New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-11

/ Mexican DOIueI anu JilClA AiONC
into Mexican territory indicate that
there is too much tendency to mud
die along with the expectation Of be-
ing able satisfactorily to solve prob
lens as they arise. Avoidable mis-
takes, when the success of a great
war is at stake, are too costly to be
tolerated.
Steps That
Should Be Taken
What steps does the government
need to be prepared to take as re-
CARDS the operation of the railroads
to meet the conditions that will be
created by war with Germany or
any other frst-class power? Pre-
sumably the United States will not
be invaded by a European or Asiatic
power with which it is apt to have
war, but the military measures taken
must be such as to safeguard the
country against invasion as well as
to mobolize and make effective the
resources of the military power of
the country with reference to oper-
ations carried on beyond the borders.
1t is believed the following steps
should be taken:
/. War conditions would require
the government to regard all rail
road lines in the country as consti-
tuting one system. Complete unfit
cation Of the rail transportation ia
cilities of the country would be re-
ouired. This would not necessarily
involve many changes in operating
practice, but it might require i'm
pcrtant redistribution among the
several railroad lines of the total
services to be performed. Broadly
speaking, the transportation ser
vices woSd be so increased and so
changed in character that the traf-
fic to be carried would practically
have to be pooled and the services
divided among the different railroad
companies in such a way as to ac-
complish maximum results with
minimum delays. The officers Of
each railroad system would be
obliged TO consider their lines as a
part of a general transportation
system. Instead Of being concerned
with securing as much traffic as pos
sible for their lines, they would de-
vote their attention and effort to
handling as efficiently as possible
their portion of the total traffic of
the country. Success in securing
this unifcation of the transportation
system would be dependent upon the
executive ability Of the government.
Government Control
An Essential
2. The government Of the United
States must not again make the mis-
take of bargaining and negotiating
with individual railroad companies
to secure the services required for
transportation Of troops, munitions
and other military supplies. The
President must be given such au-
thority by Congress as will enable
him TO notify the railroad companies
what services are needed by the gov
eminent and to require the compa-
MES to perform those services with
all possible dispatch and efficiency.
The government must have first call
upon the railroad services. 1t should
designate the routes over which
troops and supplies are TO be taken.
No time should be wasted in discuss
ing rates or compensation. The ser
vices needed should be performed as
promptly and efficiently as possible
and the railroad should receive such
compensation as Congress may es-
tablsh by law, or as the President
or the Interstate Commerce Com
mission may determine 10 be reason
able. The complete cooperation Of
the railroads with the government
should be required by law and be In
sisted upon by executive policy.
There should be one mind in general
control Of the transportation facili-
ties Of the entire country. and that
should be the mind Of the govern
ment.
3. TO bring about the necessary
unifcation Of the transportation sys-
tenn Of the country, 70 secure full
cooperation Of the railroads with the
government, and 10 use the railway
system Of the country as "A whole
most effectively in performing the