Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-30
tho issuance o, unnecessary ORDER.

tho issuance OF unnecessary ordcrr.
Tho head of tho railroad commiss ion,
in response TO questions regarding the
probable expenditure that would re-
suit from government control OF the
railroads, said he believed the plan
could BIO carried out without great
cost. No money might DO needed at
once. he said, except for additional
terminal facilities at some points.
Tho hearings will be resumed next
Monday. when Chairman Hall will con-
tinue his statement.
Through the railroad war board, Mr..
McAdoo called on all railroad prcsi-
dents to take up vigorously the Ques-
zion Of common use of terminals and
parallel lines, wipinG out competitive
prohibitions, and waving competitive
control or solicitation of traffic. The
result of this action may lie the as
sisnmcnt OF through traffic moving one
way TO certain systems. and the rcscr-
walton of other lines for traffic moving
in an opposite direction
A committee OF presidents Of rail-
ways entering New York was appoint
cd to report as speedily as possible
what Heterogeneous OF passenger and
freight train operations could be made
there to increase efficiency II was
especially suggested that the railroad
heads arrange for pooling docks. car
floats and lighters and marketing
facilities now controlled by individual
railroads.
FIRST EFFORT is TO GET
COAL no THE MARKETS
In the reparations for clearing the
channels of transportation, tho thought
uppcrmost is TO set coal to market TO
relieve the shivcr!nE of householdcrs
where cold wave now is being felt.
TO provide fuel TO make the wheels
of war industries turn faster, and TO
release the ships now tied up for lack
OF bunker coal.
The labor situation presents one OF
the most pcrplcxins problems with
which the government has to deal as
decision will OF necessity present
the governments general labor policy
during the war. which has not been
clearly defined.
The brothcrhoods demands were
presented to the managers committee
Of the railroads December l, and an
answer was requested by December
81. Tho men asked that the wage in
crease BIO made effective January l, but
in recent conference with President
w iison promised not TO strike while
the negotiations were pending. It ap-
reared likely tonight that the broth
crhoods might not press their demands
for perhaps some time.
Creation OF Eovernmen: corpora
ton for handling railroad securities
and for financing the purchase of rail
way equipment is the best plan, officials
believe. for handling this end OF tho
~ n1 Sst
proposed. the railroads would submit;
TO tho corporation all refunding issues
for approval. as well as all new issues
o. securities. The corporation then
would buy them in and hold them for
sale TO the public at n convenicn, time.
in this way tho government could keen
railroad securities OF the market when
it WAS offering for sale Liberty bonds
and other government securities.
Tho feeling among railway cxccu-
urcs that government control MAKES
government ownership inevitable is
hesed on two promises First, i, is
mold that once tho roads arc co-c-Ii-
mated and operated as one system /,
will be impossible to go back 10 the
oid competitive system. The public. it
is declared, never would be willing for
such a gigantic combination 10 opcr-
ate AS private corporation. The see
ond reason is that stockholders, once
guaranteed a fair return on their in
NoStmcnts in railroad stocks, would not
want TO return TO the uncertainties %
private operation
OPERATING COMMITTEE
TO MOVE TO WASHINGTON
The Eastern railroads operating
committee will be brought 10 Wash
inEton from Pittsburgh, officials said.
because 1t will be in closer touch with
the war board and because the center
of congestion is shitt!n: to the sea.
board.
A reason for tho apparently cheer.
full acquiescence OF railroad heads to
the sovernEaeat's plan OF operation is
the assurances given by Mr.. McAdoo
that roads which did no, make fair
earnings N the prc-war period will
DO provided with adequate compensa-
ton by tho government The founda-
ZION for this arrangement will be laid
IN legislation TO be introduced imme
diatciy after President Wilson ad.
hrcsSes Congress next week.