Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-11-24
REVOLUTION IN THE
AMERICAN RAILROAD
METHODS is COMING
Embargo On NOn-War Prod
ucts and Curtaihnent of
Passenger Service

Washington, Nov. PA revolution
in American railroad methods is being
worked out today to relieve war trans
lportation congestion. Pooling of rail
way interests and equipment to "the
Imost radical and revolutionary extent
ever dreamed of, 4 it was officially
stated, is shortly to be announced.
4 The plans do not contemplate total
ILLUMINATION of passenger service on
any line, but further curtailment in
he number and "luxury' Of uch
trains is certain.
An embargo on carrying of non-war
lproduets is not within the railroads
Iown powers. But their recommends
Itions that brewery products, candy,
liewelry and about 500 other non-essen-
,tials should not be transported ahead
lof war materials have found favor
with the government priority board.
! Details of the railways voluntary
war regulations were withheld while
1.-THE railroads war board here and meet
lings of railway executives in other cit
lies were going over the final scheme
to-day. 1t was officially stated in gen
Ieral terms to be "vast pooling of
ltrackage, equipment, terminals and SER
lvice for the common good of the gov
lernment and the war whether it is for
THE good of the individual lines or
mot"
The governments permission for
this virtual disregard for antitrust
flaws will be obtained without any diff
lficulty, according to railway officials.
Involved in the scheme is power to
Ideclare where and which factories shall
Ibe served by the railroads. In effect,
this would enable the carriers to con-
ltrol movement of non-essentials and
would be life and death power for
many business concerns.
One of the first steps taken under
this arrangement would be to force
lnew munition factories not to locate in
1.-THE already congested district east Of
the Mississippi and north of the Ohio
Potomac line. The war industries board
which has priority powers, is already
taking steps to utilize present machine
plants for munitions work instead Of
Encouraging new factories.
The reorganization of the automobile
Industry for war work is a part Of the
hoard S plans
Forecasting an early decision on the
iuuestion Of non-essential trensporta-
ltion. an official of Judge Lovett's pri-
ority department today said;
"fWhy shouldn't we put lnon-war
commodities in a class behind essen
ltials to life and the war9 The railroads
simply can't handle everything at the
present time with the tremendous in
crease in war demands and the stimu-
Ilation the war has given certain lines
of industry. Therefore, we will have to
cut down on carrying unnecessary com
modities.
A final decision on the revolutionary
railroad controlling system is expected
from the railroads war board by Tues
day. The board has been working Oh
the problem night and day for the past
week.
Today's meeting of the railroads
war board here was also attended by
Fuel Administrator Garfield, Food
Il Dictator Hoover, Chairman Hurley
of the shipping board, representative
Iof the interstate commerce commission
land Priority Director Lovett. These
men represented government branches
whose cooperation as well as permls-
sion must be obtained before the ma
Ition wide railway changes can be put
linto effect