Official Document Text
Source: The American Presidency Project (UCSB Archive)
WHEREAS I find that as a result of labor disturbances there are interruptions, and threatened interruptions, of the operations of the transportation systems owned or operated by the carriers by railroad named in the list attached hereto and made a part hereof; that it has become necessary to take possession and assume control of the said transportation systems for purposes that are needful or desirable in connection with the present emergency; and that the exercise, as hereinafter specified, of the powers vested in me is necessary to insure in the national interest the operation of the said transportation systems: NOW, THEREFORE, by virtue of the power and authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, including the act of August 29, 1916, 39 Stat. 619, 645, as President of the United States and as Commander in Chief of the armed forces of the United States, it is hereby ordered as follows: 1. Possession, control, and operation of the transportation systems owned or operated by the carriers by railroad named in the list attached hereto and hereby made a part hereof are hereby taken and assumed, through the Secretary of the Army (hereinafter referred to as the Secretary) as of 4 o'clock P.M. Eastern Standard Time, August 27, 1950; but such possession and control shall be limited to real and personal property and other assets used or useful in connection with the operation of the transportation systems of the said carriers. If and when the Secretary finds it necessary or appropriate for carrying out the purposes of this order, he may, by appropriate order, take possession and assume control of all or any part of any transportation system of any other carrier by railroad located in the continental United States. 2. The Secretary is directed to operate, or to arrange for the operation of, the transportation systems taken under, or which may be taken pursuant to, 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 the provisions of this order the secretary may act through or with the aid of such public or private instrumentalities or persons as he may designate, and may delegate such of his authority as he may deem necessary or desirable. The Secretary may issue such general and special orders, rules, and regulations as may be necessary or appropriate for carrying out the provisions, and to accomplish the purposes, of this order. All Federal agencies shall comply with the orders of the Secretary issued pursuant to this order and shall cooperate to the fullest extent of their authority with the Secretary in carrying out the provisions of this order. 4. The Secretary shall permit the management of carriers whose transportation systems have been taken under, or which may be taken pursuant to, the provisions of this order to continue their respective 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, receivers, officers, and employees of such carriers shall continue the operation of the said transportation systems, including the collection and disbursement of funds thereof, in the usual and ordinary course of the business of the carriers, in the names of their respective companies, and by means of any agencies, associations, or other instrumentalities now utilized by the carriers. 5. Except so far as the Secretary shall from time to time otherwise determine and provide by appropriate orders or regulations, existing contracts and agreements to which carriers whose transportation systems have been taken under, or which may be taken pursuant to, the provisions of this order are parties, shall remain in full force and effect. Nothing in this order shall have the effect of suspending or releasing any obligation owed to any carrier affected hereby, and all payments shall be made by the persons obligated to the carrier to which they are or may become due. Except as the Secretary may otherwise direct, there may be made, in due course, payments of dividends on stock, and of principal, interest, sinking funds, and all other distributions upon bonds, debentures, and other obligations; and expenditures may be made for other ordinary corporate purposes. 6. Until further order of the President or the Secretary, the said transportation systems shall be managed and operated under the terms and conditions of employment in effect on August 20, 19850, without prejudice to existing equities or to the effectiveness of such retroactive provisions as may be included in the final settlement of the disputes between the carriers and the workers. The Secretary shall recognize the right of the workers to continue their membership in labor organizations, to bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing with the representatives of the owners of the carriers, subject to the provisions of applicable law, as to disputes between the carriers and the workers; and to engage in concerted activities for the purpose of such collective bargaining or for other mutual aid or protection, provided that in his opinion such concerted activities do not interfere with the operation of the transportation systems taken hereunder, or which may be taken pursuant hereto. 7. Except as this order otherwise provides and except as the Secretary may otherwise direct, the operation of the transportation systems taken hereunder, or which may be taken pursuant hereto, shall be in conformity with the Interstate Commerce Act, as amended, the Railway Labor Act, as amended, the Safety Appliance Acts, the Employers' Liability Acts, and other applicable Federal and State laws, Executive orders, local ordinances, and rules and regulations issued pursuant to such laws, Executive orders, and ordinances. 8. Except with the prior written consent of the Secretary, no receivership, reorganization, or similar proceeding affecting any carrier whose transportation system is taken hereunder, or which may be taken pursuant hereto, shall be instituted; and no attachment by mesne process, garnishment, execution, or otherwise shall be levied on or against any of the real or personal property or other assets of any such carrier; provided that nothing herein shall prevent or require approval by the Secretary of any action authorized or required by any interlocutory or final decree of any United States court in reorganization proceedings now pending under the Bankruptcy Act or in any equity receivership cases now pending. 9. The Secretary is authorized to furnish protection for persons employed or seeking employment in or with the transportation systems of which possession is taken hereunder, or which may be taken pursuant hereto; to furnish protection for such transportation systems; and to furnish equipment, manpower, and other facilities or services deemed necessary to carry out the provisions and to accomplish the purposes of this order. 10. From and after 4 o'clock P.M., Eastern Standard Time, on the said 27th day of August, 1950, all properties taken under, or which may be taken pursuant to this order shall be conclusively deemed to be within the possession and control of the United States without further act or notice. 11. Possession, control, and operation of any transportation system, or any part thereof, or of any real or personal property taken under, or which may be taken pursuant to, this order shall be terminated by the Secretary when he determines that such possession, control, and operation are no longer necessary to carry out the provisions and to accomplish the purposes of this order. LIST EASTERN REGION Corporate name of railroad Location of operating headquarters The Ann Arbor R.R. Co. -------------------------------------------------- Owosso, Mich. Boston & Albany R.R. (the New York Central New York, N.Y. R.R. Co., lessee Boston & Maine R.R. ------------------------------------------------------Boston, Mass. The Buffalo Creek R.R. Co. (Erie R.R. Co. & Buffalo, N.Y. Lehigh Valley R.R. Co., lessees). Canadian National Ry. Co. Lines in New England --------------- Montreal, Quebec. Canadian Pacific Ry. Co. Lines in New England -------------------- Do. Central Vermont Ry., Inc. ----------------------------------------------- St. Albans, Vt. The Champlain & St. Lawrence R.R. Co.------------------------------ Montreal, Quebec. (Canadian National Ry. Co., lessee). The Chesapeake & Ohio Ry. Co., Pere Marquette District -------- Detroit, Mich. Chicago, Indianapolis & Louisville Ry. Co. ------------------------- Lafayette, Ind. The Chicago River & Indiana R.R. Co. ------------------------------ Chicago, Ill. The Cincinnati Union Terminal Co. ---------------------------------- Cincinnati, Ohio. The Cleveland Union Terminals Co. --------------------------------- Cleveland, Ohio. The Delaware & Hudson R.R. Corp. --------------------------------- Albany, N.Y. The Delaware, Lackawanna & Western R.R. Co -------------------- New York, N.Y. The Detroit & Toledo Shore Line R.R. Co. ------------------------- Detroit, Mich. Detroit Terminal R.R. Co. --------------------------------------------- Do. Detroit, Toledo & Ironton R.R. Co. ---------------------------------- Dearborn, Mich. Erie Railroad Co. --------------------------------------------------------- Cleveland, Ohio. The Federal Valley R.R. Co. ------------------------------------------ Do. The Fort Street Union Depot Co. -------------------------------------- Detroit Mich. Grand Trunk Western R.R. Co. --------------------------------------- Do. Indiana Harbor Belt R.R. Co. ------------------------------------------ Chicago, Ill. The Lake Terminal R.R. Co. ------------------------------------------- Lorain, Ohio Lehigh & New England R.R. Co. -------------------------------------- Bethlehem, PA. Lehigh Valley R.R. Co. ------------------------------------------------- New York, N.Y. The Lorain & West Virginia Ry. Co. --------------------------------- Cleveland, Ohio. Louisville & Jeffersonville Bridge & R.R. Co. ---------------------- New York, N.Y. Maine Central R.R. Co. ------------------------------------------------- Portland, Maine The Monongahela Ry. Co. ---------------------------------------------- Pittsburgh, Pa. Montour R.R. Co. -------------------------------------------------------- Do. The New York Central R.R. Co. --------------------------------------- New York, N.Y. New York Central R.R. - Buffalo and east New York Central R.R. - West of Buffalo Michigan Central R.R. Cincinnati, Cleveland, Chicago & St. Louis Ry. Peoria & Eastern Ry. Ohio Central. The New York, Chicago & St. Louis R.R. Co. ----------------------- Cleveland, Ohio. The New York, New Haven & Hartford R.R. Co. ------------------- New Haven, Conn. New York, Ontario & Western Ry. ------------------------------------ Middletown, N.Y. Northampton & Bath R.R. Co. ----------------------------------------- Northampton, Pa. The Pittsburgh & Lake Erie R.R. Co. --------------------------------- Pittsburgh, Pa. The Pittsburgh & West Virginia Ry. Co. ----------------------------- Do. Pittsburgh, Chartiers & Youghlogheny Ry. Co. --------------------- Do. Portland Terminal Co. --------------------------------------------------- Portland, Maine. Toledo, Peoria & Western R.R. ---------------------------------------- Peoria, Ill. The River Terminal Ry. Co. --------------------------------------------- Cleveland, Ohio. Union Freight R. R. Co. (Boston, Mass.). ---------------------------- Boston, Mass. The United States & Canada R.R. Co. (Canadian National Ry. Montreal, Quebec. Co., lessee). Wabash R.R. Co. --------------------------------------------------------- St. Louis, MO. ALLEGHENY REGION The Akron, Canton & Youngstown R.R. Co. ------------------------ Akron, Ohio. The Baltimore & Ohio Chicago Terminal R.R. Co. ----------------- Chicago, Ill. The Baltimore & Ohio R.R. Co. --------------------------------------- Baltimore, Md. Bessemer & Lake Erie R.R. Co. -------------------------------------- Pittsburgh, Pa. Brooklyn Eastern District Terminal ---------------------------------- Brooklyn, N.Y. Bush Terminal R.R. Co. ------------------------------------------------ Do. Chicago Union Station Co. --------------------------------------------- Chicago, Ill. The Central R.R. Co. of New Jersey------------------------------------- Jersey City, N.J. Central R.R. Co. of Pennsylvania --------------------------------------- Do. Curtis Bay R.R. Co. --------------------------------------------------------Baltimore, Md. Hudson & Manhattan R.R. Co.--------------------------------------------New York, N.Y. The Huntingdon & Broad Top Mountain R.R. & Coal Co. (C. Huntingdon, Pa. Stevenson Newhail, trustee). The Indianapolis Union Ry. Co.-------------------------------------------Indianapolis, Ind. The Jay Street Connecting R.R. Brooklyn, N.Y. The Long Island R.R. Co. (David E. Smucker and Hunter L. Jamaica, N.Y. Delatour, trustees) McKeesport Connecting R.R. Co. ------------------------------------- Pittsburgh, Pa. New York Dock Ry ----------------------------------------------------- Philadelphia, Pa. The Pennsylvania R.R. Co. -------------------------------------------- Philadelphia, Pa. Baltimore & Eastern R.R. Co. -------------------------------- Do. Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines ------------------------------- Camden, N.J. Reading Co. -------------------------------------------------------------- Philadelphia, Pa. The Staten Island Rapid Transit Ry. Co. ----------------------------- New York, N.Y. The Washington Terminal Co. ----------------------------------------- Washington, D.C. SOUTHEASTERN REGION THE Alabama Great Southern R.R. Co. ------------------------------ Washington, D.C. Atlantic Coast Line R.R. Co. ------------------------------------------- Wilmington, N.C. Atlanta & West Point R.R. Co. ----------------------------------------- Atlanta, Ga. Central of Georgia Ry. Co. --------------------------------------------- Savannah, Ga. Charleston & Western Carolina Ry. Co. ----------------------------- Washington, D.C. Cincinnati, Burnside & Cumberland River Ry. Co. ---------------- Washington, D.C. The Cincinnati, New Orleans & Texas Pacific Ry. Co ------------- Do. Clinchfield R.R. Co. ----------------------------------------------------- Erwin, Tenn. Florida East Coast Ry. Co. (Scott M. Lostin and John W. St. Augustine, Fla. Martin, trustees). Georgia R.R. -------------------------------------------------------------- Atlanta, Ga. Georgia Southern & Florida Ry. Co. ---------------------------------- Washington, D.C. Gulf, Mobile & Ohio R.R. Co. ------------------------------------------ Mobile, Ala. Harriman & Northeastern R.R. Co. ------------------------------------- Washington, D.C. Illinois Central R.R. Co. -------------------------------------------------- Chicago, Ill. Chicago & Illinois Western R.R. ------------------------------- Do. Jacksonville Terminal Co. ------------------------------------------------ Jacksonville, Fla. Kentucky & Indiana Terminal R.R. Co. ------------------------------- Louisville, Ky. Louisville & Nashville R.R. Co. ---------------------------------------- Do. The Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Ry. ------------------------- Nashville, Tenn. New Orleans & Northeastern R.R. Co. -------------------------------- Washington, D.C. Norfolk Southern Ry. Co. ----------------------------------------------- Norfolk, Va. Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac R.R. Co. -------------------- Richmond, Va. Seaboard Air Line R.R. Co. --------------------------------------------- Norfolk, Va. Southern Ry. Co. ---------------------------------------------------------- Washington, D.C. Tennessee Central Ry. Co. -------------------------------------------- Nashville, Tenn. The Western Railway of Alabama ----------------------------------- Atlanta, Ga. New Orleans Terminal Co. ---------------------------------------------- Washington, D.C. St. Johns River Terminal Co. -------------------------------------------- Washington, D.C. Atlanta Terminal Co. ----------------------------------------------------- Atlanta, Ga. POCAHONTAS REGION The Chesapeake & Ohio Ry. Co., Chesapeake District ----------- Richmond, Va. Norfolk & Portsmouth Belt Line R.R. Co. --------------------------- Norfolk, Va. Norfolk & Western Ry. Co. --------------------------------------------- Roanoke, Va. The Virginia Ry. Co. ----------------------------------------------------- Norfolk, Va. CENTRAL WESTERN REGION The Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Ry. Co. ---------------------------- Chicago, Ill. The Belt Ry. Co. of Chicago -------------------------------------------- Do. Chicago & Eastern Illinois R.R. Co. ----------------------------------- Do. Chicago & Illinois Midland Ry. Co. ----------------------------------- Springfield, Ill. Chicago, Burlington & Quincy R.R. Co. ----------------------------- Chicago, Ill. The Colorado & Southern Ry. Co. ------------------------------------ Denver, Colo. Davenport, Rock Island & Northwestern Ry. Co. ------------------ Davenport, Iowa. The Denver & Rio Grande Western R.R. Co. ------------------------ Denver, Colo. Northwestern Pacific R.R. Co. ----------------------------------------- San Rafael, Calif. Los Angeles Junction Ry. Co. ------------------------------------------ Los Angeles, Calif. Chicago & Western Indiana R.R. Co. ---------------------------------- Chicago, Ill. The Ogden Union Railway & Depot Co. ------------------------------ Ogden, Utah. Oregon, California & Eastern Ry. Co. -------------------------------- San Francisco, Calif. Klamath Falls, Oreg. Peoria & Pekin Union Ry. Co. ---------------------------------------- Peoria, Ill. San Diego & Arizona Eastern Ry. Co. -------------------------------- San Diego, Calif. St. Joseph Terminal R.R. Co. ------------------------------------------ St. Joseph, Mo. Union Pacific R.R. Co. --------------------------------------------------- Omaha, Nebr. The Western Pacific R.R. Co. ------------------------------------------- 526 Mission St., San Francisco, Calif. The Colorado & Wyoming Ry. Co. ----------------------------------- Denver, Colo. Southern Pacific Co. ----------------------------------------------------- San Francisco, Calif. SOUTHWESTERN REGION Abilene & Southern Ry. Co. ------------------------------------------- Dallas, Tex. Alton & Southern R.R. -------------------------------------------------- East St. Louis, Ill. Asherton & Gulf Ry. Co. ------------------------------------------------ Houston, Tex. Asphalt Belt Ry. Co. ----------------------------------------------------- Do. The Beaumont, Sour Lake & Western Ry. Co. ----------------------- Do. East St. Louis Junction R.R. Co. --------------------------------------- National Stock Yards, Ill. Fort Worth & Denver City Ry. Co. ------------------------------------ Fort Worth, Tex. Galveston, Houston & Henderson R.R. Co. ------------------------- Galveston, Tex. Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe Ry. Co. ----------------------------------- Do. Houston & Brazos Valley Ry. Co. ------------------------------------- Houston, Tex. Houston Belt & Terminal Ry. Co. ------------------------------------- Do. International-Great Northern R.R. Co. -------------------------------- Palestine, Tex. The Kansas City Southern Ry. Co. ------------------------------------ Kansas City, Mo. Kansas City Terminal Ry. Co. ----------------------------------------- Do. Kansas, Oklahoma & Gulf Ry. Co. ------------------------------------ Muskogee, Okla. Louisiana & Arkansas Ry. Co. ---------------------------------------- Kansas City, Mo. Manufacturers Ry. Co. -------------------------------------------------- St. Louis, Mo. Midland Valley R.R. Co. ----------------------------------------------- Muskogee, Okla. Missouri-Kansas-Texas R.R. Co. -------------------------------------- St. Louis, Mo. Missouri-Kansas-Texas R.R. Co. of Texas ------------------------ Dallas, Tex. Missouri Pacific R.R. Co. ----------------------------------------------- St. Louis, Mo. New Iberia & Northern R.R. Co. -------------------------------------- Houston, Tex. New Orleans, Texas & Mexico Ry. Co. ------------------------------- Do. Oklahoma City-Ada-Atoka Ry. Co. ---------------------------------- Muskogee, Okla. The Orange & Northwestern R.R. Co. --------------------------------- Houston, Tex. Panhandle & Santa Fe Ry. Co. ------------------------------------------ Amarillo, Tex. Rio Grande City Ry. Co. ------------------------------------------------- Houston, Tex. San Antonio Southern Ry. Co. ------------------------------------------ Do. San Antonio, Uvalde & Gulf R.R. Co. --------------------------------- Do. San Benito & Rio Grand Valley Ry. Co. ------------------------------ Do. The St. Louis, Brownsville & Mexico Ry. Co. ----------------------- Do. St. Louis-San Francisco Ry. Co. ---------------------------------------- St. Louis, Mo. St. Louis-San Francisco & Texas Ry. Co. ----------------------------- Do. St. Louis Southwestern Ry. Co. of Texas ----------------------------- Do. Sugar Land Ry. Co. ------------------------------------------------------- Houston, Tex. Terminal R.R. Association of St. Louis. ------------------------------- St. Louis, Mo. Texas & New Orleans R.R. Co. ----------------------------------------- Houston, Tex. The Texas & New Orleans R.R. Co. ----------------------------------- Dallas, Tex. The Texas Mexican Ry. Co. -------------------------------------------- Laredo, Tex. Texas-New Mexico Ry. Co. -------------------------------------------- Dallas, Tex. Texas Pacific - Missouri Pacific Terminal R.R. of New Orleans-- New Orleans, La. Texas Short Line Ry. Co. ----------------------------------------------- Dallas, Tex. Union Ry. Co. (Memphis, Tenn.) -------------------------------------- Memphis, Tenn. The Union Terminal Co. ------------------------------------------------ Dallas, Tex. The Weatherford, Mineral Wells & Northwestern Ry. Co. -------- Do. The Wichita Valley Ry. Co. -------------------------------------------- Fort Worth, Tex. Forth Worth Belt Ry. Co. ----------------------------------------------- Dallas, Tex. NORTHWESTERN REGION Camas Prairie R.R. Co. -------------------------------------------------- Lewiston, Idaho. Chicago & North Western Ry. Co. ------------------------------------- Chicago, Ill. Chicago Great Western Ry. Co. --------------------------------------- Do. Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific R.R. Co. ------------------- Do. Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Ry. Co. ------------------ Do. Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range Ry. Co. ------------------------------- Duluth, Minn. Iron Range Division. Missabe Division. Duluth, South Shore & Atlantic R.R. Co. ----------------------------- Marquette, Mich. Duluth, Winnipeg & Pacific Ry. Co. ----------------------------------- Montreal, Quebec. Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Ry. Co. ----------------------------------------- Chicago, Ill. Great Northern Ry. Co. -------------------------------------------------- St. Paul, Minn. Green Bay & Western R.R. Co. ---------------------------------------- Green Bay, Wis. The Minneapolis & St. Louis Ry. Co. --------------------------------- Minneapolis, Minn. Minneapolis, St. Paul & Sault Ste. Marie R.R. Co. ------------------ Do. The Minnesota Transfer Ry. Co. ---------------------------------------- St. Paul, Minn. Northern Pacific Ry. Co. ------------------------------------------------- Do. The Northern Pacific Terminal Co. of Oregon --------------------- Portland, Oreg. Oregon Electric Ry. Co. ------------------------------------------------- Do. Oregon Trunk Co. --------------------------------------------------------- Do. Sioux City Terminal Ry. Co. -------------------------------------------- Sioux City, Iowa. Spokane, Portland & Seattle Ry. Co. ----------------------------------- Portland, Oreg. The Saint Paul Union Depot Co. ---------------------------------------- St. Paul, Minn. Des Moines Union Ry. Co. ---------------------------------------------- Des Moines, Iowa. The Railway Transfer Co. of the City of Minneapolis ------------ Minneapolis, Minn. Kewaunee Green Bay & Western R. R. Co. --------------------------- Green Bay, Wis HARRY S. TRUMAN THE WHITE HOUSE, August 25, 1950