Evening journal., 1918-01-04
EASIE|N TRAINS
D BE DROPPED
Passeger Traffic Cut Order
Is Cming From Director
McAdoo
HOLDS FARLEY WITH
OFFICERS OF ROAD

WASHINGTON, Jan. 4.-Hundreds Of
passenger trains on railroads east OF
$ the mississippi viii be Withdrawn from
service under orders soon TO be issued
by Director General McAdoo, based on
specific recommendations made yester-
.daY by a committee Of eastern passen-
ser trallc officers. The committee was
tdivlded as TO the advisabiiity Of with
drawing most parlor and sleeping cars,
sieaving only those considered most ne
cessary for important travel routes.
Hours Of labor Of railway employees
under government operat on was
topic discussed by the director gen.
Sral with heads Of the four railway
union brotherhoods, and the question
Bf wages will be taken UP at further
conferences today.
With regard 10 passenger train re-
auctions. It was made plain yesterday
thar there Is no intention Of interfer-
tlg with commuier or interurban traf-
fr or with any other trains necessary
Cor daily and regular travel. Some Of
The director generals advisers have
Urged that virtually all parlor and
Vleeping cars be withdrawn from SER
vice. and that passengers be required
- travel largely in daytime m ordl-
nary coaches 70 Is not considered
probable, however. that Mr.. McAdoO
Evill approve such a course at this
Z me.
The passenger officers participating in
Yesterdays conference were A. r Smith.
20 the New Haven; James p Anderson
and r. 2 Wright, OF the Pennsylvaia (;
l.. F. Vosburgh, or the New York Cen
trail OF Now Jersey.
The railroad brotherhood leaders
spent nearly three hours with the Di-
rector General most Of the. time be-
ing devoted 10 discussing the poss bill
lly that the government may call on
Va'lway employees to work much over
lime In order to clear present freight
congestion This would involve extra
wages. which the Railway Administra-
ton is said 10 be willing 10 pay on the
basis Of time and a half' now main
'tained by railroads for overtime.
The Brotherhoods' demand for so per
.ecent higher wages refused by rail-
roads Just before the Government as
sumed management, were not pressed
2 yesterday NJ. NeAdoo has not ex-
pressed his views on the subject OF
higher wages, but most Of his advis-
ors and executive assistants advocate
such a course as means Of retain
o ing employees.
The Brotherhood chiefs here were
W. s Carter. OF the n emen; w G.
Lee. Of the trainmen, and A. B Car
retson. Of the conductors. together
% with Vice-Presidents II L Wills, Of
the Enginee S William Clark, Of the
Conductors; p. j. Mcnamara, Of the
Firemen. and w n. Doak, Of the
Trainmeh.
The shortage Of labor was empha-
sized today in reports Of Interstate
Commerce Commission inspectors on
n car service and locomotive conditions.
presented to Mr. AlcAdoos by Comm s.
sioner McChord who was assigned the
. task Of discovering precisely what were
The oongested conditions on eastern
roads. The fault In many cases, the
reports Indicate, is that freight cars
and locomotives are out Of repair, be-
. cause roads have too few repairmer
and mschlnists. but negligence Of rail-
way authorities was responsible for
most conditions Of faulty equipmeW.
ihe comm issioner repo't ted The Gov
,arnment hopes TO remedy the situation
by, issuing, specific orders for this re-
pair Of cars and locomotives and es-
tablshing a system Of personal re-
sponsibiity for proper maintenance
and equipment.
Except on the Baltimore and Ohio
and the Pennsylvania no congestion Is
apparent west Of Pittsburgh and Buff
falo. Mr.. McChord said In the east
however. some roads are chokei with
tranlc. while other connecting lines are
, hauling only normal loads, and 1t is
10 the latter that the Government Is
now ordering the overflow.
= Mr.. McAdoo now is considering
whether express companies should be
taken over for Government operation
, and has received from his legal advis-
ers opinions on the proper procedure
in case he decides this is necessary
10 maintain the highest efficiency.
In answer 10 numerous inquiries to-
day from state officials il was explain
cd that free passes would not be grant
cd for Government business.