The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-28

fabric of which was officially outlined
to the United Press today as follows:
McAdoo's Assistants.
w. G. McAddo. as director general
and the single controlling head. as
Stunning all powers and all response
bility.
An assistant director general in a
personal advisory capacity to the di-
rector general. This man will be
man of broad railroad and financial
experience. tho not officially connect
ed with any railroad. to be buffer
between railroad interests and the d.
rector general. John Shelton Will
liams, former president of the Sea-
board Air Line and present controller
of the currency, is mentioned for this
post.
Three chiefs. on whose shoulders
will fall the actual operation. These
will he a director of operations, di-
rector of traffics and a director of
finance.
The director of operations will be
the man told to get cars rolling in the
most efficient, economic and practical
manner, regardless of any interests
except those of the public and the
paramount one of winning the war.
He would enforce the vast pooling OF
rolling stock, terminals and other
equipment made possible by govern
ment administration In short all
problems of actual physical operat IN
will be up to this man. subject, of
course, to direction of Director Cen
eral McAdoo. In view of his d)ties,
this man, it was regarded certainty,
will be some prominent, broad-vision-
ed railroad operator. Several, inoiud-
ing Daniel Willard, president of the
Baltimore & Ohio; Hale Holden,
president of the Burlington, and Fair
fax Harrison, president Of the South
ern. are mentioned.
The director of traffic. it is pre-
sumed, will regulate priority and di-
rect movement of all freight co-ordi-
mating with the director of operators.
The director of finance will handle
| the fiscal adjustments between the
road owners and the government, I'M
| der provisions of the legislation con-
| gress will pass at the presidents re-
| quest. In addition to working out the
| equitable compensation or rental,
| the government will pay the roads, ii
| is presumed he will also attend to
the pay roll of the million railroad
workers. who will have new boss in
| the government. Matters of invest
ment of government moneys in road
improvements and added rolling stock
and of disposing of any excess earning
the government may make, also are
| expected to come under him.
Below these three subheads. highl!
| centralized working organizatio will
gradually be evolved, utilizing presen
railroad organization as far as is com
patible with the plan of divorcint
y, private interest from the management
This plan given today as the prob
able and logical arrangement, it wa
emphasized, may not be who'll.
adopted at the outset.
Director General McAdoo an
nounced first steps will be taken eau
tiously to avoid sudden 1isad justmen
of traffic. Existing organizations, toe
must be weighed that every positiv
force may be utilized in the recon
struction.
Legislation to be asked of congress
Immediately after the recess, beside
defining the fiscal relationship of tn
plan, will provide for transferring t
Uncle Sans pay roll the millions o
railroad workers, for creating a wag
adjustment board or director an
probably for the prevention of strikes
if was stated today