Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-01-06
SLASH PASSENGER
RUNS TO END JAM
Railroads Cut Down Service
on Orders of Director
General.

To free locomotives and crews Tor
the more important freight transporta
ton. 20 per cent of the through pas
senger trains on the eastern railroads
are to be discontinued. beginning to-
day, by approval Of Director General
McAdoo. The running schedule OF
others will be reduced to lower speed
to facilitate movement of freight.
This policy, announced last night by
the director general, will be gradually
extended to affect train service through
out the country. Fast trains between
New York and Chicago and st. Louis
and between Chicago and southern and
western points probably will be the
next affected.
In approving the new passenger
schedules of the Pennsylvania and Bal
timore and Ohio. which go into erect
today, and of the New Haven. which
becomes effective January IL, Mr.. NC
Adoo ordered number of notifications
resulting in retention of more parlor
cars than the railroads had planned.
The program for elimination of trains
and frightening of their running time
already has been announced by the
Pennsylvania, Baltimore and ONO ana
New Haven and a few other small lines.
within a few days.
Appeals to the Public.
Mr. McAdoo. in statement, appealed
to the public to refrain from travel as
much as possible. but promised that
no commuter trains or others necessary
for proper maintenance of business IN
cities will be eliminated.
Congress this week will take up the
railroad bills introduced following
President Wilson'S message on govern
ment operation Discussion among
marked difference of opinion over
whether government control should ex-
tend only for definite period after the
end of the war, or indefinitely until
Congress orders otherwise.
Coal continued to go forward ahead
of other freight.
Mr.. McAdoo yesterday took further
steps to prevent friction in the gov
by arranging with William II. john
ston, president of the International As
sociation of Machinists, to call off sew
eral minor strikes of machinists until
the railroad administration can formu-
late definite wage and labor policy.
Will Use Canals.
The director general also announced
that as soon as the railroad bill is
passed he will take steps to use more
the country's navigable
rivers and canals.
Il am very much pleased" he said,
that provision is made in the pend
ing railroad bill for use of the inland
of the United States in con-
nection with the railroad system, now
under government control. The proper
use of these waterways will largely
increase the transportation facilities of
the country, and If the pending bill is
passed giving authority to the Presi-
dent to expend money for the develop
nent of transportation facilities on the
made to utilize them to the full. extent
Of their capacity"
Commenting on reasons for curtai1-
ing passenger traffic, Mr.. McAdoo said:
BY elimination of unnecessary pas
senger train service. much motive pow
err. skilled labor, track and terminal
facilities are released for the handling
Of coal and food and other supplies
to the life OF the people as well
as to the successful prosecution of the
war.
Every patriotic citizen can directly
help the government in clearing up the
present unsatisfactory situation on the
railroads by refraining from all unnec-
essary travel at this time
The breakdown In passenger service
Of the various railroads in the east has
not made pleasant impression on the
public, but it must be borne in mind
that the railroad companies in the east
are still seriously congested with an
amount of freight traffic, the
of which is more vital to the
country than the movement of passen-
gers, and that the weather conditions
for the past two weeks have seriously
impeded railroad operations"
In another statement. the director
general sought to dispel the impression
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.