Baxter Springs news., 1918-08-23
GOVT REQUIRES
SAME COURTESY
Orders Railroad Employees to
Take Pride in Serving the
Public Efficiently
General Order No. 40
Washington, d. c., Aug. 18, 1918

1
To all employees in the railroad ser
vice of the United States:
Complaints have reached me from
time to time that employees are not
treating the public with as much con-
sideration and courtesy under Govern
ment control of the railroads as un-
der private-control. l do not know
how much courtesy was accorded the
public under private control, and /
have no basis, therefore, for accurate
comparison. l hope, however, that
the reports of discourtesy under Gov
ernment administration of the rail-
roads are Incorrect, or that they are
at least confined to q relatively few
cases. Whatever may be the merits of
these complaints, they draw attention
to a question which is of the utmost
Importance in the management of the
railroads.
For many years it was popularity
believed that "the public be damned"
policy was the policy of the railroads
under private control. Such policy
is indefensible either under private
control or Government control. 1t
would be particularly indefensible un-
der public control when railroad en-
ployees are the direct servants Of the
public. "The public de damned" pol
icy will in no circumstances be toler-
ated on the railroads under Govern
ment control. Every employee of the
railroad should take pride in serving
the public courteously and efficiently.
Courtesy costs nothing and when it
is dispensed, it makes friends of the
public and adds to the self-respect Of
the employee.
My attention has also been called to
the fact that employees have some
times offered as an excuse for their
own shortcomings, or as justification
for delayed trains or other difficulties
the statement that "Uncle Sam is run
ming the railroads now" or "These are
McAdoo's orders" etc. Nothing could
be more reprehensible than statements
of this character, and nothing could
be more hurtful to the success of the
Railroad Administrative or to the well
fare of railroad employees themselves.
No doubt, those who have made them
have done so thoughtlessly in most in
stances, but the harm is just as great
if thing of this sort is done thought
lessly as if it is done deliberately.
There are many people who for par
tisan or selfish purposes wish Govern
ment operation of the railroads to be
failure. Every employee who is
discourteous to the public or makes
excuses or statements of the kind ]
have described, is helping these par
tisan or selfish interests to discredit
Government control of railroads.
Recently the wages of railroad en-
ployees were largely increased, involv-
ing an addition to railroad operating
expenses of more than 100000
per annum. In order to meet this in
crease, the public has been called upon
to pay largely increased passenger
and freight rates. The people have
accepted this new burden cheerfully
and patriotically. The least that ev-
cry employee can do in return is to
serve the public courteously, faithful
ly and efficiently.
A great responsibility and duty rest
upon the railroad employees .of the
United States. Upon their loyalty,
efficiency and patriotism depends in
large part Americas success and the
ovel throw of the Kaiser and all that
he represents. Let US not fail to
measure up to our duty, and to the
just demand of the public that rail-
road service shall not only be efficient
but that it shall always be courteous
ly administered.
w. G. McAD00,