The Washington herald., 1917-12-28

win Pool Facilities.
He viii hx the rates and tx the
earnings Of the roads.
He will direct all improvements, and
pass on all the larger questions Of ad-
ministration.
He will let the managements of the
Individual roads attend to the details
of operation, but he will pool the fac
ilities of all In the interest Of unified
control
He will stand as the arbiter between
the roads and their employees, and. If
need be, direct matters connected
with the fixing of wages.
Tnkes 1. C. C. Quarters.
The director general of railroads,
upon invitation of the Interstate Com
Inerce Commission, has accepted Of
fees in the Interstate Commerce
Building The commission has also
placed at the disposal of the director
the entire working stan and facilities
Of the commission.
Appreciating the likelihood Of the
President taking over operation of the
roads for the period of the war, the
late Senator Francis G. 'Newlsnds. Of
Nevada, chairman Of the Interstate
Commerce Committee. shortly before
his death said:
Much care must be taken in de-
ftermining what will be done. For the
step taken Is almost sure to create a
precedent. OF course, this is an ext
gency, but the course taken will be
one that will almost certainly be fol-
lowed later on. This is almost always
the natural history Of legislation"
Transfer to BE Automatic.
There will be no formalities con-
nected with the actual taking over
of the roads. Automatically. at the
noon hour. the tremendous change
will occur.
An hour earlier. at IL o'clock. Mr..
GIcAdoo will undertake for the
first time to consult with the rail-
road managers. At that time he
will hold a conference with the
members of the Railroad War
Board. the organization of private
managers, who tried, but failed, to
coordinate and unity the systems
under private control.
These managers are not to be
asked whether they accept the gov
ernments plan of taking over the
roads. The government considers
this stage. If the roads are not
satisfied with the measure of COM
pensation fixed by the President
for the use Of the properties, they
are entitled, of course. to their day
in court. 1t is not anticipated. how
ever. that they will stand in the
way.
Guarantee Held sumcient.
-
paid on the basis Of average earn
ings of the last three years Is re-
garded by the government as en-
tirely just and reasonable. There
were never more prosperous years
for the roads than the past two.
And, judging by the offers OF CO.
operation from the roads and from
representatives of the security
holders that poured in upon the
White House and the office of the
Secretary of the Treasury, leaders
in the railroad world are reconcil-
ed. Jacob Schiff. Newman Erb,
Daniel willard and 8. Davies War
field, president of the Railroad Sc
curities organization. were among
those who sent such offers.
Representatives of the four great
brotherhoods called on the President
yesterday afternoon and assured them
Of their heartiest support. They gave
their promise Of no strikes during the
period Of government operation.
Congress has accepted the monu-
mental change with enthusiasm, for
the most part There was some par
tisan objection, bitter in tone. voiced
against the selection of Mr.. McAdoo.
Representative Gillett, of Massachu-
setts. acting Republican leader Of the
House. for example, got out a state
attacking the Secretary of the
Treasury. And there were some In
the Senate who voiced doubts as to
the legality of what was being done.
But the plans Of the government
went ahead.
II vas reported that among the first