New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-12-30

came known that the demands Of the
four railway brotheThoods for a ~ per
cent wage increase had been denied By
the railroads, and that consequently
the labor men had decided to postpone
for probably sixty days the presenta-
tlOu OF their case TO the government
1t was thought probable that Presl-
dent Wilson would take up the LABOR
situation in his address to Congress.
Congressional agencies went to work
to-day on the new railroad situation.
The Senate Interstate Commerce Com
mittee, at a special hearing drew
from Chairman Hall Of the Interstate
Commerce Commission the statement
that the governments failure to
centralize priority administration was
largely responsible for freight conges-
tion.
Senator Cummins, ranking Repubh-
can member of the Senate Interstate
Commerce Committee, in conference
with Mr.. McAdoo, expressed the opln-
ion that legislation TO prescribe the
basis of government compensation to
the roads would be passed speedily,
though not without some opposition
10 the Presidents suggestion Of guar
anteeing TO the companies the average
earnings for the last three wears.
The Railroad War Board, whose ser
vices have been solicited temporarily
by the director general, to-day pre-
scented recommendations for speedy
moving of freight in the Chicago con-
ccsted centre and made a number o.
other suggestions for economies and
efficiency under the new unifcatlon
plan. The railroad chiefs freely pre-
dicted TO day that the advantages OF
the great non-cOmpetitlve system now
being developed would soon become so
apparent that the country never would
revert 20 the old plan Of private con-
troll. They even went so far as TO pre-
diet very definitely that government
ownership, as well as control, would
be a development Of only few years.
McAdoo's Pooling Order
This attitude Of the railroad presi-
dents gave special significance to the
first official instructions Of Director
General McAdoo, designated as "Order
No. l." tciegraphed to-day 10 every eX-
ccutive railroad head. The order fol-
lows:
81. All officers. agents and en-
ployes OF such transportation sys-
tens may continue in the perform
ance of their present regular duties,
reporting 10 the same officers as
heretofore. and on the same terms
Of employment
"2. ANY officer, agent or employe
desiring 10 retire from his employ
ment shall give the usual and sea-
/ sonable notice TO the proper officer,
1 TO the end that there may be no in
terruption or impairment of the
transportation service required for
/ the successful conduct Of the war
and the needs of general commerce.
"3 All transportation systems COW
cred by said proclamation and order
shall be operated as a national sys-
4 tenn of transportation, the common
/ and national needs being in all in
/ stances held paramount TO any actual
or supposed corporate advantage.
All terminals, ports, locomotives,
rolling stock and other transporta-
/ ton facilities are 10 be fully utilized
/ 70 carry out this purpose without re-
! gard 10 ownership.
81. The designation OF routes by
shippers is TO be disregarded when
speed AMI efficiency of transporta-
tion service may thus be promoted.
-. Traffic agreements between
carriers must not be permitted 20
interfere with expeditions move
/ mcnts.
-. Through routes which have not
| heretofore been established because