The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-01-02
Thoroughly Pleased With What
Has Already Been Ac o :
plished by Government.
NEW WAYS ARE FOUND
TO MOVE COAL TRAINS
Pennsylvania Tubes Opened
for Freight-Ships Loading
Fuel at Portland Are Sent to
Other Cities.

Washington, Jan. president VIII
son will so before congress with his
railroad message Friday or Saturday.
according to intimations tonight In
official quarters.
Thoroughly pleased with what has
already been accomplished in a few
days. during which the railroads have
been operating under government con-
troll, he Will ask congress for prompt
action to make good his guarantees
earnings.
He desires specifically the authority
that will enable him to guarantee to
the roads a rate of earnings equal to
their average returns of the past three
years. surplus earnings above that
guarantee TO be the property of the
government. and deficits below what
the roads have been earning In that
period to be paid out OF the federal
treasury.
esa Ig hsaes no Hiatt ~ forthcoming az to
the full purport of the message. there
is reason to believe that the president
has prepared a tentative draft of what
ne win say.
Although congress as a whole ap-
piauds the presidents action in TAX
ing over the operation OF the roads,
the legislation he Will seek will prob
ably not have easy sailing. There is
objection In both branches to the rate
of earnings 10 be guaranteed. Com
plant is made against the fact that
the basis taken includes the three most
prosperous years in American rail-
reading. when for the first time on
record the dividends paid out almost
tipped the billion mark.
II is assumed that the president Will
ask for an appropriation of some sort
that can be used as working capital
until the earnings can be computed.
, Extensions Go Ahead.
The railroads have received instruc-
tons to go ahead with any necessary
current expenditures and extensions of
their railroads. but IL is believed in
railroad circles that tne president very
likely will ask that a large sum be
set aside for comprehensive. immedi-
ate extension OF the terminals most
vital TO the movement Of supplies to
the allies and the American expedi-
tionary forces. Undoubtedly he will
suggest the adoption of measures that
will restrict passenger travel and pos
sibly the consideration OF motor truck
transportation to be co-ordinated with
water and rail, which dual service has
been recommended in his proclama-
ton, Hint of some such suggestion
has been made among the officials
now acting under Director General
McAdoo
Definite relief results have been OBJ
tanned by the director general within
the last twenty-four hours. chief
among them being:
|. Fifteen hundred cars OF coal were
moved last night today and tonight
through the Pennsylvania tunnels al
New York for the New York district
and for New England -
g. Orders were Issued forbidding
transatlantic and other ships from
loading bunker coal at Portland
Maine. These vessels were Instructed
to proceed to Newport News. Balti-
more. Philadelphia. or other parts thus
releasing hundreds OF tons OF coal for
the stricken districts.
g. six more vessels were obtained
from the shipping board, This makes
eleven vessels that have been put 10
coaling at Newport News to move i'm.
mediately to New England ports. They
will have a delivering capacity oil
nearly So, 600 tons OF coal a week.
4. Orders were sent to Sc. Louis
Kansas city, Chicago and CLEVELAND
districts to begin to move the block
AIDED coal cars East They will be rushed
to the New England districts Just as
soon az the present jam has beer
! cleared.
Coal Through Tubes.
New Years day was coal day
throughout the northeastern section
i The director general sent orders &c
Alfred H. Smith. in charge Of this
transportation of the district. to move
coal through the Pennsylvania tubes
sidetracking everything else.
The coal trains practically became
express trains. Passenger trains were
sidetracked everywhere to let the fast
coal trains through. Even troop trains
were held up In some places. for tht
quick movement of coal.
The opening of the Pennsylvania
tubes for freight clears the most I'm
portant gateway In the country. Goa
can be shipped cut on 20 Long Islant
! And from extreme points lightsred Acrdsl
Long island sound TO Bridgeport. New
Haven ana the other close cities. b.
/ rail It can 60 by way Of the New Yori
connecting road to tho New Havsr
tracks ana then shot ahead.
/ ctor-GansraI McAdoo had 1ont
conference today with Hale Holden
Judge Edward Chambers. walker D
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