New-York tribune., 1918-01-12
Engines Built
For Allies Aid
Railroads Here
100 Also Transferred From
South and West to Relieve
Shortage, Says McAdoo

WASHINGTON, Jan. l1.-Locomo-
tivcs built in this country for use in
France and taken over temporarily to
help relieve the freight congestion in
the East have been put into service.
In making this announcement to-day Di-
rector General McAdoo said that within
Il few weeks many LOCOMOTIVES built
Tor Russia and commandeered also
would be ready for use. 1t was neces-
sary to change their gauge for opera
tion on American roads.
Within the last few weeks more than
one hundred locomotives have been
transferred to Eastern roads from
those in the South and West, and with
this augmentation of motive power it is
expected that rapid strides will be
made in clearing freight congestion in
the East.
The War Conference Board, com
posed Of Cabinet officers in the Council
of National Defence, the Food and Fuel
administrators and the chairman Of the
War Industries Board, conferred with
Mr.. McAdoo to-day about the develop
ment Of water transportation as a
means of casing the burden on the rail
roads. The board told the director
general that additional transportation
facilities were needed for the New
York State barge canal, the barge
routes, in New England, the lower
mississippi, the Ohio and the Black
Warrior River in Alabama, and urged
use of part of the S5O0,OJ0 900 provid-
ed in the pending railroad bill for con-
structing barges, towboats, elevators
and terminals.
Cut in Number of Employees Opposed
Possible reduction in the number of
railroad employees under government op-
Grafton was touched upon to-day at the
House Interstate Commerce Commit
tees hearing on the Administrations s
railway bill
julius Kruttschnitt, chairman of the
board of the Southern Pacific, who said
he spoke for the American Railway As
soc1atlon, voiced serious objection to
any pruning of lists of employees on the
ground that it would seriously affect
the organization Of the lines and mean
were turned back to their owners after
the war.
Chairman Sims asked about the feast
biilty Of eliminating some of the
solicitors employed by the roads, par
tlcularly those whose duties are to seek
passenger business, Mr.. Kruttschnitt
said the men who solicit passenger busi
ness also look after freight. and. there
tore he did not believe any consider
able number of them could be dispensed
with. -
Some of the twenty-onc passenger
trans running between Omaha and
Chlcago. the witness thought, could be
taken off and the men engaged on them
gwen employment in the freight ser
wee lie was opposed, however. to anv
changes that would throw men out of
employment.
Maturity of Securities
Before the Senate Committee on In
'erstate Commerce, Commissioner An
derson estimated that maturities of
railroad securities in 1918 and 1919
would amount to $780, 900. It was
not to be assumed that the government
was to take care of this, he said. hut
the ,revolvlng fund" of $4,000 600
proVlded IN the bill was to cover tinanc-
ing that might be necessary.
Both the House and Senate hearings
were adjourned tonight until Monday
Inc appearance of Director General
McAdoo before the Senate committee
winch was set for this afternoon, has
been postponed until next week.