New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-27
Give
Preference to
Coal and Iron
The Conference Committee
Takes First Action to
Aid Defence

Washington, April 26.-0rders di-
recting the country's railroads to give
coal and iron ore preference over all
other traffic were issued to-day by the
General Railroad Board Of the Council
of National Defence, formed here two
weeks ago by railroad heads to operate
American railway lines as one CONT
mental system during the war.
In announcing its first important
movement since organizing, the board
declared the welfare and safety OF the
nation depend on adequate supplies oil
coal and iron, and that evasion OF the
order would call for the strictest dis
culinary measures. Railroad presi-
dents will be charged personally with
responsibility for carrying the order
into effect.
New emergency car service rules
drawn by the American Railway AS
sociation's car service commission, and
made public to-day in connection with
the board order, require that coal ana
ore cars when emptied must be sent
loaded or empty either directly to or
in the general direction of home roads
Foreign box cars also must be sent,
loaded if practicable, in the direction
Of home roads.
Harrison Heads Board
r, rt polroad Roard or eX-
ecutive committee, comprises ilVe mem
bers. with Fairfax Harrison. presIueu'
Of the Southern Railway, at It's mead
Serving as ex-officio members are Dan
iel Willard. president of the Baltimore
G. Ohio. and f.. +. Clark, OF the inter-
state Commerce Commission. Inc an
nouncement said in part;
"For tho last four days the eXecu
tive committee General kaliroSu
Rosrd) has considered some OF inc
transnortation problems before the
country at the present time, hAVIns
first in mind the war with Germany
and the country's preparations LOT i.
Tho committee has decided tha'' III
view of the depletion OF the reserve
stock of coal in many sections OF the
United States. due largely TO an uh-
precedented consumption during the
last wear. the paramount need IS 10
insure the largest possible amount Oh
coal TO every part OF the country dur-
ing the coming months. I'll
"The supreme purpose of the rail.
roads is to see that on every DAY OF
every week the greatest possiole
amount of coal and iron ore IS handled
nv their lines, and the executive com.
mittee is confident that the response OF
the carriers to the order of to-day VIII
he immediate. and will evidence COM
plete desire on their part to do every
thing in their power TO aid IN the ma
tons defence. ;.
"The action of the executive commit
tee to-day follows their pledge OF Aprll
II 10 the government and the American
people that during the war with Ger
many they would coordinate their
operations in a continental railway sys-
TEN, merging all their merely midi
vidual and competitive activities in an
effort to produce the maximum OF ma
tonal transportation efficiency
Evasion Not Expected
The board declares it realizes that
OPPORTUNITIES are often discovered, by
Interpretation or otherwise, TO evade
the spirit of rules governing the dis
tribution and use of cars, and says:
"The board therefore deems 1t rs
duty to state that it. will and does look
to the president of e~oh road person
ally to see TO 1t as in a special charge
upon the good faith of himself and his
railroad that this rule is not evade1
or abused. If failure occurs, this con-
mittee will take prompt and effective
steps to correct all such cases by dis
culinary measures