Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-12-28

government control already is per-
: formed by the Interstate Commerce
Commission. Therefore, it is not prob
liable that the director general will need
q large staff for the present.
Railroads. under federal control. in a
large measure will lose their identity.
therefore it is probable that the rout-
ing of freight and passenger trains will
give many roads entry into cities and
sections where they have not hitherto
Operated
May Enter Hudson Tunnel.
For example. it is possible that the
Baltimore and Ohio trains may gain
the Hudson tunnel, over Pennsylvania
lines. in order to avoid use of ferries
and thus relieve the transfer service in
the North river.
used exclusively for freight, and others
Tor passenger traffic principally. Ex-
amples OF this prospect are to be found
principally in the west, where parallel
trains. such as those between Chicago
and Omaha. and Chicago and st. Paul
d There have been efforts on the part
,of roads to seek to eliminate trains
leaving for the same point at about the
same hour, but the natural regard of
competing lines for their revenues has
blocked this effort in many cases
Retention of present railroad Of
ncers ana employees seems assured. but
indications are that huge salaries Of
railroad executives will be reduced and
wages Of operatives increased Presi-
cent Wilson conferred with chiefs Of
Day and received their pledge of LOYALTY
10 government administration,
The Drotherhoods have demands for
~ per cent wage increases pending
:ment's definite attitude in this mater
mas not been disclosed. 1t is UNDER
stood President Wilson assured the
protherhood chiefs that railroad em-
or even a second draft
Freight by Shortest Routes,
Under the traf7ic-poolins nlan to bs
worked out by Secretary McAdoo. as
director general of railroads. freight
Will move over the shortest and most
s Sonxsaient routes. regardless of the
earnings as well as facilities will be
spooled. this system can be pursued to
m extreme limit, oficials pointed out,
without endangering the revenues of
Il paid out on the basis of pre-war re-
Turns, regardless Of how much freight
- railroad actually moves.
hanroad experts admit that there is
- great loss of efficiency in COMPETE
stion. Freight often is billed over a
particular line when it might be
handled much more expeditiously over
:another A shipper has had right to
snip his freight as he pleases. but I'M
ucr government operation and traflc
pooling II matters not which road gets
his freight. it will move over the line
,,fwo railroads runninK between New
tRork and Chicago for instance might
seross at some point in between. Under
sfhe ordinary system freight given TO
fpne road In New York would proceed
w hnf -,
.hew plan It might be diverted to the
ssptker road at the crossing point If the
s4otAas read from the crossing on to Chi
f{eago offered at the time better facIli-
s3ttes for moving
h Has Brought Improvements.
liz Wine admitting that competition
s8fows up tramc in a situation such as
sfcxists at present railroad men point to
s&he facfthat competition has brought all
a3he improvements in railroad facilities
s0uch as the airbrake and other devices
s$But during the war. even they admit
s4hat the invention OF new appliances Is
Eepf FAR less importance than the moving
t$pf freight.
81 Under the government pooling plan q
3failroad with it's lines congested will
ssno& b given more freight to handle il
1T aptears 1t may add to the congestion
a. Interstate Commerce Commission of
s91cials will work with Secretary Nc.
sRlan. They believe a system will not be
Hhard to devise and that with a skeleton
upian outlined railroad ofiiciais them
k8eives can carry out the details withou,
"a great deal of trouble.
III While speedy movement of freight
sseTfll be the FIRST aim OF the director
9keneral, problems whose solution mus
ress close on the heels OF actual trans
4bortation questions are the equitable
reimbursement of roads for the use Of
@heTsproperty on the basis of pre-wai
earH8gs, Increased wages for railroad
SsenaR Eyes. financing of necessary i'm
rSlhcflities and the tangled priority
.shittation.
z: Special Legislation Necessary.
~ Before most of these questions can be
8ettled. special legislation will be nee
sessary. and to urge this President Will
sfIivered to Congress soon after 1t con-
lkenes after the holiday recess next
Ehursday. Legislation already has beer
s4rafted.
The legislation. however, and prob
Mems dependent on 1t can await the de-
itiberation of Congress.
II Although the railroad war board
fkftF being in executive session all day
.SsA8ed no statement commenting or
r<government operation, railway execu'
t4ivqs indicated privately they were vel
s3lldsed with the promised situation
~ optimism was renected IN the un
ssusual rise In railroad securities or
,Etock exchanges. Hundreds of tele.
iErams of cougratulation poured in upor
pr. McAdoo.
H Renewed Pledge of Loyalty.
The labor question under government
Foperation was discussed with Presiden
sfWilson during the day by heads'o of tn,
Hour railway brotherhoods. who re
sAewed their pledge of loyalty to gov
s1rnment administration. They spen
about an hour and half with tn,
sPresident. and IL Is understood they re
sceived assurances that most railwa,
.tmployes would not be liable to tn,
next or even the second draft call b.
being placed In the second draft CLASH
location.
1. Mr. McAdoo last night made his FRS
public utterance since his appointment
in a statement. saying that at leas
.pntii he has time to mature his plan
send policies railroad operation will
.bs conducted through existing railroa
organizations"
Z. This new task is of great magnitud
lind difficulty" he said. 'It cannot b
one In a moment. and 1t cannot be don