Arizona republican., 1917-12-08
ANTITRUST LAWS
 IN THE BALANCE BECAUSE IF WAR
Republican A. p. Leased Wire1

WASHINGTON Dec. "A decision as to the governments attitude toward the railroads, involved suggestions for either government operation during the war or suspension of antitrust laws and financial support still rested tonight with President Wilson. No move was looked for until after Mon day, when the president will go over the entire subject with Senator New lands, chairman of the congressional commission investigating transporta- tion problems.
 Today, however, brought three inn portant developments into the situa- tion. They were:
 An order by Robert S. Lovett, direc- tor of priority. giving preferential shipment to fuel, food and government supplies over all general freight.
 Indications that the government will name a general traffic manager to take entire charge of the movement of government supplies and war ma terials
 | A statement from Fairfax Harrison, chairman of the railway war board, that the roads under present direction are prepared to furnish all the trans portation possible to obtain under any | management.
 The president is viewing the prob | lem from every angle. His advisers are by no means of one mind on the subject and their proposals have run all the way from a policy of govern ment seizure to that of a hands off attitude, leaving the roads to work I the problem out themselves. He gave careful study today to the interstate commerce commissions recommenda- tion to congress that the government operate the roads or suspend during the war laws which prevent a con- plete pooling and a consequent unifi- cation of all rail systems.
 Today's priority order, effective De- cember F, is the first general order issued by the government, classifying materials for shipment. It was issued at the urgent request of the food and fuel administrations and government departments. The railroads have op- posed it on the ground that it would retard rather than expedite shipments,
 The materials classified today will
 move Tn the following order:
 Railroad fue'; livestock, perishdbl2 foods and feeds, military supplies other government supplies on special
 request coal for coking plants and coal for current use. The movement , Of coal is prescribed in manner simi- lar to a request of producers several days ago by Fuel Administrator Gar field.
 The new order does not affect prior
 ity order No. 2, relative to open tor cars; No. 8, relating to movement oi coal from mines in Utah and Wyom- ing, and No. 4, relating to shipments Of cattle feed to Texas and New r Mexico.
 The intimation that the government will name a traffic manager came iron
 the railroad war board, which has
 urged the appointment of such mar
 to coordinate demands by various gov,
 ernment departments for priority fol 3 their shipments. Edward Chambers o1
 the Santa F'e system, now traffic man. ager for the food administration, ha: been suggested for the place.
 MT. Harrison's statement was in
 terpreted as an answer to suggestion
 for government operation of railroads It was given out at the railroad wa boards offices and replied to declara : tions that the railroads have broker | down" under the strain of war. Afte asserting that the roads could not b. 3 operated more efficiently under differ z ent management, MT. Harrison said < "The point of the whole matter i 5 that the railroads have been operate,
 with the highest efficiency and hay V until now transported with out sub : stantial complaint the greatest volum d of traffic in the history of the country s "The roads under direction of tn V railroad war board are prepared with
 out reservation to make conSnon us
 of facilities. power and equipment t
 accomplish the highest measure of sue
 cess in the transportation effoAt c n the country
 l. Members of the board feel that gov d ernment financial aid is necessary
 terminals are to be extended. Suspen sion of antitrust laws to permit pool 1T ing of traffic and profits, they believ,
 G'nntinund nn Pa TxUnl