Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-12-28

Continued Prom Page IL
Liberty bonds without necessitating
actual government financing of the
railroads.
Existing Laws Unchanged
The legislation which will he recon-
mended to congress would specify that
roads should remain subject to all ex-
listing laws and regulations of the in
terstate commerce commission. Those
who haze given careful thought to the
situation believe the director general
will not modify the existing order radi-
cally at first, but eventually will go far
toward centraIizing authority under the
federal government.
The Association of State Railroad
Commissioners will give full support TO
the new plan so long as their functions
are not reduced materially, but they are
expected to protest against being de-
prived of adjusting minor questions of
rates and rules within their territories.
Express Companies Included
Until Mr.. McAdoo outlines his plans
the status of express companies will MOI
be fully determined. Rolling stock owr
ed by the express companies, which Is
comparatively little, will pass automat
ically under direct government supervis
ion tomorrow when the presidents proc
lamation goes into effect, and eventually
it may be necessary for Mr.. McAdoo tC
take them over to protect their OWL
rights as we'll as to provide the proper
measure of cooperation with railroads
and with each other.
The status of the railroads war board
also is dependent on the director gener'
ais plan of organization. 1t has beer
the medium of transmitting government
orders to all the roads, but this function
ha director
general.
The presidents of many large lines
now receive salaries ranging from $780,
600 to S150.00O a year, and one OF the
first acts of the director general prob
ably will be to cut these sharply. Ter
thousand dollars year is being dis
cussed as a maximum, although there
is no tendency. Some railroad men pre-
dicted that the officers would accept
those reductions willingly in view OF
the fact that they are virtually drafted
for war work.
The saving in salaries would be ap
piled to raising the pay of members OF
the four railway brotherhoods, whose of
ficers conferred today with President
Wilson, and also of other railway en-
ployes. The president was expected e
ask the brotherhood heads to give the
fullest measure of support to govern
ment operation. and to leave their pend
ing demand for higher wages for de-
termination in the future.
Traffic Solicitors Affected
Under government control, every eff
fort will be made to interfere as little
as possible with the personnel of the
companies, but it is considered inevita-
BILE that some employees will be cut off
This applies particularly to the large
stats maintained by many roads solicit
ing traffic. These reductions probably
will be more than offset by the employ
ment of more men for operating.
The effect of government operation or
drafting railroad employees for army
duty is a question to be worked out
but it seems probable that under the
new draft regulations recently put into
effect by Provost Marshal Genera
Crowder, a large proportion of the en-
pIoyes will be considered too valuable
in their present work to be drafted fol-
fighting.
One of the immediate effects of the
new plan will be the rerouting of much
freight now passing over congestec
lines, particularly in the east. The rail
road war board has sought to diver
traffic to lines least overwhelmed, bu'
antipooling regulations have hampereC
it.
Mr. McAdoo is expected TO develop
staff of assistants soon, but probably
will use the existing agencies or the
interstate commerce commission to
large extent.
The name of John SHELTON Williams
now comptroller of the currency anc
one of Mr.. McAdoo's principal lleuten
ants in the treasury. is being mentioned
TODAY as chief executive director under
Mr.. McAdoo. He formerly was a rail-
road financier.
President wilson's proclamation for
railroad control came suddenly. IN
creasing confusion ana congestion III
railroad operation brought about by un'
certainty over the roads future. led him
| to act last evening following visits al
the White House of Chairman Willard
of the war industries board and mem
bers of the interstate commerce com
mission Actual operation of the roads
begins January l to avoid confusion and
effect economies in accounting.
The senate inquiry into the railroad
situation and the workings of the in
terstate commerce commission will star