New-York tribune., 1918-05-04
!. ;lroad Administration Is
ming Things and Doing
Them Quickly
q II Us Be Sure"
Not His Policy
c.r.tors Also Comment
That Secretary Has Two
Other Big Jobs
Bv Carter Fielc

uAsHINGTON, May 3.-Announce-
-.,4 Of the big car and locomotive
'.,tr.cts, aggregating between them
20 than the total cost of the Panama
r.,sl brought home to Washington in
,.,r,v drawn outline the contrast be-
80, the methods employed in the
n.;Y,oad Administration and in certain
..her departments of the government.
The War Department suffers most
..r.re,v in the comparison which so
Inv persons are making here. Sena-
- for instance, who are mentally
.;,k and tired OF the gloom which fol-
-. a review of the delays in the war
,r.narations, readily become enthusias-
!. rhen they contemplate real action.
s.;. is accentuated, of course, by the
s..t that. so far at least, there have
~, M such blunders as those exposed
!, the War Department, no such feeble
,,rd,;nc of situation as revealed by
s;.rssses before the Senate Military
ssa;rs Committee in seeking to de-
naS a.;Ss the Department of Justice of it's
rs.r.rol of enemy aliens, and no such
t,s;ness disaster as occasloned by the
Garfield fuel order.
McAdoo Is the Answer
The answer lies in the person of Di-
,sc,or General William Gibbs McAdoo,
= tbe opinion of observers in the SEN
IT, whose concern in politics is trifling
samnared with their desire to see the
United States government more eff
.;sn. in the war. Mr.. McAdoo makes
m his mind quickly. Then he acts with
| .eeleritv which amaZes those who have
ratched the winding and unwinding of
nd tape in Washington. He doesn't
have boards which take up questions
i which time is the essence of things
md refer them to subcommittee af-
Ter weeks of debate.
An illustration very much in point
sccurred during the coal shortage a
lew months ago. With plenty of coal
Ears clogging the yards on the Jersey
,ide of the Hudson, President A. H.
Smith of the New York Central tele-
phoned to Mr.. McAdoo one night that
people were freezing in the Flatbush
district of Brooklyn. But the coal cars
could not be moved, Mr.. Smith report
ed. because Of the ice in the river and
trouble at the piers.
He Moved Coal Through Tunnel
"Why don't you move coal cars
through the Pennsylvania tunnel?"
asked Mr.. McAdoo.
1.-THE Pennsylvania Railroad won't
let US move freight through that tun-
mel" replied Mr.. Smith.
a0rder it done at once" replied the
Director General.
That night nineteen cars loaded with
coal moved through to Flatbush. The
next day cosl began pouring through
the tunnels on its way to New Eng
lsnd
Those who work directly under the
Director General deny that this is char
scteristic. They say he studies over
most questions for day or two, and
getting quick reports where the ques-
ton is technical or one requiring
highly specialized knowledge. But no
question, it is asserted, is permitted to
bang fire and become controversial.
There could be no delay of months or
years such as occurred in the War De-
partmept over the selection of the type
Of ma@ine gun, the final outcome Of
which was that the French had to sup
ply the American expeditionary force
With this essential weapon.
No Delay Like War Department
Many members of Congress, Repub-
hcans as well as Democrats, share this
tnthnsiasm-less the hero worship, Of
tourse-with Mr.. McAdoo's aids.
Il Mr.. McAdoo had been Secretary
q War he would not have tolerated
ne delay which resulted in so many
oiaitsd men being drilled with wooden
guns" prominent Senator said
M. McAdoo's handling of the Rus
nan nan locomotive situation, consuming
Elnaps ten days in time, is pointed to
snaenever the cloakroom gossip turns to
!as squabble over first wooden and now
toncrete ships.
There were 200 locomotives which
20 been built for shipment to Russia
slen the debacae in that country made
es'f shipment out of the question. Mr..