New-York tribune., 1918-08-05
After 7 Months Effects
OF Railroad Unification
Shippers Complain That Business Practices Have Been
Unnecessarily Upset Under Government Control
Restoration of Many Services Abolished
Considered Necessary
Especial Correspondence OF Tho Tribune)

Especial Correspondence OF Tho Trfbune)
CHICAGO, Aug. 4.--1n the seven
months that Uncle Sam has been in the
railroad business traditions innumera-
Bile, long respected in the industry, have
uncerem niously vanished. Changes
have been made with such rapidity that
old railroad men and shippers alike
have frequently lost their breath.
Among the folk who are affected in
their daily business by the new order
there is feeling that every adjustment
is not necessarily beneficial just be-
cause it Is new. But, on the other hand,
even the more conservative Of the old
timers are ready to concede that some
real advantages have been attained un-
der the unified system Of operation un-
der the direction Of Director General
McAdoo.
Sons of the gains resulting from The
revolution in railroad methods are. in
the opinion Of close observers Of the
situation, the following: Unifcation of
operations with resultant economy, the
pooling Of equipment, the licensing of
export shipments, the prevention of port
congestions, the advancement Of the
pay Of unorganized employees, the pay
ment of cash for equipment. the sta
bilization Of railroad securities, the
'elimination Of strikes, the rehabilita-
ton of the physical properties Of the
railroads generally, and such specific
changes as the requirement that pas
sengers pay for sleeping car berths
when reserving them.
The Death of Competition
Against this array of what NAV be con-
sidered the assets Of government con-
troll, shippers and practical railroad men
perceive also list Of liabilities. Sum-
married., these objections. which are on
the lips of many observers, are: The
elimination of all competition, resulting
in a loss Of interest in the business
and in some instances resulting in mat
tention to the public; the requirement
Of the payment by passengers of pre-
MUM rate for the use Of sleeping
cars; heavy advance of rates; the dis
charge of 5000 freight and passenger
soliciting agents, inconveniencing the
public and doing away with the advan-
tages of their promotion work, and tho
requirement of cash for all tickets and
freight charges. instead Of checks, as
was heretofore allowed.
Criticism of the railroad administra-
tion here centres chiefly on the acts
which were not believed essential to
the winning Of the war. The public
that uses the railroads would be willing
to submit to almost any inconvenience
that would help to attain the supreme
object Of the nation. but is irritated by
adjustments which seem to them Who'll
ly divorced from war needs.
OF course, the large advance in pas
senger rates was unpopular. If the
railroad administration had advanced
the freight rates rs per cent and ai
lowed the passenger fares to stand or
had reduced them it would have met
with wave Of public approval. Bu,
the heavy increase in passenger fares,
especially the premium for riding in
sleeping and parlor cars, has created
no end of dissatisfaction among the
public, which does ont care how high
freight rates are boosted. Although
in the long run the people have to pay
for higher freight rates, that Is an In
direct tax, and passenger increases
constitute a direct tax.
An extremely critical analysis Of the
effects Of government control during
seven months by the representative Of
one Of Chicago's biggest shippers sheds
much light on tho attitude Of some Of
tho consumers Of railroad services. In
a statement he said:
"The taking over by the government
Of all tho railroad operations in the
country has had most farreaching
and, it seems to me, somewhat detri-
mental effect. There was almost an i'm
mediate let down in the service, anu
while the railroad administration can
not be held responsible for the deplor-
able conditions which existed during
the abnormally cold weather in the
winter months Of January and Febru