The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-30
TEXT OF ORDER TO ALL
 RAILROAD OFFICIALS

lows:
 TEXT OF ORDER TO ALL
 RAILROAD OFFICIALS
 M. All officers, agents and em-
 p1Oyes of such transportation sys-
 tems may continue in the per-
 formance of their present regular
 duties. reporting to the same of-
 ficers as heretofore and on the
 same terms of employment.
 "2. Any officer, agent or enl-
 pIOyee desiring to retire from his
 employment shall give the usual
 and reasonable notice to the prop
 CT officer to the end that there
 may be no interruption or impair
 ment of the transportation service
 required for the successful conduct
 of the war and the needs of gem
 era1 commerce.
 "3. All transportation systems
 covered by said proclamation and
 order shall be operated as q na-
 tionaI system of transportation,
 the common and national needs
 heinz in all instances held para
 mount to any actual or supposed
 corporate advantage. All terminals,
 ports, IOcomO tives, rolling stock
 and other transportation facilities.
 are to be fully utilized to carry
 out this purpose without regard to
 ownership.
 "l. The designation of routes by
 shippers is to be disregarded when
 speed and efficiency of transpOr-
 tation service may thus be pro- noted.
 "5. Traffic agreements between carriers must not be permitted to interfere with expeditions move-
 ments.
 ss8. Through routes which have not heretofore been established be- cause of short hauling or other causes are to he established and used whenever expedition nnd ef- ffciency of traffic will thereby be promoted; and if difficulty is ex- perienced in such through routing.
 notice thereof shall by carriers or shippers or both be given mt once to the director by wire.
 e. Existing schedules or rates and outstanding orders of the inc terstate commerce commission are to be observed, but any such schedules or rates or orders as Smay hereafter be found to conflict
 with the purposes of said prOcla- HNtlOn UT Wltn .thlS OIueT SONll UC
 brought imne ediately by wire to the attention of the director"
 Through the railroad war board M dcAdoo called on all railroad presi Tents to take up vigorously the ques ion of common use of terminals an lines, wiping out competitiv and waiving competitiv control or solicitation of traffic. Tn esult of this action may be the as ignment of through traffic moving on way to certain systems. and the reser -ation of other lines for traffic nov ng in an opposite direction. ,ONSIGNEES MUST REMOVE
 SHIPMENTS AT ONCE
 A committee of public officials, head d by Interstate Commerce Commis toner Harlan, meeting in New Yorl ecided to put into effect a drastic pla f forcing consignees to remove thel reight promptly from terminals.
 In all these preparations for clearin he channels of transportation, the i'm mediate thought uppermost in tn minds of the men in charge is to ge oal to market to relieve the shiver ng householders in many section where a cold wave now is being felt o provide fuel to make the wheels e var industries turn faster. or to re ease the ships now tied up in har ors for lack of bunker coal.
 The labor situation presents one c he most perplexing problems wit which the government has to deal. a decision on it will of necessity ore ent the governments general labo olicy during the war, which as ye as not been clearly defined. Thos vho have studied the situation believ hat government officials respopsibl or a policy are for paying labor on asis of the present cost of living an lany are of the opinion that the gov rnment is about to take measure, trough it's spreading control over in ecessities of life, to regulate in lore general way prices charged fo commodities the people must use. 'ROTHERHOODS WILL
 NOT PRESS DEMANDS
 The brothershoods' demands wer resented to the managers committe f the railroads December 1, and d nswer was requested by December 31 he men asked that the wage increas e made effective January l, but in ecent conference with President Wil on promised not to strike while tn egotiations were pending. It an cared likely tonight that the brother oods might not press their demand or perhaps sometime. In the belle hat in the present unsettled rairoa ituation requests for wage raise would meet better response at late ime. sss
 Creation of governHent corporatso