Bisbee daily review., 1917-12-08
FUTURE OF R. R.
 CONTROL RESTS
 WITH PRESIDENT
(By Review Leased Wire)

IktNlch l-Gdntu " llG.D WASHINGTON. Dee. "A decision as to the governments attitude to- ward the railroads. involving sugges- tions for either government opera ton during the war or suspension Of antitrust laws and financial support still rested tonight with President Wilson. No move was looked for until after Monday, when the president will go over the entire subject with Sena- tor Newlands, chairman of the con gressional Investigating transporta- tion problems.
 Today. however. brought three i'm portant developments in the situation They were:
 An order by Robert s. Lovett, di- rector of priority. giving preferential shipment to fuel. food and govern, ment supplies over all general freight.
 Indications that, the government will name a general traffic manager to take entire charge of the move ment of government supplies and war materials.
 New Management Unnecessary
 A statement from Fairfax Harrison, chairman of the railway war board, that the roads under present direction are prepared to furnish all the trans portation possible to obtain under any management.
 The president is viewing the prob lem from every angle His advisers are by no means of one mind on the subject, and their proposals have run all the way from a policy of govern ment seizure to that of hands-of attitude. leaving the roads to work the problem out themselves. He gave careful study to the interstate com merce commissions recommendation to congress that the government op- crate the roads or suspend during the war laws which prevent a complete pooling and a consequent unificatiOn of all rail systems.
 Priority Order Issued
 Today's priority order, effective De cember 12. is the first general order issued by the government classifying materials for shipment. It was issued at the urgent request of the food and fuel administrations and government departments. The railroads have op- posed it on the ground that it would retard rather than expedite ship ments.
 The materials classified today will move in the following order:
 Railroad fuel; livestock. perishable foods and feeds; military supplies, other government supplies on special request; coal for coking plants and coal for current use The movement of coal is prescribed in a manner similar to a request for preferential shipment for specified requirements requested of producers several days ago by Fuel Administrator Garfield.
 Certain Classes Not Affected
 The new order does not affect pri- ority order No. 2, relative to open top cars; No. 2, relative To movement of coal from mines in Utah and Wy oming, and No. 4, relative to ship ments of cattle feed to Texas and New Mexico.
 The intimation that the government win name a traffic manager came from the railroad war board. whicn has urged the appointment of such a man 10 coordinate demands by vari- ous government departments for pri- ority for their shipments. Edwar Chambers of the Santa Fe system, now traffic manager of the food ad- ministration. has been suggested for the place.
 Highest Efficiency
 Mir Harrison's statement was inter preted as an answer to suggestions for government operation of railroads It was given out at the railroad war boards offices and replied to declara- tions that the railroads have broken down under the strain of war. After asserting that the roads could not be operated more efficiently under different management. Mir. Harrison said:
 "The point of the whole matter IS that the railroads have been operated with the highest efficiency and have until now transported without sub stantial complaint the greatest vol tune of traffic in the history of the country.
 Financial Aid Necessary
 ''The roads under direction of tre railroad war board are prepared with out reservation to make common use of facilities. power and equipment to accomplish the highest measure of success in the transportation effort of the country"
 Members of the board feel that gov ernment financial aid is necessary
 A government loan. according to the railroad men. would not relieve the immediate situation. but would he of incalculable value if the war lasts long and traffic remains heavv It is impossible. thev say. to obtain from banks money for extension, because the money is going into war materials Heavy shipments of cars and loco motives to France and Russia have caused domestic orders to be set aside.