Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-08-23
CALVIN Tells OF
TASkTAkEN over
BY JUDGE L0vETT
President of Union Pacific Says
that President Wilson Has
Given Him Most Im-
p0rtaIt Work.

President Calvin OF the Union Pa
cihc is back from two weeks in the
east, most OF the time being spent in
New York and Washington. He is
enthusiastic over what is being accom-
plished by the railroads war board.
THE appointment of Robert S.
Lovett, chairman of the board of di-
rectors of the Union Pacific system,
III charge of priority of shipments
completes the last STEP" said Mr.
Calvin, "in the plans necessary to en-
able the railroads to accomplish the
work the government has asked of
them. Mr.. Lovett will give orders
for such priority Of shipment to the
railroad war board and it in turn will
issue orders to the various railroads.
/ Has Important Task
"Mr. Lovett is also in charge of
priority of manufacturing and with
these two important duties i'll his
hands has charge of probably the
most necessary work iii connection
with the big job of winning the war
For instance, during my call upon
him at his Office i'll New York an Of
6cer in charge of the work of fleet
construction called upon him for Or
ders giving priority to the manufac-
ture of certain things needed by the
shipping corporation. This work re-
quires complete understanding Of all
the needs of the government at this
time, the needs of the army, the navy
and the shipping corporation, together
with all the needs of the allies and the |
neutral countries, as we'll as the COM
mercial needs of our own country. |
The papers have already reported the
fact that Mr.. Lovctt has issued or
'ders granting priority OF shipment to
coal for certain sections of the coun.
try.
Surrounded by Experts.
mir. Lovett has gathered around |
him an organization Of the most high
ly trained experts in the country. |
One of the men upon whom he will
lean is |. 0. Rhoades, general pur-
chasing agent of the Southern Pa
cihc, who is we'll known in Omaha, !
where he started his career as rail
road man as an Office boy i'll the |
storekeeper's Office many years ago
He is a brother of William +.
Rhoades. vice president of the United
States National bank of Omaha. His
duty will be to investigate the claims
for both priority of manufacturing
and priority of shipment.
General Aleshire, who ior years
was quartermaster general of the
army and retired some time ago, has
been brought into Mr., Lovett's or
ganization to advise upon the ques-
ton of priority of the needs of the
army and Rear Admiral Mason, also
retired, is OH Mr.. Lovett's staff in
connection with the needs of the
navy.
Serve Without Pay.
MIR. Lovett and all of his assist
ants are not only serving without
compensation, but are also paying
their own expenses, as is the case
with all of the big business men who
are in charge of the various war bu-
reaus and war commissions in Wash
ington today.
"Thc work of the railroads war
board, which is now strengthened by
Mr.. Lovett's appointment and the
powers granted him, is giving an ex-
ample of the efficiency which is pos
sible with the elimination of many
of the restrictive laws that have here
tofore interfered with the best oper-
ations of the railroads. |
The entire 100000 miles Of line in |
this country is now being operated as
one railroad from the central head
quarters in Washington. The equip
ment and resources of the railroads |
are being pooled in such a way and |
the entire work is being handled in
such a manner as to prove the con-
tention made for years by railroad ex-
ecutives that the railroads operating
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