The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-01-07

Of the war it's aid to the allies and 1 the supplying of fuel, food and neces- saries to our own people.
 "Cn these accounts I have felt com pelled to issue an order which will take effect throughout the United States on the 21st day of January, 1918, providing for heavy increases in de- murrage charges unless cars are loaded and unIoaded with promptness, In making this order l have fully con sidered the embarrassments of snip pers ard consignees on account or the scarcity of labor. the inevitable wealth CT. the irresularity of transportation and the consequent frequent bunchins of cars Nevertheless, l am convinced that the total inconvenience ana hardships on these accounts will De Tar smaller than the inconvenience ana hardship which our people as a whole are suffering on account or the unaue tying of railroad equipment, and Will be very small indeed compared with tho menace which the widespread ty- ing up cs equipment causes to the health and comfort of the people ana the successful conduct of our war op- eraticns.
 APPEALS TO CITIZENS
 "I therefore appeal to every citizen to accept in a spirit of hearty cooperation tbe increased charges which Will be lm- posed and I especially appeal to every shipper or consignee. as patriotic uutS' to employ every possible efort anu eA pedient (even though it involves unusual and special arrangement and additional rosn Ia, load and unload freight cars with the least possible delay, in order that the existing congestion may De cleared up before the new demurrase rule goes Into effect.
 In approving the filing of new demur- rage tariffs the interstate commerce commission took action for the first tune on request of the director general Tor higher rates
 PASSENGER TRAINS TAKEN OFF | After one-fifth of the through passen-
 ger trains on eastern railroads were withdrawn from service today wlth the director generals approval and within d
 week or two many other passenger scneo. ules will be curtailed Disarrangement O. passenger schedules in the last week ] Assistant Director Smith reported, was promoted largely by the number Of per
 sons returning home from holiday WIS.,
 its; he added:
 1 "A shortage of labor at engine house
 terminals Is preventing engines from pe- \ ing turned promptly ana settins DaeN 1 into service.
 | "The tonnage ratings of trains has been
 reduced on account of cold to expedite l transportation of coal and foodstuffs. Flmbargoes and diversions are being em-
 ployed wherever necessary and posslple. | "A heavy fog through the Pittsburg
 district, accompanied by a low tempera-
 ture, is greatly interfering with switch ling operations and train movements,
 which, with the shortage of labor, causes loss of ground there. The labor situation II in the Pittsburg district is acute.A J There is plenty of coal at Hampton I Roads, but ships are slow in unloading, due to the severe weather and the frozen | condition of the coal. Shortage of water
 at Jersey City Is affecting the opera I ton of railroads in that district. Tenn perature in the coal region is five be- }, low zero resulting in water mains freez- ing and hampering operations. In In , diana and Michigan there Is no serious difficulty. There is heavy accumula
 ton of freight at tidewater points ) Ships are available but labor for loadinl : them is very scarce. as also is labor fol coaling."