The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1918-08-23
COURTESY BY RAILROADS

Washington, d. c., Aug. IS, 1918
To all employees in the railroad ser
vice of the United States:
Complaints have reached me from
time to time that employees are moi
treating the public with as much
consideration and curtesy under
government control of the railroads
as under private control. | do not
know how much courtsey was &C.
corded the public under private con.
troll, and have no basis, therefore,
for accurate comparison. hope,
however, that the reports of dis
courtesy under government admins
tration of the railroads are incorrect,
or that they are at least confined to
a relatively few cases. Whatever
may be the merits of these COM
plants, they draw attention to a
question which is of the utmost i'm
portance in the management of the
railroads.
For many years it was popularity
believed that "the public be damned"
policy was the policy of the railroads
under private control. Such a policy
is indefensible either under private
control or government control. It
would be particularly indefensible
under public control when railroad
employees are the direct servants of
the public. '..The public be damned"
policy will in no circumstances be
tolerated on the railroads under gov
eminent control. Every employee of
the railroad should take pride in
serving the public courtesly and eff
ficiently. Courtesy costs nothing and
when 1t Is dispensed, it makes friends
of the public and adds to the self
respect of the employee.
My attention has also been called
to the fact that the employees have
offered as an excuse for
their own shortcomings, or as justi-
fication for delayed trains or other
difficulties the statement that Uncle
Sam is running the railroads now"
,r .hese are McAdoos ORDERS" etc.
Nothing could be more reprehensible
han statements of this character,
Ind nothing could be more hurtful |
20 the success of the railroad admin
stration or to the welfare of railroad |
employees themselves. No doubt,
hose who have made them have done
10 thoughtlessly in most instances,
tut the harm is just as great if a
hing of this sort is done thought
essly as if it is done deliberately.
There are many people who for
artisan or selfish purposes wish gov
rnment operation OF the railroads
D be a failure. Every emplakee
Tho is discourteous to the public or
lakes excuses or statements of the
ind I have described, it helping
lese partison or selfish interests to
iscredit government control of rail
Dads.
Recently the wages of railroad
nployees were largely increased in
Diving an addition to railroad oper-
ing expenses of more than $475,-
10000 per annum. In order to
Get this increase, the public has
zen called upon to pay largely in
eased passenger and freight rates.
he people have accepted this new
lrden cheerfully and periodically.
he least that every employee can do
return Is to serve the public
'urteously, faithfully and effici-
lily.
A great responsibility and duty
ct upon the railroad employees of
e United States. Upon their loyalty n
ficiency and patriotism depends in
rye part americas success and the III
erthrow of the kaiser and all that H
, represents. Let us not fail to
easure up to our duty, and to the II
st demand Of the public that rail-
ad service shall not only be eff II
lent, but that it shall always be
urteously administered.
w. G.. McADOO,
Director General of Railroads.