Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-12-29

made clear. however, that it will con-
tinue TO function until the director gener-
Al decides that Il better system can be
devised.
Strong Pooling Of Traffic
The order that freight cars move by the
most expeditions routes opens the way
for a pooling of traffic impossible hereto
fore by reason of statutes designed ~
prevent the practice by carriers operated
under private direction. 1t takes from
the shipper the right to route his freight
as he wishes and leaves to the railroad
'~1raffice manage the task of sending It
,most directly and where there is least
congestion.
Although Mr.. McAdoo does not believe
that a complete unification of all the rail-
way systems can be brought about over
night, even with legal restrictions lifted,
he fully expects that measures taken un-
der government control will remove some
of the obstacles that now prevent the
rapid movement of freight.
Members of the War Board were
requested to study the situation and
suggest any measures to relieve con-
question.
Pooling Of railroad equipment. al
ready started by the Wan Board, will
he carried much farther under gov
ernment operation. Common use es-
pecialiy will be made of terminal IA
cillties and Mr.. McAdoo asked the War
board today for a special report on
ermina facilities and the extent to
which they may be pooled.
Deny Non Essentials
An early measure to relieve cOnees-
ton. it was intiInated tonight. viii be
a denial of transportation to pon-ce-
sential commodities, both raaaencer
and freight. Members of the War
Beard urged strongly on Mr.. NfcAdoo
TO-DAY the neccaait, Of C.t::ug down
on some forms Of traffic. Thcv p1inted
out That the United STATE. il. the ONLY
nation a. Wal which is attempting t.
move a great amount Of war freight
II at the same time asking It's rail-
roads to transport as Well all CONNER
ia freight regardless OF its lmpo,t-
ancc.
Lett to Priority Director
This subject will he left largely to
Robert $. Lovett. government dircc-
tor OF priority. who attended today.s
conference. Priority quest.ons p.ner-
ally Will Lc %iyea early attention The
railroad heads today told Mr.. McAdoo
that there should be named in,medi
attly a MANAGER for the Government
traffic. WHO should recommend 10 Mr.
l-rNett the order in which war SIM.
Mics sIln1iI n,,,-n mi.
hundreds of priority orders now ;ssu-
HE from VARIOUS government depart
ments.
There was a question tonight as n
whether the great mass of railroad
employees i'm the country-nearlv two
million in number-now become gov
employees. Some officials
hold that they do not, on the ground
that the government in assuming con
troll of the railroads is only super-in
posing its authority on them. and that
as the roads are oWned now. as before
by their stockholders. railroad en-
,ployes are still employees OF the own
ers of the roads.
One Great Continental Chain
At moor today the approximately
$50, 900 miles of American railway sys-
TENS silently merged into one great
continental chain for the winning OF
the war.
Under President Wilson's decision
the great event passed by without any
formal ceremony.
Director General McAdoo was c%onferr-
Ing at the time with members Of the rail
roads war board and President Lorett-
chairman Of the piority shipment com
n,ittee. The members OF the wal board.