New-York tribune., 1918-01-19
Lane, McChord, Covington
and Wilcox Are Made
Members
Two More Executive
Assistants Appointed
Country Now Split Into 3
Zones, With Deputy Direc-
tor at Head Of Each

WASHINGTON, Jan. 1S.-Director
General McAdoo announced tonight
sppointmcnt of n railroad wage com
mission of four public men to analyze
ard recommend action on ell wage and
labor questions pending before the
Government Railroad Administration,
including the railway brotherhoods' de-
msnds.
At the same time the Director Gen
crai put into effect new system Of
government railroad administration by
dividing ;he country into three opera
ton sections. East, South and West,
and placed a railroad executive at the
head of each rs his representative.
The wage commission consists of
Secretary Lane. Interstate Commerce
Commissioner {. {. McChord. Judge J..
Harry Covirgton, chief justice OF the
District Of Columbia Supreme Court,
and William Il. Wilcox, who tonight
announced his resignation as chairman
of the Republican National Committee
1t was planned originally to pass
only on the four bro,herhoods' wage
demands, but so many other labor ques-
tons have been submitted to the
Director General since then that he de-
te-mned 70 refer them all to the
board. 1t Will hear all labor complaints
or petitions, make careful investiga-
tions and recommend course of ac-
ton to Mr. McAdoo.
Scope of the New Body
Tie commissions inquiry will deal
with general conditions affecting rail
J i.
any specific request or complaint has
been made to the Director General or
10 railroad arrangements before the
government assumed control.
In charge of the Eastern railroads
Mr. McAdoo retained A. II. Smith,
president Of the New York Central,
who has acted as assistant 20 the Di-
rector General, with headquarters in
New York. Z. II. Ashton, president Of
tho Chicago & Northwestern, was ap-
pointed regional director for territory
west Of the Mississippi, with headquar-
ts.s a. Chicago. Southeastern roads
were ass gned to c. II. Markham, presi-
Dent Of the Illinois Central, with head
quarters at Atlanta.
The Eastern division consists of ter
Itory north Ct the Ohio and Potomac
rivers and east of Lake Michigan and
those railroads in Illinois extending
into that state from points east of the
!ndiana-lllinois state line; also the
Chesapeake g. Ohio. the Norfolk &
Western, and the Nirginian railways"
The Other Districts
The Southern district is defined as
including "all railroads in that portion
of the United States south of the Ohio
and Potomac rivers and east Of the
Mississippi River, except the Chesa-
peake e. Ohio. Norfolk e. Western.
and the Nirginian railways and also
those railroads in Illinois and Indiana
extending into those states from points
south of the Ohio River"
The Western district is composed of
the rest of the country, including all
vest of the Mississippi and also Mi
nois, Wisconsin and the North Michi
gan Peninsula. 1t excludes those roads
running into Illinois from the East and
from the South. Thus Illinois will be
subject 20 the joint jurisdiction of all
directors.
Orders issued by the gentlemen
named IN their capacity as regional di-
lectors will be issued by authority Of
the Director General and will be re-
spected accordingly says General
atlng regions.
The directors will undertake to
supervise general transportation prob
lens of their districts and will be the
held marshals Of the central organiza-
ton which the Director General is ex-
pected tc form permanently in a day or
TWO. This organization probably will
consist of five or six divisions, with a
chief of each.
Mr.. McAdoo's Purpose
Explaining the purpose of the Wago
commission, Mr. McAdoo said:
lhe commission has been appointed d
with view TO determining the wages
or the different classes of labor upon
he railroads. 1t will begin its work
At once, and will report to the Director
ueneHal, giving its recommendations in
general terms as to changes that
ssnould be made. Upon this report the
Director General will AXE a decision.
In dealing with such complex
problem as railroad wages the powers
OF the commission must be very broad
u It Is TO report a satisfactory result.
~ Is authorized to make q general in
Vestlgation OF the whole field of rail-
road labor-the compensation of per-
sons in the service OF the railroads, the
relation OF railroad wages to wages in
other industries, the conditions in diff
ierent parts of the country. the spc-
cia emergency respecting wages which
e*ists az this time owing to war con-
citloas and the high cost of living, and
inc relation between different classes
o. railroad labor.
The creation Of this commission is
tHe culminaton OF q large number Of
v9mpIalnts end demands of employees
winch have been pending before the
railroad managers for some time past"