Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-12-29
PARALLEL LINES TO
FORFEIT FREIGHT OR
PASSENGER TRAFFIC
One or More Such Systems to
Be Devoted to Moving
Country's Supplies.
RAILROAD MEN CONSIDER
METHODS OF EFFICIENCY
Railroads Refer Demand of Men
for 20 Per Cent Increase to the
Government.

UOVcIumcut.
The railroads have definitely
refused the demand OF their or
ganized employees for 40 per
cent increases in pay. and have
turned the responsibility en-
tirely over to the government.
The railway executives here to-
day in letting their decision be
known, made no concealment OF
their feeling that government
operation is step toward gov
ernment ownership, and made
clear they felt the public and
the stockholders would de-
mand it.
At the same time it became
known the railroads had re-
fused the brotherhoods de-
mands it was learned that the
railway workers had decided
not to press their request for a
period Of at least thirty days, or
until it is seen just what the
railroad situation will be.
One of the plans under con-
sideration for handling railroad
finances is the formation of a
government corporation under
the director general of rail
roads to buy and market rail-
road securities.
Two important moves are under con-
sideration by railroad men today ~
steps toward carrying out the Injunction
Of william, G. McAdoo, director general
Of railroads, to "make every possible eff
fort to increase efficiency and to move
traffic by the most convenient and ex-
peditious route"
One is the wholesale withdrawal of
passenger trains from certain lines
which parallel each other, and devot-
ing one or more of the parallel lines
entirely to hauling freight.
The other is recommendation for
nationwide embargoes on certain
products not deemed essential to the
prosecution of the war or the actual
needs OF the civilian population.
The railroads war board today d.
rected the operating committee OF east
ern railroads. with headquarters at
Pittsburgh, to remove Immediately to
washington, to sit here with the board.
Willingly assuming the responsible
ity entailed when Director General
McAdoo drafted them into temporary
service to aid in the federal operation
of railroads, the railroads war board
today was in executive session consfd-
ering what specific steps may be TAX
en- under the Presidents proclamation
and the sweeping Injunction of Mr.. Nc
Adoo.
Official Statement Lacking.
No official statement has come from
the railroads board. Its members now
consider that they are in duty bound
to make reports TO Mr.. McAdoo. They
have no power to act, bu1 they nave
been invited TO submit recommended
tions TO the director general. and also
constitute the accredited representa-
tiyes Of all the railway executives in
the country.
II was learned on good authority to-
day that removal of all through pas
senger trains from either the Pennsyl-
ysnia or the Baltimore and Ohio be-
tween here and New York, and utiliza-
tion OF one road for passenger traffic
f..
accommodation trains, is under serious
consideration. The question of per-
mitting the Baltimore and Ohio trains
to enter the PennsylVsnia terminal III
New York also is being discussed, and
action upon this would depend upon the
working out of the interreIated problem
of a division of passenger and freight
traffic between the two lines.
Railroad men believe not even the alb
soiute unification OF railroads now per
missibie will enable the railroads of the
country to carry all the freight now
offered them and continue the present
frequent passenger schedules There
fore. they will urge Mir. MeAdoo to per-
classes of freight. to be modified in
various sections when condIlIons Jdsti-
fy. 10 permit extensive cut >ailment of
passenger trains. and to have some one
government official pass upon all
priority shipments.
Embargo Has Been Urged.
a general freight embargo has beer
urged before by the roads. a list o.
some 500 commodities considered non
essential was forwarded to Judge Rob
ert S. Loyett. government priorities di
rector, month ago. but no action wa
taken The railroad representative
touched upon this question in their tall
with Mr.. McAdoo yesterday
To permit such an embargo would re
verse the policy the government so fa
has followed. in that IL would virtual,
create a list Of non-essential commodi
ties. which. 1t has been stated, is wha
the war industries board seeks to avoid
Hitherto the movement of certain com
modities has been expedited through
the issuance of priorities orders. tn
most recent Of which is that efrectiv
December IL. which made five classi
fications of freight to be given prefer
ence.
Commodities not under these classic,
cations were received by some roads
and shipped when possible; while othe
roads created embargoes of their ow,
against commodities which would in
terfere with priority consignments
These embargoes were reported to tn
railroads war board when made. an,
when lifted. But there has so far bee,
no absolute national embargo on an.
sort of freight
Director General McAdoo today con
Continued on Fourth PagS)