New-York tribune., 1918-01-09
Promises Fair Considera-
ton of Increased Wage
Demand
Board of Four to
Consider Subject
Congressional Committees
Continue Hearings on
Problems of Roads

WASHINGTON, Jan. S.--Director
General McAdoo to-day addressed an
appeal to railroad officers and en-
ployes to do their utmost to maintain
efficient railroad service as a patriotic
duty, saying "every officer and employe
ls just as important factor in win
ming the war as the men in uniform
who are fighting in the trenches"
He promised to consider labor prob
ans "justly and fairly and at the
srllest possible moment The names
{ four members Of a board to in
sstigate the brotherhoods' request for
acreased pay probably will be an
Dunced tomorrow.
AT the Capitol the railroad problem
sas the subject of hearings before the
aterstate Commerce committees of
9TH the Senate and the House. Inter-
ate Commerce Commissioner Ander
explained the purposes and effect
the pending Administration bill to
{ House committee, while Julius
-1ttschnitt, chairman of the board of
6 Southern Pacific, continued his
timonv before the Senate committee
me difficulties of railroads under
ivate management.
The appeal of the Director General
tich will be posted within few
ays at every railway station. shop
nd roundhouse in the country, is as
oilows:
THE government of the United
States having assumed possession
and control of the railroads for the
period of the present war with Ger
many, it becomes more than ever OBJ
'igatory. upon every officer and en-
ploye of the railroads to apply him
self with unreserved energy and un-
questioned loyalty to his work.
"The supreme interests of the ma
ton have compelled the drafting of
q great army of our best young men
Of France to fight for the lives and
liberties of those who stay at home.
Support for Boys at Front
"The sacrifices we are exacting of
these noble American boys call to us
who stay at home with an irresistible
appeal to support them with our
most unselfsh labor and effort in
the work we must do at home, if our
armies are to save America from the
serious dangers that confront her.
Upon the railroads rests grave re-
gsponsibility for the success of the
war. The railroads cannot be eff
tciently operated without the whole
hearted and loyal support of every
one in the service from the highest
to the lowest.
II earnestly appeal to you to apply
yourselves with new devotion and
energy to your work, to keep trains
moving on schedule time, and to meet
the demands upon the transportation
lines, so that our soldiers and sailors
q " yly01 fn l., oh,
able them to fight the enemy to a
standstill and win q glorious victory
for United America.
Every railroad officer and en-
ploye is now in effect, in the service
Of the United States, and every off,
Ger and employe is just as important
a factor in w/ling the war as the
men in uniform, who are fighting in
the trenches.
81 am giving careful consideration
TO the problems of railroad employees,
ar every effort will be made to deal
"a these problems justly and fairly
ana ut the earliest possible moment.
There should be a new incentive to
very one in railroad service while
oder government direction to acQuit
,.naelf with honor and credit to him.
ssii and to the country"
From scores of roads came reports
on estimated amount Of additional capi
tai to be raised this year by issue O.
securities. These will be compiled b.
Interstate Commerce Commissioner
Daniels and presented by Director Gen
erei McAdoo late this week, to be uset
las basis fer computing the big sun
which Congress will be asked to appro
sss. s,la's to absorb the companies ss'"f'
Receivership Postponed
Special consideration was given to
day to the financial straits of the Den
Yer & Rio Grande Railroad, which i
threatened with receivership by failur
10 pay interest on outstanding bond;
An agreement was reached by which tn
receivership will not be mmediatel
necessary, and sufficient working fund
will be left the road to enable it t
meet it's payrolls and continue opera
ton. Eventually a receiver may hav
to be appointed, it was said.
When MI. Kruttschnitt has complct
ed his testimony tomorrow before tn
Senate committee, Samuel Rca, presi
dent of the Pennsylvania: Georg
Shriver, president of the Balt
more & Ohio, and Frank Trumbul
chairman of the Railroad Executives
Advisory Committee, viii be called.
Commissioner Anderson, who frame
Nsae administration railroad bill, no,
@oei re the Interstate Commerce com
,a'ttees of both houses, will be hear,
siurtr Il before the House committee to
morrow.
On the stand to-day Nj. Anderso
explained that it is not intended ths
there shall be any interference wit
state taxation of railroad property b
government operation. The govern
nent compensation to all roads on tn
basis OF the standard return propose,
iie said, would be $935,oOO,0O0 a yea
the average net railway operating !,
come for the three years ended la,
june: This compensation basis is pe
masslve, not mandatory, and any. raj
road may enter suit for a higher rat
If it chooses.
n NJ