of the Mississippi rher and wn confined chiefly to tho east Plot to Poison Red Cross Bandages Is Frustrated ,AND, Dec. 26. A plot to od Cross bandages and spread wholesale death among the 1,400 bandages were purned. They wero destroyed secretly In the rear cf the Hed Cross warehouse hero, officials ot the Luke division of the Hed Cross refused to discuss the poi soned bandages, but the authoritative Information was thnt the bandages had been destroyed and tho govern ment agonU, aided by only slender Views were trying to solve tho mystery. VAN A OIL COMPANY DISSOLVED District Judge Linn frunts IUiuet of Stockholders. Dissolution of the Vana Oil com pany was granted yesterday by an order of District Judge IJnn. Appli cation for dissolution was made sev eral weeks ago and approved by two. thirds of the stockholders. The order goes Into effect Immediately. j Agree on Peace j t P E T R OeT'n A D, Dec. 26. Count Cxernln, the Austrian- I Hungarian foreign minister at I the session of the peace confer- I ence at Orest-Lltovsk, Tuesday I read a statement to the effect I I that the central tower agreed I I to conclude Immediately a gen- I eral peace without forcible an- I t nexatlons and Indemnities. I ,.. -- 4 As the News Breaks Chief Diet! NOltTll YAKIMA. Wash., Iec. L'fi. Snluskiti, chief ot the Yakima In dians, died last night, lie Is the lust of the line uf (iwhl chiefs and siin'e the tribal lela'lons of the Yakima Indluns have been broken, he Is the last of their chiefs. Me wu-h about 90 years old. Girls Win! I'tlKT SMITH. Ark., Ie 2.. Tho strike of B5 telephone operator against the Southwestern Hell Tele phone company was settled by agree ment reached tonight after having continued since September l'J. Shipping Loss Light! UiNIX'N, l"ec. 2. The loss t llrltlsh shipping shows a material de crease for the week. According to the admiralty report tonight 11 Hrll ish Tiiei rhn nt mnn of 1.600 tolls or more, were sunk during this period by mine or submarine, as well as one merchnntman under that tonnage and one fishing vessel. MILITMu7ERATiONS ARE INCONSEQUENTIAL Snow Has Fallen Along En tire Front in France; Some Small Raids Executed. Kxcepi on the northern Italian front tho military operations coutint'O far below Normal. In France, where mow has fnllcii along the entire front, only bombardments and small raiding oper ations are taking place. West of tho llrenta In the Italian highlands, the Italians Christina:! day eontlnueii their e ounterartaeks upon the Aiistrn-Ourman forces which pre viously had succeeded in making gains on ('ol del Uosso and Monte tid Vnl Hella. The battle waged Ihruout the morn ing wl'h great violence and tho Ital ians wrested several of their former positions from the enemy, but owing to renewed onslaughts by the Trfu'.onic allied forces they were again com pelled to give ground. The r-erlln war office admits that the Italians threw heavy counterat tacks ugatnsl the Invaders on the Col del ItosHu and neighboring sectors, but asserts that all of them broke down under heavy losses. Tho stluatlon surrounding tho peace parleys Detween the Austro-uerm ins and the Uussians Is still beckuded'" 'i""r """ ' ,.,..,., nI,rB. owing to lack of details being pet - j V;mH ''"''"''rj'r,, 1 nrohil itmg mined to come thru. At last acroqnts tlon by reason i of irt atutM P"h B the Oct mans had not only failed to re- pooling of rail traffic, ad '''''" turn an answer to the demands made The roads themselves had ''" '' by the Holshevlkl delegates, but had far as they dared In t h is d ret tl o n requested that the negotiations be ex- and It became known on y today that tended for virtually another month, they had been warned by A,torne Meantime a (lerninn commission hasC.ineral Oregoiy thst violation ot started for Petroirrad from llerlln In i nntl-poollng laws could not be per- nn eniiravor to restore relations nt tween (lermany and Hussla and nb.o to reaih a settlement with tha lius siiina for an exchanue of civilian and incHimeltated war prisoners. Only twelve Hritlsh merchantmen were sunk by mines or submarines' last week, as against 17 the week p-e- vlonsly Vice Admiral Sir Uosslyn Wemys, second sea lord, has been promoted to the rank of first sea lord f the Hrltlsh admiralty, succeeding Admiral Sir John H. Jelllcoe. Admiral Jeliic je has been made a peer. PLANNING CONSRIPTION FOR ENGLISH IN UNITED STATES Mtorney-fJencral of limit Britain to Ijiy Plans Itefore liiivcrnnient. NF.W YOKK. Dee. 2. Plans for the coni-riptlon of Hrltlsh subjects III the United States were described here 'today by Sir Frederick F.dwln Smi'h, .attorney-general of Hrent Hritaln, I who arrived in Ibis country yesterday I on u mission ;o lay tne matter oeroro . the government at Washington. j "ArraiigemcnM to have Hrltlsh subjects of mllit'iiy years returned to thi ir country of origin unless they have already Joined military forces voluntarily have been made with vir tually all of our allies." Sir Frederick sal'l, "an l we hope to make slmilal arrangements now for America." After thi"! years of war, he said. It was found there was thousands of Kussinn .lews In London who h id not i Joined the Knglish rones and wouiit i.ot return to Kossia because they I said tin y feared political persecution there. They wre given the option. he said, of going back or Joining tho rtltmh force-i, and were forced to do one or the other, despite the agita tions they started. TO PURCHASE CUBAN SUGAR More Tnan Tliri-o Million Tons Aro Sought for Allies. NEW YOKK, Dee. 26. Negotiations for the purchase of a large part of tlu! Cuban sugar crop now being harvested and amounting to an estimated 3. COO,- I win pay ior lis ireigni us in mo ,..ii 000 tons, for the use of the Unitodmnd will stand its part of In -reused States and its allies, have been vlr-1 freight tariffs if they are found to be tu.ally completed by the International commit1 e and tho Cuban committee appointed by President Menocal of Cuba, It was announced here ti day. The price was said to be $4.60 a hun dred pounds, f. o. b., Cuba. Tho formalities of the agreement. It was said after a Joint session ot tho two committees toduy, will be com pleted within ton days or two weeks on the return here of Sir Joseph White Todd ar.d J. Ramsey Drake, the Hut ish members of the International com mittee. They have been making a tour of the Cuban sugar fields as a result ot the negotiations which were started some time ago. Meanwhile. It was announced, Cu ban producers will make every effort to forwurd their new crop sugar ns fast as ship can be obtained. The stringency will also be further re lieved. It was stated, by tho release fer domestic consumption of four thou sand tons ot sugar for Swedish ship ment, which la held her. PRESIDENT TO ASSUME POSSESSION OF ALL LINES FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28 Formal Proclamation Issued Announcing That Secretary McAdoo Has Been Appointed Director General CONGRESS WILL GIVE GUARANTEES Net Operating Income in Each Case Shall Equal the Average Net Operating Income of Three Years Preceding June 30, 1917. WASHINGTON, Dec. 26. Government possession and op eration of the nation's railroads for the war was proclaimed by President Wilson tonight, to become effective at noon next Friday, December 28. William G. McAdoo, retaining his place in the cabinet as secretary of the treasury, is placed in charge as director general of railroads. Every railroad engaged in general transportation, with its appurtenances, including steamship lines, is taken over and all systems will be operated as one under the director-general. In a statement accompanying his proclamation, the president announced that as soon as congress reassembles he will recom mend legislation guaranteeing prewar earnings and mainten ance of railroad properties in good repair. Government backing will be given to new issues of railroad securities that a ready market may be found. More Came as Surprise. The president's move, altho forecast for weeks, came at this time as a great surprise to nearly everybody in Washing ton, including railroad officials. It had been generally be lieved he would await the reassembling of congress before tak ing any step. He acted thru Secretary of War Baker, under authority conferred in the army appropriation act. Direct management of the roads will remain in the hands of railroad, officials and the railroads war board, comprised of five railroad heads, will continue to direct actual operation under Secretary McAdoo's general supervision. The chief practical effect of gov-1 eminent operation will be to permit , , ..,.,, ,,. r n riil -vs. i,,ltl,wl Ths situation was fully realized by President Wilson, who In hlH state- mi nt declared the roads had gone lis for ns thev could and that already ! s,onie systems were endangering their earnings In attempting unification l-ixcinptM InlcrurhaiiH. Altho the proclamation applies to all electric lines engages in gcnral transportation local interurbtn sys Inmn ure Rliee lflcallv exempted. Con- j gress will be asked to guarantee ear lens eoniva lent to the average nil operating Income of each railroad in the three-year period ending June 30, 1917. Kailroad experts estimate that this will cost the government next year In tho neitibtiorhooa f Ol 1100.000.000. whleh can be raised In i larue part by Increased freights If1 the Interstate commerce commission (.rants the roads' application for the i 15 per cent rate Increase now pending." otherwise It will lie paid largely out of the general government funds. The Interstate commerce commis sion nnd other government agencies wtiieh have to do with the ri Iroads will continue to perform their func- Hons us heretofore, except that they will be subject to orders of the di rector of railroads. Hailromls Dili Tlu-lr Mi-M. The president makes It clear that his decision was not made because of any failure on the part of the rall ri.a.ls to perform their whole duty Insofar ui they could while li.imperid I i.s uiey were oy it-niu i -nii i w-oin. I "The committee of railroad exeeu- i . .. H,.lt,.lllPnt "n,.1Vp done ,ltmost that it was possible for . . ,,, ,v,,. .,. .nrfl.-ol. ,. , ',,,. rn,.1(, ,,,. nr licutrHlizo. In mere fairness to them the full authority of the government must bo substituted." The plan of control as outlined in the proclamation and statement leaves much unsaid us to details, but the general scheme appears to follow closely tho Hrltlsh system. In F.i-.g-land, however, government freight Is curried free and tho guaranteed earn repine an enormous i amount or money from government funds, while ings require an enormous amount of te i nteu .-mies wir government J necessary Aside from the president's state. ment there was no comment in theerni transportation, whether operated capital tonight on tne government s , ,y steam or electric power, including move. Secretary McAdoo declined to n'so terminals, terminal companies bo diioted and memhers of the rall-!and termihul associations, sleeping road's war board said they would have 'nnd parior cars, private cars and pri no statement to make until tomorrow. I vata car lines, elevators, warehouse. President's laiK'lamallon. Following Is the president' procla mation.: "liy the president of the United States of America. "A proclamation: "Whei ins, the congress of United States in tho exercise of oonst.lt'itlonal ailnotlty vented the the them by lolnt resolution of tho senate and house of representatives, bearing date April 6, 1917, resolved: "That tho state of war between thi United States and the Imperial der- man government which has thus been thrust upon the United States, Is hero - by formally dvcinred; and that the presldent be, nnd he Is hereby author ized ami directed to employ the en tire naval and military forces of tre United States and the resources of the government to carry on war agalns the Imperial Herman government, and to bring tho conflict to a success ful tei mination, all of the resource of the country nre hereby pledged by the confers of the fnlted State. "And by Joint lesolntlon bearlni date of December V, 1917, resolved: "That a state of war Is hereby de clared to exist between the L niteo j stHtns of America and the imperla and royal Auvtio-iiungnrtan govern ment; ami that the president be, nno ho Is herel-v authorized and directed to employ the entire naval and mili tary forces of the United States, and tho resources of trio government t' carry on war against the imperial nnd royal Austro-Hiingarlan govern ment; and to bring the conflict to r. successful termination, all the re sources vif the country are hereb ' pledged by the congress of the United Slates. i "And whereas, it Is provided ny sec- l.l-.. 1 A ..... n ..I l.t. -(. tl'-o 1 HI inn ii;i !(', --ii .t.mmv ..'. Hl i,l.l ,., n..,L-:n,. a...,,-,. priatlons for the support of the arm for the fiscal vear ending June 30 1917, and for other purposes,' as fol lows: Power to Tnko l'osnesslon. "The president in time of war p empowered, thru the secretary of vi to lake possession and assume contr of any system or systems of tran- portatlon or any part thereof, nnd to ntjllze the same, to the t-xclupioii if far ns may be necessary of all other traffic tln-reon for the transfer t iransportatlon of troops, war materl.il and equipment, or for such other pur poses connected with the emergency as may be needful or deniable. "And whereas. It has now become necessary In the national defense te ake posossion and assume control of , , KVstems of trail mortatlon anl to utilize the same, to the exclusion as may be necessary of other than war traffic thereon, for the transportation of troops, war material and eiiily. ment therefor and for other needful und desirable purposes connected wi'h th prl-eeiition of the war; "Now. therefore. I, Woolro-.y Wil son, president of the United States, under and by virtue of tho powers vested In me by the foregoing resolu tions and statute, und by virtue of all other powers thereto me enabling, do hereby thru Newton D. Haker, s'.- retary of war, take posse sion and as sume control nt 12 o'clock noon on tbe -JMh duy of tierember. 1917, of each , ,, e .er. BV(item of transportation ,,,, tnf the appurtenances thereof locat ed wholly or In part within the hound -irl-s of the continental United States und consisting of railroads and ownod or controlled Mystems of coastwise n I Inland transportation, engaged In gn- telegraph and telephone lines and all other equipment and appurtenances commonly used upon or operated as a part of such rull or combined ruil an l water systems of transportation to the end that such systems of trans portation be utilized for the transfer und transportation of troops, war mi- jlnlterlal und equipment to tiie exclusion so rut us may te neccessarv or en other traffic thereon; un I that so far us siii h exclusive use be not necess.iry or desirable, such systems of transpor tation be operated und utilized in ths pcrfoi ma nr! of such other service at 'the national Interest jnay require and contini ed on puis twelve