New-York tribune., 1918-01-06
Big Reduction on Eastern
Lines Goes Into Effect
To-day
Urges Public to
Curtail Travel
Chief Effort Now Is to Free
Passenger Engines to
Move Freight

WASHINGTON, Jan. 5.~-To free
locomotives and crews for the more
important freight transportation 20
per cent Of the through passenger
trains on the Eastern railroads will be
discontinued tomorrow by approval of
Director General McAdoo. The rum
ming schedule Of others will be re-
duced to lower speed to facilitate the
movement of freight trains.
This policy, announced tonight by
the Director General will be gradually
throughout he country. Train service
between New York and Chicago and st.
Louis, and between Chicago and South
crn and Western points probably will
be the next to be affected. Individual
railroads will take the initiative in
suggesting curtailments. but these will
be approved by the Director General in
most cases.
In approving the new passenger
schedules of the Pennsylvania and
Baltimore & Ohio, which go into effect
tomorrow, and of the New Haven,
which becomes effective January 12,
Mr.. McAdoo ordered number of moti-
fications resulting in retention of more
parlor cars than the railroads had
| planned.
Roads Announce Changes
The programmes for elimination of
trains and lengthening Of their run
ming time already have been an
nounced by the Pannsylvania, Balt-
more e. Ohio and New Haven and a
few other smaller lines. Others are
expected to take similar action within
few days.
Mr.. McAdoo appealed to the public in
statement tonight to refrain from
travel as much as possible, but prom
lsed that no Commuter trains or others
necessary for proper maintenance of
business in cities will be eliminated.
Commenting on reasons for curtailing
passenger traffic, Mr.. McAdoo said:
"By elimination of unnecessary pas
senger train service much motive
power. skilled labor, truck and terminal
facilities are released for the handling
of coal and food and other supplies es-
sential to the life Of the people as
we'll as to the successful Pre- secution Of
the war. Every patriotic citizen can
directly help the government in clear
ing up the present unsatisfactory stu
alton on the railroads by refraining
from all unnecessary travel at this
time.
Freight More Vital
"Thc breakdown in PASSENGER SER
vice Of the various railroads in the
East has not made a pleasant impress
sion on the public, but it must be
borne in mind that the railroad com
panies in the East are still seriously
congested with an unusual amount Of
freight traffic, the movement of which
is more vital to the country than the
movement of passenegsr and that the
weather conditions for the last two
weeks have seriously impedcd railroad
operations"
In another statement the director
general sought to dispel the impres ssion
which he said had been created in Cali
fornia and other Pacific Coast states
that any radical changes in passenger
travel to the Coast are contemplated.
Congress next week will take up the
railroad bills introduced yesterday fol-
lowing the Presidents message on gov
ernment operation, and discussion to-
day among members of both houses in
dcated marked difference Of opinion
over whether government control
should extend only for definite period
after the end of the war or indefinitely
until Congress orders otherwise.
Strikes To Be Called Of
Mr.. McAdoo to-day took further
steps to prevent friction in the govern
ment's dealings with railroad labor by
arranging with William II. Johnston,
president of the international Associa-
tion of Machinsts, to call off several
minor strikes Of machinists until the
railroad administration can formulate
a definite wage and labor policy.
The director general also announced
that as soon as the railroad bill is
ntensively the country's navgable
rivers and canals.
Abnormal traffic and insufficient
motive power on the Pennsylvania. Bal
t;more e. Ohio and Erie railroads are
mainly responsible for the freight con-
gestion in Eastern territory, accord
ing to reports to-day to Director Gen
eral McAdoo from Interstate Commerce
Commissioner McChord. West Of
Pittsburgh practically the only conges
tion is caused by the inability of East
ern roads to accept traffic and move it
eastward. A great quantity Of west
bound empty cars consequently are
held up by The eastbound movement
In New England and in districts
about New York hundreds of locomo-
tivcs are disabled and have not been
repaired as promptly as commission
inspectors believe they might have
been. At Boston the New Haven is
badly crowded with excess freight, but
the Boston e. AIbanv is in much hettar
condition.