The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1918-01-28
M'ADO0 GUSTS
R. R. LOBBYISTS
Useless Lawyers Must be Drop
ped From Pay Rolls.
PASSES ALSO ABOLISHED

Government Dictator Issues Drasti
Order to Save Money and Ens
Graft.
Washington. Jan. 2S-William G
McAdoo, director of railroads, issue,
peremptory orders to all rail Dad Off
GERS and directors to cut of immedi
ately from the payrolls all Legislative.
railroad lobbyists, supernumerar,
lawyers, useless railroad associations
political payments and all passes in
trastate as we'll as interstate.
McAdoo would not discuss his
sweeping order. But from othel
sources the broad hint was obtainet
that the possibility is very strong tina
topheavy boards of directors also ma.
be struck by the governmental cow
catcher
Several million dollars will be saw
ed within the first year by tie order
it has been estimated.
The director generals order reads
General order No. 6, January %
1918.
ITO officers and directors of rail
road companies:
During the period Of possession
operation and government control o
the railroads, it Is necessary that cf
ficers, directors and agents of rail
road companies be very careful in tn
handling OF moneys and in the deal
ing with transportation matters. With
out attempting at this time to give
matters involving the expenditure o
moneys for purposes having no d;rec.
relation to transportation. which
should receive immediate attention
as we'll as the issuance of free trans
portation.
at Is ordered, therefore, that the
carriers operating revenues shall not
be expended:
81. For the payment Of agents or
other persons who are employed in
any way to affect legislation.
$50. For the employment of attor.
neys who are not actually engaged in
the performance Of necessary legal
work for the company.
"3. For the payment of expenses of
persons or agencies constituting as
sociations of carriers unless such as
sociations are approved in advance by
the director general.
81. For any political purpose, or to
directly or indirectly influence the
election of any person or an election
affecting any public measure.
IS. Issuance of free passes.
&c. No passes of free transporta-
ton shall be issued by any carrier I'M
der federal control or any official OF
such carrier unless the issuance of
such free transportation is expressly
authorized by the act of congress. en-
titled an act to regulate commerce,
approved February 4, 1887, and
amendments thereto and any such
exses or free transportation hereto.
fore issued not in conformity with
said act must be recalled.
"This order applies to all carriers
under federal control, whether inter-
state or intrastate."
Director General McAdoo has given
broad hints that he intended to cut
down on useless officers and employees.
But there was no intimation that he
contemplated such sweeping clean
up to start with This order means
that not only the $25 ,000-a-year lobby
list, but the numerous persons employ
ed to boost the individual roads, will
be reduced in number Only those in
the latter class that can be OF service
to the roads will be allowed to re-
main.
The payrolls of many railroads in
the matter of legislation, it was ex-
planned. has been enormous. Lawyers
have been retained in various capitals,
where important legislation Is pend
ing. and in the United States capital
to exert their infleunce for legislation
favorable to the railroads.