The Dermott news., 1918-01-03
UNITED STATES ID CONTROL RAILROADS
NEW DIRECTOR ISSUED ORDERS WiPING OUT COMPETITIVE
 CONDITIONS.
WILL NOT DISRUPT LINES
Declares Operation of Railroads as a Thoroughly Unified System Is of Fundamental importance To the
 Success of the War.

Washington. Immediately after American railroads went under gov ernIuent operation, Director General McAdoo issued his first official order wiping out competitive conditions and providing for complete pooling of traf- Gc. equipment, terminals and trackage facilities and for the retention of pres @nt officers and employees.
 The immediate result will be rerout- ing of traffic over shortest lines, re gardless of the company with which shipments originate, and the common use of terminals to effect maximum eff flciency Without anticipating won ders under the new plan, officials look forward to material improvement in the present traffic congestion within a Few weeks.
 Speedy movement of freight will be the ,iTst aim of the director general. 5Sut problems whose solution must gpress close on the heels Of actual transportation questions are the equit- able reimbursement of roads for the use Of their property on the basis of pre-war earnings. increased wages for railroad employees. financing of neces- sary improvements. building of addl- tional lines or facilities and the tan asled priority situation. Before most of these questions can be settled special legislation will be necessary,
 d.. -I-D, 5- preparing a message to be delivered 10 Congress soon after t convenes after the holidays recess. Legislation already has been drafted.
 The legislation however. and prob Hems dependent on it can await the deliberation of Congress. while Direc- tor MeAdoo must get into action with powers ready conferred on him by President Wilson. First, he will con- fer with rne railroad war board of presidents. whose services and advice he said would he retained under the new adlnlnStratlcn. Then he will or gani2e a corps of assistants and ad 1isers. largely of experts of the Inter, state Commerce Commission, in whose building he will maintain head xuarters for railroad supervision.
 Will Not Disrupt Lines.
 MT. McAdoo said he had given al snost no thought to the personnel oi His staff and was not prepared to out Zine the details of his admiration lGc is determined, however to avoid dis ,upting any railroad organization ol any agencies already developed Whict can lend efficiency to the new order.
 The labor question under govern ment operation was discussed witl President Wilson during tie day by heads of the four railway brother hoods. who renewed their pledge O loyalty to the government administra sion. They spent about an hour and { half with the president. and 1t is un derstood they received assurances tha host railway employees would not b liable to the next or even the secon, draft call by being placed in the sec .ond draft classification.
 Task is Big One.
 MT. McAdoo made his first publi utterance since his appointment in statement saving that at least unti he has time to mature his plans ant policies railroad operation will b conducted through existing railroa organizations"
 "This new task is of great magnI Judo and difficulty" said Mr MeAdoc Tt cannot be done in a moment an 1t cannot be done at all unless tr people of the United States. as wei as the officers and employees Gf th railroads. give to the railroad direC tor their intelligent and patriotic suI port. earnestly seek the eo-opera tion and assistance of every good cit zen in this great work.
 "The operation of the railroads as thoroughly unified system is of funda mental importance to the success Q the war. Without It we cannot ge fiie effective use of our resources. Tn supreme test in this war will probabl come in the year 19iS.> Victory wi depend upon our speed and efficiency We can get neither speed nor eilicieI sSy unless the railroads arc equal | sille demands of the situation.
 ''I can only say at the moment tha the problem will be taken hold of wis ,orously and that plans and policie will be announced from time to tim TBS rapidly as it is possible to matur them. Meanwhile the business wi 'be conducted through existing railroa congratulations with all the sappor! an power of the government asserted i Evidence.