The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1918-08-23
u. S. Railroad Administration
General Order No. 40.


Washington D. c., August 18, 1918.
To all employees In the railroad SER
vice of the United States.
Complaints have reached me from
time to time that employees are not
treating the public with as much con.
alteration and courtesy under Govern
ment control of the railroads as under
private control. | do not know how
much courtesy was accorded the public
under private control, and have no
basis, therefore, for accurate compari-
son. | hope, however, that the reports
Of discourtesy under Government ad-
ministration of the railroads are incor-
rect, or that they are at least confined
to relatively few cases. Whatever
may be the merits of these complaints,
they draw attention to question which
is of the utmost Importance in the
management of the railroads.
For many years il was popularly be-
lieved that "the public ibe damned"
policy was the policy of the railroads
under private control. Such a :pOIicy
is indefensible either under private con-
troll or Government control. 1t would
be particularly indefensible under pub
lie control when railroad employees are
the direct servants of the public.
''The public be damned" police will
in no circumstances be tolerated on the
railroads under Government control.
Every employee of the railroad should
take pride in serving the public courte-
ously and efficiently. Courtesy costs
nothing and when it is dispensed, it
makes friends of the public and adds
to the self.respect of the employee.
My attention has also been called to
the fact tnat employees have sometimes
offered as an excuse for their own
shortcomings or as justification for de-
layed trains or other difficulties the
statement that "Uncle Sam is running
the railroad now" or, 'These are Nc
Adoo's orders" etc. Nothing could
be more reprehensible than statement
of this character, and nothing could be
more hurtful to the success of the
Railroad Administration or to .the vel
fare of railroad employees themselves.
No doubt, those who have made them
have done 80 thoughtlessly in most in
stances, but the harm is just as great
if a thing of this sort is done thought
lessIy as is it is done deliberately.
There are many people who for par
tisan or selfish purposes wish Govern
ment operation of the railroads
to be failure, Every employee who
is discourteous to the public or
makes excuses or statements of the |
kind have described. is helping these
partisan selfish interests to discredit
Government control of railroads.
Recently the wages of railroad en-
ployees were largely increased, involv-
ing an addition to railroad operating |
expenses of more than s475. 900. 900 per
annum. In order to meet this increase
the public has been called upon to pay |
largely Increased passengers andfreigbt
rates The people have accepted this
new burden cheerfully and patriotic
ally. The least that every employee
can do in return is to serve the pub
lie courteously, faithfully and efficient
ly.
A great responsibility and duty rest |
upon the railroad employees of the
United States. Upon their loyalty. Of
ficiency and patriotism depends in
large part Americas success and the
overflow of Kaiser and all that he rep.
pres ents. Let us not fail to measure
up to our duty. and to the just de-
msnd of the public that railroad service
shall not only be efficient, but that it
shall always be courteously admins.
tered.
W. G. McADoo, Director General of
Railroad.