The Washington herald., 1918-01-07

TRAINS TAKEN
OFF IN EAST
Engines Relieved Will Haul
Coal; New Demurrage
Rates Announced.

More than 400 passenger trains had
been taken out of service in the north
eastern quarter OF the country up TO
last midnight, according to incomplete
estimates made at the office OF the
Director General OF Railroads, from
the incomplete figures received.
The Pennsylvania system has drop
ped more than rs passenger trains; {;
the New Haven, IS: the Baltimore and
Ohio. 60; the New York Central, co, and
other roads varying numbers. from B
to 25 or more, according 20 the char
acter OF their service. Some of the
others are the Philadelphia and Read
! ing, the Erie. the Delaware and Hud-
son, the Delaware, Lackawanna and
Western, the New Jersey Central, the
New York. Ontario and Western, the
Boston and Maine and the Boston and
Albany.
VIII Move Coal.
Locomotives relieved by the cutting
out OF these trains will be turned i'm
mediately TO the hauling of coal and
generally relieving the freight con-
gestion.
No more passenger trains will be
chopped OF in the immediate future,
but the Director General may make a
further ruling as to the number OF
chair cars allotted some trains. He
| said he would allow four TO some
trains; but in all likelihood a single
chair car will be the limit.
On nearly all trains the chair car
will be cut out entirely. One of the
chief causes of confusion and com
plant at railroad stations has been
brought about by the chair car sit
| uation. When trains have been
cancelled, persons holding chair
tickets were told to take the next
train. Duplication and endless
squabbles ensued. Mr.. McAdoo's
plans make it impossible for anyone
to obtain an advantage in travel.
New Demurrage Charges.
Director General McAdoo made
public the demurrage rules. reEu-
latiOns and charges. effective jan
uary II. as follows:
"A. 1 Forty-eight hours 1.-TWO
days) free time for loading and un-
, loading on all commodities. C2)
Twenty-four hours zone day) free
time on cars held for any other
purpose permitted by tariff
"B-Demurrag charges per car per
day or fraction of a day until car is
released, as follows: Three dollars for
the first day, 81 for the second
/, day, and for each succeeding ad-
ditional day the charge to be in
creased 81 in excess of that for the
| preceding day until a maximum
| charge of 80 per car per day shall be
reached on the eighth day Of deten-
tion beyond free time. the charge
thereafter 10 be ~ per car per day or
fraction thereof. These charges will
! superseGe all those named in existing
| tariffs applicable TO domestic freight.
and specifically contemplate the can
collation. Of all average agreement
provisions Of existing tariffs
No change is authorized hereby to
/ he made in demurrage rules. regula-
tions and charges applying on foreign
export freight awaiting ships at eN-
port points
Upon request OF the Director Gem
eral. the Interstate Commerce Com
mission has issued an order authoriz-
| ing the filing Of tariffs TO accord with
this order, to become effective jan
uary p on one days notice.
For Terminal Relief.
"An imperative necessity exists for
releasing freight cars for further
service and for relieving terminals
which are now badly congested," said
Mr.. McAdoo. These unfavorable
conditions are injuriously affecting
the governments conduct of the war.
its aid to the allies and the supplying
OF fuel. food and necossaries for our
own people.
"On these accounts I have felt COM
pelled TO issue an order providing for
heavy increase in demurTage charges
unless cars are loaded and unloaded
with promptness., In making this
order have fully considered the en-
barrassments Of shippers and con-
signees on account of the sacricity OF
labor. the inevitable weather. the ir-
regularity of transportation, and the
consequent frequent punching Of
cars. Nevertheless ] am convinced
that the total inconvenience and
hardship on these accounts will be far
smaller than the inconvenience and
hardship which our people as a whole
are suffering on account of the undue
tying up of railroad equipment and
will be very small indeed compared
with the menace which the wide-
spread tying up of equipment causes
to the health and comfort of the
people and the successful conduct of
our war operations"
Cold Hampers Traffic.
TeleGraphic report from A. H Smith,
in charge Of the transportation of the
northeastern section of the country.
said accumulationS We're increasing at
points east of Pittsburgh and Buffalo,
due to extreme cold weather. Train
men and enginemen have reported sick
in large numbers, necesitating cur
tailment of train service.
The tonnage ratings of trains has
been reduced on account Of the cold,
to expedite transportation of coal and
foodstuffs.
The War Department announces the
successful trip from Detroit to the At
lantic seaboard OF the first United
States Quartermaster Motor Truck
train. Beginning Thursday the de-
partment will start motor truck trains
each daY-1rom Detroit. Each truck
Ncarries two tons Of supplies.
L~~~r