Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-06-19
WOMAN'S COMMITTEE
WILL MEET HERE TO-DAY
Important Auxiliary Of State Coun-
Gil of Defense Is Being
Formed.
EVENLY HAVE ACCEPTED
List Includes Many OF Most Distin-
Euishcd Women of State-Coun-
Gil OF Defense Meets I'm Full Ses-
sion To-AlorrOw.

Interest in Nircinia's preparations
for war will center to-day in the meet
ing in the Senate Chamber of sixty
or seventy OF the most representative
women in the state for the organiza-
ton OF the Virginia Division OF the
Womcn's Committee of the Council of
National Defense. the body which will
plan and direct the part the women
arc to play in winning the war.
Mrs. Beverley r.. Munford has been
named temporary chairman of the
meeting, and Will preside at to-day's
session. Governor Stuart and General
Edward w. Nichols, superintendent Of
the Virginia Military Institute and
chairman Of the state Council Of De
Tense, have been requested to deliver
addresses and to render their judgment
as to what tho women can do in the
general preparedness scheme.
IL is doubtful IL such Il DISTINGUISHED
body of women has ever gathered in
Richmond for SO solemn "a purpose.
Certainly no meeting OF a similar ma
ture has been held here within recent
years. Mrs. Munford has received re-
plies from about seventy OF those 10
whom she sent invitations, and she
expects between fifty-tive and sixty of
them to attend tho meeting. They
represent every possible phase Of wo-
mans activities in the life Of tho state
reputation.
COUNCIL or DEFENSE:
MEETS HERE 'rO-MoKROw
The Council OF Defense will meet in
nun session Tomorrow, and Will take
up at this time the matter OF inauC1i-
rating an educational campaign. de-
signed to make the people fully under
stand exactly what the railroads and
the government desire in their plan
TO reduce the passenger service for
the benefit Of military Transportation.
IN this campaign will hc pointed out
INC merits of the changes the rail-
roads arc trying to mako in schedules
statement from Fairfax Harrison.
president OF the Southern Railway and
chairman Of tho railroads war board
throws light on tho much discussed
plan of the government to buy freight
cars. IT gives tho attitude Of tn. rail
roads for tho first time in a clear way,
as follows:
IF tho government shall elect 10 in
vest tho capital necessary for the ac-
QUESTION of 10000 to $4,000 cars, tho
railroads will he glad to make use Of
them on substantially tho same basis
as other privately owned cars are used,
namely. Il fair payment for mileage
made by such cars. tho railroads 10
pay current repairs and the govern
mon, to pay owners repairs under mas
tor car builders rules.
WILL WELCOME ANY
ADDITION TO EQUIPMENT
The average addition of freight
equipment on American railroads has
been at least 10000 cars per annum.
Under existing high prices. and with
the inability of car builders to get
material. il is unlikely that American
railroads Will he able TO order and Sc
cure as many as 10000 cars during the
next year. although they hav" about
100000 cars still undclivcrcd on back
orders.
Under these conditions the rail
roads will welcome any addition to
their stock OF equipment, assuming tho
standa rds TO he safe and adequate.
which would tend to make up the de-
hcicncy in their own orders.
IT is, perhaps. eXpcdicnt that an
option should he given to tho railroads
TO acquire these cars ri Il fair price TO
be agreed upon hereafter in the pro-
portion OF the amount OF equipment
owned by each railroad to the entire
freight equipment of the country
I'm expressing the above opinion tho
railroads war board has not discussed
the merits Of the question whether
the largest effective aid in the inter
est OF the public can he given 10 the
railroads Ivy providing additional To-
connective and terminal facilities"