The Washington herald., 1917-12-28
CONTROL TO BE ABSOLUTE.

of the acts which the Federal dictator
would undertake would be the follow.
ing: s...-.-t,s .<e,s. ,-s,-
Paving the way for reduction in
the size Of salaries now being palu
high-priced railroad managers.
Seizure of hundreds of locomotives
and cars being built for Russian ac-
count
eliminating completely rival jcaI-
ousies between the roads that ha, e
blocked coordination under private
management.
Federal Ownership Foreseen.
Throughout Washington, among Of
ficials. among members of Congress
and among the representatives both
of the railroads and of the railroads
employees, there Is a profound thought
in the background:
That there may never be a turning
back, now that government operation
of the railroads Is a reality; that gov
ernment operation will mean govern
ment ownership; that the measure
that has been adopted as an expedient
Of the war will become permanent in
the affairs of the nation.
II have believed all along" said
w. G. Lee. president of the Order
of Railway Trainmen. as he entered
the White House, that if the gov
ernment ever took over the roads
to operate them it would be a long
time. If ever, before the properties
would go back into private hands"
MeAdoo's own Views.
Mr.. McAdoo's conception of his
1@h l.
way. is summed up in a few words.
He believes that speed and eff
cheney in the operation of the rail-
roads is essential to the winning of
the war.
ments can be obtained only through
government operation that will wipe
the railroad map of the country free
of all conflicting colors and place
upon every piece of railroad prop
erty the simple stamp of ~. s."
He intends to so operate them
that traffic, however and wherever
it originates, will move to its des-
.tination by the shortest route pos
sible and in the shortest possible
time.
Under such a plan he believes that
all questions of priority and prefer
ence of shipments can be done away
with.
IF we move freight promptly
there is no need for priority regu-
lations," is his slogan.
He conferred yesterday with
Judge Lovett. who for the present
will retain his place as priority ad-
ministrator.
Regarding compensation to the
roads he regards the basis fixed by
the Presidents proclamation-that
of the average earnings of the last
three years-as the measure of rem
tai. All earnings in excess of that
amount the government could use
as Il saw nj. All deficits under that
the government would make up.
Surplus earnings. he appears to
think at this stage. could be applied
better to Improvements and better
ments than to reductions in freight
rates. But this the future will de-
termine.
This much also Secretary McAdoo
made plain: For all betterments and
improvements to the roads which the
government makes during the period
Of government operation. the govern
ment must be reimbursed when the
time comes for the government to
turn back the roads to their own
ers. As to whether they ever will
be turned back. the secretary, for
the present at least. refuses to haz-
ard an opinion.
VIII Use War Board.
His offices as Railroad Director
will be at the headquarters of the
Interstate Commerce Commission.
That body. realizing that its func-
tions are. for the present at least.
suspended. has offered to him all its
facilities and the offer has been ac-
cepted. He will, however, have about
him his personal staff, and will or
ganize his. own machinery of direc-
ton.
CONTINUED ON PAGE TWO.