The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-12-28
UNCLE SAM IN CHARGE.

livery bad railroad situation that
was growing worse. The rail
ways today will be in the hands
of the government Of the United
States in every respect, save ac-
tual title of ownership. Besides
being the secretary of Treasury,
| Mr.. McAdoo becomes another
great boss under the title of di-
rector general of railways. The
Operation, the financing, includ-
ling the payment of dividends
equal to an average for three
years prior to last June will be
taken care Of by the government.
The crisis leading to this
change was the breakdown in the
transportation of coal, which oc-
Cured so early in the winter that
there We're we'll grounded fears
of repetition later.
1t is not probable that there
will be permanent relief until the
railroads are provided with
equipment which they have been
unable to provide for themselves,
because Of their inability to sell
securities. This equipment must
be furnished by the government.
1t is difficult to predict all
changes that will follow, but it is
easy to see how vast economics
could be made by consolidation
of offices. Over in Butte, for in
stance, there are three trunkline
railways, each with its own sta
ton and city ticket office. All Of
these offices could be combined
into one With saving Of salaries,
rentals and office, expenses and
incidentally man power. That is
true Of most cities of Importance
in the country, but in Chicago
where there are more than twen-
tv trunk line roads entering the
city, the saving would be enof-
nous.
Since it is announced that the
change is to be only for the pc
'riod Of the war it may be that
these economies will not be put
into effect. 1t means, as we see
bit, increase of railway efficiency
under the method adopted by the
English government so that the
stockholders will not lose and
the railroads will be equipped by
the only method that could be
followed.
There are two interesting fields
for speculation. The railway en-
pIoyes now become servants of
the government. They may have
their wages increased under a
demand that was submitted some
time ago with the threat Of a
strike. The strike weapon be-
comes automatically lost when
these employees become workers
for the government. \ railway
strike under these conditions
would be treason and would no
more be tolerated by The public
than a strike Of mail carriers or
soldiers.
| There is more food for thought
i'll the possibility, not To say prob
ability, that the government con-
troll OF railways has come to stay.
| On several occasions we have
said that the many drastic
changes i'll the relation of the
government to people, resultant
from war would be maintained
afterwards. If the bread Of an
| Englishman is made cheaper
through government control he
will not stand for the old system
after the war. That applies just
as easily to other things.
The president has placed a
great responsibility upon his som
in-law, Mr.. McAdoo, and there
are many who have misgivings as
| to the wisdom of this appoint
ment. Mr.. McAdoo's management
of the Liberty bond loan was sub
iectcd to severe and just criticism.
| 1t would seem to us that the one
best qualified to fill a new office
OF such great importance should
be familiar with all phases of
railway administration and fl
nance. Certainly, Mr.. McAdoo is
not that sort Of a man. On the
other hand the president may
have had a lurking feeling that
the appointment of a man closely
related to the railways would
arouse suspicion and lack Of con-
fidence on the part of the people.
The president. so far, has kept
very close to party lines in choos-
ling men for the really important
POSITIONS in his prosecution of
the war. That was all right,
while everything went we'll, but
the Investigations of several de-
apartments of the government in