Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-11-26
Steps for Government to
Take Over Carriers Con-
sidered Here Today.
OFFICIALS ARE ENGAGED
IN WORKING OUT DETAILS
Efforts Being Made to Curtail Pas
senger Traffic and Shipments
of Luxuries.

Government operation of railways If
the pooling plan docs not afford relief
from the present situation was being
considered here today as the committee
of vice presidents of eastern lines
gathered to perfect general plans to put
the pooling arrangements into effect.
Congressional action would be neces-
sary if government operation were to
be decided upon. but that has been
discussed by officials who have been
considering what steps would be neces-
sary If the pooling plans should not
relieve the congestion.
The operating committee Of vice
presidents. which will serve under the
general direction of the railroah war
board, met tonay with the board to
work out details of the plan of pool
ing. trackage and equipment OF the
nounce a general plan of operation
later.
Elisha Lee. general manager of the
Pennsylvania lines east. and A. W.
Thompson. vice president in charge Of
traffic of the Baltimore and Ohio. were
being considered to head the operating
committee of vice presidents. 1t was
said that one or the other probably
would be chosen.
Adopted as the most practicable sug-
gestion advanced. the pooling plan will
be operated entirely by the railroads
themselves. without government par
ticipation. If it produces results fur
ther steps will not be necessary.
To Cut Unnecessary Travel.
Among the steps to be taken which
will be of greatest interest to the gem
IN
taiIment of unnecessary passenger
travel especially that of tourists: to
the ultimate revision Of mail train
service. and to an embargo on carry
ing luxuries, in the class OF which
sporting goods was mentioned as an
But the public. called upon for sac
rifces by this necessary wartime cur
saalen, q ,;egss NAIL e e 3
dasisss IT sssssssssf sspsssss speei.iiy eeh cod
and foods. and the government Will be
served more effectively. 1t Is promised.
in carrying out its problems Of Indus
trial and military mobilization.
Washington. as recognized conVen-
tion city. will be hit by one OF the
steps already taken. that Of requests to
great national commercial. fraternal,
educational and other organizations to
eliminate great conventions as Tar as
possible. in order not to tax the pas
roads.
Though men in close touch with the
railroad chiefs said today that the public
should not be alarmed unnecessarily by
the probability OF further curtailment OF
passenger train schedules, yet the public
must be willing TO forego all train serv-
ice which can, without actual hardship
be abandoned. The railroads voluntarily
will forego the benefits Of the publicity
campaign, in which they spent hundreds
of thousands of dollars in urging the pub
I;c IN America first Exclusion
trains will be practically abandoned. AL
ready they have been curtailed ex-
tehsively.
Some Trains Taken on.
Efforts to curtail further passenger
service, when possible, already are in
progress, and only yesterday the Bal
timore and Ohio railroad announced the
discontinuance of some trains between
Washington and Philadelphia. Rail-
road men have been working on the
problem OF maintaining better sched-
ules for passenger trains. realizing that
many delays have caused Inconvenience
and a way to remedy this, some have
suggested, is further to slow down
schedules. Already more running time
has been allowed trains on various
railroads. especially ar on the IA New York: X
of the through trains making long
trips from eastern citieis to western
points.
number Of conventions, railroads this
fall sought to reduce the number Of
excursions to state and county fa1rs.
and so far as possible all such traffic
was carried on regular trains. IL was
pointed out that on continental rail-
roads of Europe passenger travel now
is wholly subordinated to military ne
cessity, and even in Englandsthe pas
senger traffic has been reduced % per
cent.
How far the railroads can go in
pooling their carrying facilities and
vet not impair the securities of the
various roads by reducing the revenues
of some of them is admitted to be one
of the most serious problems confront
ed by the vice presidents in conference
here today.
railroad representatives say they are
nrepared to go just as far in the expe-
dition of freight movements as they
can without seriously impairing the
revenues of the roads. One of them
said that he believed that this problem
would not be serious one, and that
in cases of parallel lines especially. the
quantity of freight carried would equal
fze itself. If SO, he said. the consign-
ment of freight to one road would be
disregarded If parallel line couto
carry 1t sooner.
Railroad men are believed to have
had full assurance by government Off
cials that they will not be interfered
with in carrying out their pooling pro-
gram which. in peace time, would be ir
violation of the Sherman antitrust Law
and various other legislation affecting
common carriers.
Would Abolish Regulations.
The next step to be taken in setting
hampers the efficient operation of the
roads as a unit to meet war needs. q
railroad man stated. will be to seeh
to have states abolish various regula.
~s..Ifx 411x