The Washington herald., 1917-10-17
VAR ACTIVITIES
AID RAILROADS
Holland Says Vast Move
ment Of Troops Brings
Confidence Of Public.

Frank Trlimbull, who has given, FOR
some years, much OF hiB time to per
fecting a campaign OF education with
intent ultimately to persuade Congress
to recognize the railroad situation and
having done that, so to change the
law as to make II possible for the
railroads fully to cooperate with the
PEOPLE and mako e certain that tae
people will understand that there Is
an obligation upon them fully to CO.
operate with the railroads, could not
have dreamed in 1914 that the govern
n-ent itself would initiate the very
best. campaign Of education of Snis
kind.
Already some Of the leading mem
bers Of Congress and. IL Is understood
in New York, some Of the members Of
the administration in Washington as
well as President Wilson himself. are
looking for such changes in the laws
and in the regulation of the railroads
as will enable them to secure the CO.
operation of the people by giving full
measure and fair service TO the people.
Word comes from Washington that
II Is possible. in fact probable, that
Congress at its next session d at
lsast soon after the war is ended viii
s6opt a constr l:tive policy with re-
stect to the railroads aid will discard
the destructive reformation which has
been a feature of national and State
laws.
Efficiency Is Increased
Senator Newlands Is quoted as hav-
ing said that since April of this year
the railroad managers have so acted
as wonderfully to increase the eff
ffciency OF the railroads. They have
in this way furnished a marked con-
trast to the methods adopted by the
railroad managers. the Senator says,
before the war began. For some years
prior to 1875 railway managers vert
reducing efficiency so greatly that
SHIPPERS and others who sought to
buy transportation complained. saying
That the American railroads were rum
ming down and that reasonable service
could not be obtained.
The Senator Intimates that efficiency
might have been maintained and ~
creased because the record which he
railroad managers have made since
April of this year Is simply wonder
FIJI. The Senator is furthermore
quoted as saying that the railways
ian behind in the matter OF efficiency
until. under the pressure Of wartime
activities which have been forced upon
the people. they are realizing that
they are realizing that they were
crippled by the very policy of con-
servation.of their. financial resources.
wherein Difficulty Lays.
Railway managers say that ap-
parentiy Senator Newlands overlooks
the fact that the railroads today are
achieving wonderful results in the
way of efficiency simply because ne
government has practically although
tacitly permitted the suspension of the
federal statutes. Were the railway
mar lgers who now compose the rail-
way war council at Washington to
have undertaken before 1916 to do
the things they are now doing they
would have subjected themselves to
prosecution. The government would
have entered suits charging these
managers with violating the Federal
statutes. As the railroads were IN
able before 1915 to obtain fresh cap
itaI with which to make improve
ments, to enlarge terminal facilities
and secure an adequate amount of
equipment, and. as wages were con-
stantly increasing, there was nothing
left for the managers to do but to
economic in every direction. some OF
them were accused of cheese pairing"
Now the government permits the
railway managers to bring into per-
feet cooperation and to coordinate,
as though all the systems of the
United States constituted a single
unit. the various railroad companies
Of the country. That has made eff
CLERGY possible. and in private or in
formal conversation every one Of the
members of the railway war council
at Washington has said that this eff
ficicnCy could not have been secured
had not the government permitted the
railroads to be so co-ordinated that
they substantially have become a sin
gle unit. Great economies have there
by been effected. The railroads, CO.
incidentally with the starting of the
third division OF the national army
for the training camps ten days ago.
we're able to move, over their lines.