Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1918-01-24
MCAdoo Declares Some of Them
viii Not Be Taken Over
by Government As Part
of System.
BUT THEY ALL WANT IN
Fear Discrimination Will Cause
Them Loss-Director Gen
eral Says It's Too Bad
But Can't Be Helped.

washington, -. y, Jan. -i.-iie oup
short lines of the railroad system are
up in the air on what is to be done
with hen These include the inter-
urhans. sone of which want the gov
to take them over. The short
lines. including interurbans. fear the
government will discriminate against
them and thus hurt their value.
Director General McAdoo was sum
moned before the Senate interstate
committee To explain the
operation OF government adminiStra-
ton of railroads.
Mr.. McAdoo said that certain socalled
short line railroads would be released
from government operation as soon as
Investigations now under way deter
mined 1t was not necessary.
Some Not Necessary.
In explaining the purpose of the adj
ministration railroad legislation Direct
or General McAdoo said he did not pro
pose to keep control of any Unnecessary
lines nor have the government cofnpen
safe those not taken over.
AS far as / can see after three weeks
preliminary investigation" said Mr., Nc
Adoo. II don't contemplate taking over
any roads not necessary for the gov
ernment's war purposes, and il some
interests necessarily get hurt by it.
they will have to stand it."
Director General McAdoo said that il
IT. should develop tina operation of ca
nails WAS necessary they might be takeH
over. He added that operation will also
be extended to inland waterways.
Director Genera McAdoo was told
by senators that small independent
short lines feared bankruptcy If the gov
eminent took control of the large trunk
lines and that the government should
take over all railroads. large or small
Il can't tell you" McAdoo replied.
will be essential for the purposes
Of the war. The treasury. already over.
burdened, can be called upon to re-
imburse for unreal. imaginary OF indi-
rect injury.
Shouldn't Take What Isn't Needed.
Il don't think the government should
draft into it's service a needless railroad
any more than it should draft "a cripple
into the military service. There is no
intention to do any injustice to the
short lines. They will be helped as far
as possible consistent with the needs
of the nation"
Chairman Smith suggested that the
short lines are q difficult situation be-
cause Of the sudden transition of the
transportation system from "a compete
tive to a controlled basis.
1T seems to me-" McAdoo replied,
that the short lines are hollering be-
fore they're hurt. The bill ought to
provide compensation for railroads only
that are really used and injured"
do you consider these short lines are
part of the continental system" asked
senator Smith.
Il would consider them So" Mr.. Nc
Adoo replied. IF they form a part OF
the system utilized for wal necessities.
! have assume hat the bill will not
deal specifically with questions as to
what should or should rot be taken over
by the government under the presi-
dents proclamation. That has got to be
determined after an investigation. My
opinion Is that it is the duty OF
the director genera as quickly as pos
sible to determine what railroads or
parts of railroads are needed by the
government and to notify the carriers.
That is now in process.
a to railroads taken over compen-
sation is provided under the law we
are going to pass. AS to those outside
1t seems to me any injury Is a matter
for the courts to determine. / don't
believe the law should require compen-
sation to railroads., whether the gov
eminent needs them or not.
"There is no disposition to rip any
body up the back. It's the govern
ment's desire to treat small as well as
big roads as equitably as possible as
far a. compatible with the public use
n interest. All the lines excluded
from government control ought to be
kept going, encouraged and treated by
the government with utmost fairness
and consideration"
Senator Robinson, democrat Of Ar
kansas. asked Mr.. McAdoo to tell the
committee why government operation
OF railroads was necessary.
They Wouldn't Cooperate.
Mr.. McAdoo replied that he did not
think he could add anything to what
alronhv had haan said h,,f 1a thnroht
it necessary to get better cooperation
Of the transportation systems for the
war.
is 1t your opinion that the conges-
ton OF the railroads resulted of lack Of
facilities or the lack of proper use 2"
asked Chairman Smith.
Both. 1t grew out Of the lack of
facilities and the failure Of the separ-
ate railroads to coordinate"
When the government took over the
railroads about 100 locomotives were
on order by the various carriers. Nc
Adoo said he ordered that the locomo-
tives as fast as completed be turned
over to him to be distributed where
most needed.
That couldn't have been done under
private management" said he.
Senator Poindexter asked what had
been done so far to relieve Transport
tation congestions.
We've already forced %rerouting and
gotten better distribution"
Has there been much substantial
cleaning up YETI"
Weather Delays Traffic.
Il don't think so. In the east there
is not much improvement yet"
The railroads. he said. were still un-
der private management, which report
ed extraordinary weather conditions
had delayed relief.
I'm not giving excuses" he said. but
there are conditions sometimes that no
human skill n ability can overcome
For three weeks we have had success.
sive blizzards and harbors locked with
ice. One Of the serious troubles is de-
lay in unloading freight cars. I've tried
to correct that by Increasing demur-
rage charges and I hope it will have a
helpful influence. Also there 10 a short
age OF motive power and a shortage Of
labor. There is a general condition
that / think we can largely overcome
and by government direction material.
" help the situation. It can't be done
In a Aovp -~>f. -. 1900 -, tA.A~