Proclamation of the President of the United States

Proclamation of the President of the United States

Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924

WWP25159

No date

Creation of the National Public Utilities War Board.

Library of Congress, Woodrow Wilson Papers

Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum

World War, 1914-1918--United States

United States. National Public Utilities War Board

Morgan Willer

English

Document scan was taken from Library of Congress microfilm reel of the Wilson Papers. WWPL volunteers transcribed the text.

PROCLAMATION OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

WHEREAS the local Public Utility Companies - such as Street Railway, Electric Light & Power, and Gas Companies - are intimately connected with and are essential to the successful prosecution of the war; and

WHEREAS several months ago, the Secretary of the Treasury directed the attention of the President to the existence of “a genuine apprehension regarding the adequacy, under present conditions, of the service and rates” of such Utility Companies, which then existed, and which since then has grown more grave; and

WHEREAS the maintenance of the efficiency and solvency of such Utility Companies in war times is a matter of National necessity and solicitude; and

WHEREAS the operating costs of these Companies have, within the last few months, increased to such an extent as to menace not only the solvency, but in many instances the continued operation of the properties themselves, and these teniencies,, unless promptly and effectively checked, will lead to financial and industrial disorder; and

WHEREAS it has become apparent that the local authorities are unable to furnish adequate relief promptly; and

WHEREAS the War and Navy Departments and the Emergency Fleet Corporation are apprehensive of the effect of such progressive tendencies; and the need of Federal intervention and co-operation for timely relief of such Utilities has been recommended by the Secretary of the Treasury, the Comptroller of the Currency, the Governor of the Federal Reserve Board and Managing Director of the War Finance Corporation, as well as the Joint Chairman of the War Labor Board; and

WHEREAS the co-operation of the Federal Government has been expressly invited by the War Board of the National Association of Railway and Utilities Commissioners;

NOW THEREFORE, I, Woodrow Wilson, President of the United States of America, do hereby (create the National Public Utilities War Board), (designate and appoint__________________as National Commissioner for the Public Utilities), to represent the Federal interests in the maintenance of the efficiency and credit of such public utilities, and I do hereby prescribe that the duties of said (Board) (Commissioner) shall be:

1st: To make recommendations and suggestions as to rates to local regulatory bodies or agencies;

2nd: In places where such bodies or agencies do not exist, or are inadequate, or have insufficient power, to make to the proper authorities such recommendations as in their judgment may be necessary to secure continued and efficient service;

3rd: In respect to Electric Railways, where these local regulatory bodies or agencies do not exist, or are inadequate, or do not act with the necessary promptness, to take over, upon authority from the President, the possession and control of such properties and fix the rates of service therefor;

4th: To exercise such further powers as may be hereafter delegated to the said (Board) (Commissioner) by the President.

I do hereby appoint (as members of said National Public Utilities War Board___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ and I do hereby appoint________________________________as Chairman of said Board) (___________________as National Commissioner for the Public Utilities).

NOW, THEREFORE, I hereby urge all local authorities, public service corporations, and the public generally to co-operate fully and patriotically with the (Board hereby established) (National Commissioner hereby appointed) for the maintenance of the efficiency and credit of these necessary instrumentalities in these times of national peril.

Proclamation