Evening journal., 1918-09-09
M'ADOO WOULD SAVE
BRAINS FOR ROADS
But Reduction of $4,6l4,-
500 Already Saved in
High Salaries
HINT OF FEDERAL RULE
LASTING AFTER WAR


has submitted a report to the President
on the work OF the United states rail-
road administration during the first
seven months Of its existence
Mr.. McAd0O deals in great detail with
The problems Of government control OF
transportation. What is regarded as a
highly significant paragraph deals with
the future Of railroad employees. Evi-
IDENTIFY with the thought in mind that
government control Of the roads will
prove no ephemeral experiment, the di-
rector general asserts railroad work
should be made sufficiently attractive
TO draw to 10 men Of high calibre and
GOOD q;iality. Millions have been saved
In salaries. however. The director
general says:
Under private control, salaries as
high as 100000 per annum were paid
OF officers Of railroad corporations
Under government control the ngnest
salaries paid are to the regional dl-
rectors lof whom there are hut seven
and these salaries range from S4O,0W
to $4,000 per annum.
The reduction Of si,6iI,ss9 per an
mum In the aggregate OF the salaries
paid TO the more responsible officials
has not been effected by forcing the eX-
perienced men appointed by the United
States railroad administration to accept
salaries incommensurate with Their re-
sponsibilities, although in numerous in
stances these salaries are substantially
less than those they had been earning
as officers Of the railroads or could earn
in private employment ] have felt that
il was not only equitable but neces-
sarv that they should be justly re-
munerated, and that the rewards OF
brains. industry and loyalty should be
sufficient 10 continually attract able
men TO the service OF the railroads as
their life's work. 10 Is not a question
merely OF operating the railroads dur
ing the period OF the war-this re-
niires. it is true, the best talent that
can be secured If the present eXtra0r-
dinary demands are 10 be met-but 1t
is a question Of the post bellum period
as we'll when railroad work must con-
tinue to be sufficiently attractive TO
draw constantly to il men OF the right
quality and caliber. Unless the ranks
are uninterruptedly recruited with such
men Il will be impossible TO maintain
the efficient organizations which are
essential 20 the successful management
and operation of the roads Of the coun-
try"
The report refers TO Mr.. McAdoo's
declaration OF policy, issued last June,
in which he announced that he hoped
"to humanize the railroads and negative
the idea that corporations have no
souls" An undiminshed ard0r for
practical idealism in the management
Of railroads for the purposes for which
they were taken over runs through the
report. These purposes are 10 Win the
war and to give service to the public
at the lowest cost consistent with the
payment OF fair wages TO the railroad
employees and the maintenance OF the
transportation system untAsr control
OF the government as a seh-supporting
rather than a money-maldng agency.
The future is bright in the director
generals opinion. lie believes good
progress has been made in accelerat-
ng the movement OF traffic and employ
ng the available equipment more in
iensively.n He is confident the rail
roads viii soon be in condition to meet
any demands that may be made upon
them II the needed motive power al
ready ordered can be secured and the
skilled labor necessary Is not with
drawn from the railroads for military
snd other purposes.
After showing how certain economies
lave intensified employment Of equip
nent, the report calls attention TO the
.rippled condition OF the railroads when
,hey were taken over as a result OF
freight congestion. The report explains
measures OF relief that were success
frrfT fnI 40.
before any permanent organization was
effected or Congress had passed enabl-
ng legislation provided for the revOly-
ng fund Of sJO0,OOOOOO, which did not
lecome a law until March 81. 1918.
The Federal railroad organization IS de-
;cribed at length.
The advance Of p per cent. in freight
rates and the establishment OF a mini
mum passenger rate Of three cents a
mile was discussed at length. The re-
port then gives considerable light on
Nhy people travel in war times. High
n wages is given as one cause. An
,ther is that wOrkmen are constantly
Hanging their places Of employment.
soldiers, who have been granted "a spe-
,ial rate Of one cent a mile when on
lErlough, also swell passenger traffic.
Between May 4, 1917 and July 81, 1918.
the railroads moved 6.455,55S soldiers
or the government. The fact that Ne
Toes received the same pay as white
nen is emphasized.
An interesting chapter OF the report
Explains that there IS no longer any
competition for freight or passenger
Tafilc between the various divisions Of
he government railroad system. The
elinquishment Of the soliciting forces
hitherto employed by railroads mdae
I possible to consolidate separate tick
Il offices OF the larger cities and effect
ID saving Of S23,5J6,633 In advertls-
ng alone s7000.O00 was saved.
The energies Of tie railroed admins
ration are now being largely devoted
moving coal mined as rapidly as The
uel administration can deliver IL. Mines
re being supplied with cars rapidly
md there is no longer any doubt that
transportation for the fuel requirements
" the nation is available, provided the
pal production during the warm
Weather can be maintained 50 as to
mploy the cars requisitioned.
Mr.. McAd0o adds that "at present
his is not the case" and that II en-
,has,ze this point because the country
las been led TO believe that the coal
reduction is limited entirely by trans
,ortation and any shortage is attribut-
TO the railways He says that "the
'edcral railroad system is aSd iras
cen for some weeks past in a position
handle more coal than has been pro-
uced, and any shortage during the
oming winter. will not, it is hoped, be
roperly chargc3ble to the lack Of trans