New-York tribune., 1918-02-24
Wants Him to Cite Specific
Occasions of Train
Delays
All Food Moving
Now, He Asserts
Reports of Shortage of
Grain Cars Continue to
Reach Capital

WASHINGTON, Feb %. Prompt ad-
justment of railroad transportation to
the countrys food needs, as Food Ad-
ministrator Hoover may demonstrate
them, was promised to-day by Director
General McAdoo, who reioerated his
statement of yesterday that practically
all food offered for movement by farm
ers and food dealers was being trans
ported.
Railroad administration officials
pointed to the report that virtually no
ships in New York Harbo., were held
up by lack of food cargocs as proof
that the movement of foodstuffs was
satisfactory. Some ships arc detained
at South Atlantic and Gulf ports, they
said, because grain merchants of the
West arc not loading cars as rapidly as
had been expected
Reports to the food administration
continued TO tell CT shortage of cars.
however, particularly for transporta-
tion of grain products eastward from
Western primary markets.
Tardy Shippers Blamed
The railroad administration offered
the explanation that, if this condition
exists, it must be caused by the fail
ure of shippers or the food admins
tration to make specific requests for
cars.
The danger of serious food short.
age in the East, to which Mr.. Hoover
referred two days ago in his state
ment, which precipitated extensive
public discussion of the relations be-
tween high prices of food in the East
and railroad transportation, was en-
phasized less to-day by the Food Ad
miniStrator.
Replying to letter from Mr.. Nc
Adoo, promising to provide for every
food shipment TO which his attention
was called by tht0ood administration,
Mr.. Hoover said
II am certain that this assurance
from you will greatly quiet the grow
ing apprehension in the country of the
last few weeks"
Mr.. McAdoo replied to this letter by
saying that Mr.. Hoover had failed to
point to specific cases of the failure of
railroads to move food shipments, and
repeated his request Of yesterday.
Both officials explained that their re-
lations were entirely friendly and that
their efforts to clarity the food and
transportation situation did not repre-
sent a controversy either in fact or in
spirit.
to help Mr.. Hoover and to do the best
possible for the country, and that his
only antagonism was for the Kaiser.
How Hoover Faces
Mr.. Hoover, after giving out copy
of his letter to the Director General,
offered this comment:
81 have nothing more to say. NV face
is toward the future and not toward he
past"
Subordinate officials of the food and
railroad administrations, however, did
not display the same degree of friend
hness. Railroad men referred to reports
that food shippers mad not always
utilized the empty cars supplied them,
and cited the case of a Lawrence, Kan.
elevator which they claimed did not
load more than three fourths of the
empties ordered to its sidetrack on
requisition of the food administration.
Food administration men said the case
was exceptional.
Congestion on Eastern lines was only
slightly improved to-day over yester-
day. Reports to the railroad admin
stration declared there were 43,97O
eastbound loaded cars more than nor
NAL on Eastern lines. Other classes
above normal were: Eastbound empties,
Ais; westbound loads, 31,o12, and
westbound empties, 17,71s.
Mr.. Hoover's letter to Mr.. McAdoo on
the food movement was as follows:
II am grateful for your note of the
22d, and I wish to express the great
relief of myself and my colleagues at
your assurance that not only will the
Allied foodstufs be promptly moved,
but there Will be no delays in our do
mestic distribution causing any danger
OF suffering, which necessarily implies
the collection Of our food materials
from the country TO our terminals,
mills and packing houses before either
the domestic or Allied supplies can be
aggregated for transportation to points
OF consumption or export
II am certain that this assurance
from you will greatly quiet the grow
ing apprehension in the country of the
last few weeks"
McAdoo's Reply
Mr.. McAdoo's reply follows:
II am just in receipt Of your letter
OF the 23d. You do not, however. touch
the points of my letter. | should like
to cnumerate and reamphasize them.
II. You are, as | understand it. the
sole purchaser in this country of food
supplies for the Allied governments
"(2) You must, therefore, know the
location of the food supplies which you
from time to time purchase, and the
ports in the United States to which YOU
desire such supplies shipped
"(3.) If you will notify me from
time to time of the location of the
specific supplies and the port or ports
IN the United States to which you wish
to have such supplies transported |
VIII guarantee the necessary transpor-
tation, subject alone to Interruptions
from billiards. and foods
Il am eager to cooperate with you
to relieve all anxiety about food sup
plies for the Allies Will you CO.
operate with me by promptly furnish
ing me with the essential information
called for in items l and above? If
you do, the transportation will be pro
vided. You can readily understand
that generalizations will not accom-
plish the object in view, and that we
must be specific in order to get re-
suits"