South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-12-29
SPEED FREIGHT
IN FIRST ORDER
Of NC ADOO
Wires All Rail Heads to Move
Traffic by Most Conven-
lent and Direct
Routes.

. AAtOu EIlQdy g SCI -hGAuOO utSl5
mated by Pres't Wilson as director
general Of the railroads was dele
eating TO the railroad war board
the task OF operating them for the
present.
The war board, comprising FIVE
Of the country's foremost railroad
executive who have been in supreme
charge of the roads for the past
nine months, were called into con-
ference at II o'clock TO discuss
rians for welding all transportation
into single government operated
sy stem. They left the treasury de
partment two hours later under in
structiOns 10 continue their func-
tienS and 10 submit Immediately a
plan of operation 10 the director
general.
McAdoO Urges Freight Speeded Up.
Friday night Mr.. McAdoo issued
his first formal order designed 10
speed up freight movement. teIe-
graphing all railroad presidents and
directors instructions 10 move traf-
fc by the most convenient and di-
rect routes. At the same time he
ordered them to continue operation
Of their lines in conformity with the
presidents proclamation putting
them under government control
There was no indication Friday
night whether Mr.. McAdoo intended
eventually TO displace the war board
with an organization Of his own, Hr
to continue its organization for the
duration of the war. Ii was clear.
| however, that il will continue 20
function Until the director general
decides that a better system can DE
devised
Opens Way for Traffic Pool.
The order that freight move by
the most expeditions roU-es opens
the way for a pooling of traffic i'm
possible heretofore by reason OF
statutes designed 10 prevent the
practice by carriers operated under
private direction. 1t takes from the
shipper the right TO route his
freight as he wishes and leaves the
railroad traffic manager the task
of sending il most directly ana
/ where there is least congestion. The
order follows:
posed upon me by and in pursuance
of the proclamation OF the presi-
dent dated Dec. &c, 1917. you will
until otherwise ordered, continue
the operation OF your road in con-
formity with said proclamation. You
are requested to make every pos
sible effort to increase efficiency
and 10 move traffic by the most
convenient and expeditions routes.
I confidently count on your hearty
cooperation. II is only through
united effort. unselfsh service and
| effective work that this work that
this war can be won and Americas
future be secured
UnifcatiOn To Take Time.
Although Mr.. McAdoo does not
believe a complete unifcation Of all
rail systems can be brought about
overnight even with legal restric-
tions lifted. he fully expects meas
ures taken under government con-
troll will remove some Of the o9
stacles that now prevent the rapid
movement of freight. Members Of
the war board were requested 10
study the situation and report on
any measures to relieve congestion
they think might wisely be put INFO
force
Thus far the director general has
made no plans for a staff, although
il is considered likely that one OF
his legal assistants will be John
Parton Payne of Chicago. now legal
adviser to Chairman Hurley OF thc
shipping board lie asked the war
board today for complete chart OF
its organization which was furnish
ed Friday night.
In drafting into service the var
board organization the director zen
eral takes over the services Of all
the boards committees, including
the operating committee OF eastern
railroads headed by A. w. Thomp-
son. Of the Baltimore and Ohio. lie
obtains the services as we'll Of thc
boards car service commission,
which now is assisting the inter
state commerce commission in dis
tributing cars.
Terminals Open TO All.
Pooling OF railroad equipment,
already started by the war board,
viii be. carried much further under
government operation. Common use
especially Will be made OF terminal
facilities and Mr.. McAdoO asked he
war board today for a special report
on terminal facilities and the eX-
tent 20 which they may be pooled.
An early measure 10 relieve con-
restion. it was minated tonight,
viii be a denial 20 transportation
10 non essential commodities. Trat-
&c that is considered unnecessary
will be cut off, including both pas
scrger and freight movement.
Nemb OF the war board u-Iei
strongly on Mr.. McAdoo today the
necessity Of cutting down on some
forms Of traffic. They pointed ont
that the United States is the only
nation at war which is attempting
20 move a great amount Of var
freight and at the same time asking
IFS railroads TO transport as we'll
all commercial freight regardless
OF its importance.
This subject will be left largely
10 r. 5. Lovett. government director
OF priority. who attended Fridays
conference. Priority questions gem
orally will be given early attention.
The railroad heads today told NJ.