New-York tribune., 1918-03-05

J
his son-in-law, William Gibbs Nc
Adoo
Mr.. Adoo is Secretary of the Treasury
at time when the richest country in the
world is spending ten to twenty times as
much money per year as it spent be-
fore. Mr.. McAdoo is Director General OF
the railways of the United States-the ac-
tive managing head of the greatest railway
empire in the world, now united for the first
time in single national system. And Mr..
| McAdoo is so much more likely candidate
for the Presidency than any other member
of the Democratic party that only a con-
spiracy Of circumstances prevent his
running in the next election if he wishes.
SO among the hundred questions which
wished to ask Mr.. McAdoo in behalf of
"Coller's" when he consented to receive
there were two questions whose answers
concern all Of US, and concern us not only
now, but two years from now, and ten years
from now
The Next Thing TO Ownership
MI McAdoo did not in so many words
announce his candidacy to succeed Mr.. Will
. son. Mr.. McAdoo did not in so many words
announce that the railways Of the United
States were now and herccforth forever
government railways. But in both cases ne
did the next thing to it,
Certainly ! may say that | left Mr.. Nc
Adoo with three very definite Impressions:
First, he has no intention OF letting the
railways go out of the governments con-
troll into the hands Of their former owners;
second, that he will be greatly pleased to
accept the Democratic nomination in 1920;
third, that Mr. McAdoo is in q position to
| Cpf ttv nj ho
The first query that | asked him what
the department of the Director General of
Railroads doing that had not been done
before. With the power at his command
to supervene over laws, monopoles and
Interstate Commerce Commission rulings
Mr.. McAdoo, it seemed ought to be able
to do almost anything. l requested him to
tell the public by illustrations, the kind of
thing he called upon to do.
"For one thing he replied, "the diff
culties about fue! would have been many
many times greater but for the govern
ment's taking over the roads. What was
coal on the list before we took over the
roadside turned to Mr.. Oscar A. Price, his
private secretary fifth or sixth in order Of
Importance for purposes OF transportation,
wasn't it? Well put it in the No.
class with food and other vital and war ne
cesslties. But for that one act the country
! shouldn't like to think Of"
The Garfield Order
we certainly arc indebted to your taking
over the railroads for fuel" remarked "and
some even go SO far as TO say that we arc
also indebted TO you for the Garfield fuel
order"
"The politicians!" he exclaimed rising
from his desk, and this was one OF the rare
occasions when he showed anger "The poll
tlclans invented rumor that ! am ambitious
to be President of the United States Now,
that is a perfectly worthy ambition for any
American and nothing to be ashamed Of
But right here let me say that wish people
would stop talking about it, because it ham
j pefs me IN my public work, both here and at
the Treasury" He sat down again, the
traces of anger gradually vanishing.
Il, like so many others, working with
a single alm-to beat the Kaiser and to win
this war That is all any one ought to think
OF now. But the politicians can't forget
poltlcs 80 they invented story that was
really the one responsible for, the Garfield
luel order but shat the President, in order
to shield me, because | am his son-in-law
and because Of those ambitions for the
Presidency, asked Dr.. Garfield to put out the
order. People who know the President know
mat would be the last one whom he woula
Try to shield because Of that very relation
ship"
me demurrage order was the third general
order issued by Mr.. McAdoo five days after
ne assumed control of the RAILWAYS. It allows
'o''S -e'En' hoRrs Tor loading and unloading.
one additional free day on cars held for .n,,
other purpose, but from then on imposes do,
mufragc rate of So for the first day. 81 for tbo
! second day and 81 more for each succoodipr
uay up TO SlO. 80 If man held n cor for
week over and above the three days allowed
hlm he would have bill of s42 for do
nrrHage and charge of $40 for cvcrv d,,,
thereafter should he hold it longer. The
consequent release Of freight cars has boon
so satisfactory that freight conditions bu,,o
gone on improving daily
McAdoos Way
lt must not be supposed that Mr. NcAaoo
at any time during this conversation assnr,o>,
'"e tone or lecturer ] cannot we'll rcnro
u"ce mere ms gestures, the livciness of his
manner or his enthusiasm Brisklv hc Glance,
from point to point with the air of a lnan IN
love with his job, and if any railwav heads
thlnk the job SO big that in the sheer mas
ana "elter or 1t their particular SHORTCOMINGS
Will escape him they arc mistaken Jro ;s
making it his business TO know traffic cond;.
tlons as we'll as administrative conditions on
every road under his control
And what do you do" asked him "whor
you md they are not delivering 100 per cent
of eiiciency?' ''
what do we do?"--hc turned again to his
good humored secretary, Mr.. Price-"whv.
we tell them about it; that's what WE do
And we tell them conditions must change"
lhere is the story of the president of
great Eastern railway system who served on
committees and generally concerned himself
with transportation problems before Mr. Me-
Adoo took over the railways Very soon after
Mr. McAdoo arranged Il meeting with him and
spoke frankly to this effect:
"Mr. Jones' Chat is not tho genteman's
name), your road is suffering from conres