Arizona republican., 1918-01-03
COAL IS AHEAD() OF
 ALL ELSE
Republican A. p. Leased Wirel

WASHINGTON, Jan. Solid coal trains were ordered moved eastward ahead of all other freight tonight after conferences between the director gen eral of railroads and the fuel admins tration further plans for speeding coal tO New England and other sections short of coal in the midst of a blizzard. The organization of a great army of laborers loaned by cities and corpora tions to unload coal and other freight at congested terminals is under con- sideration and some thought even has been given to the possibility of having soldiers assigned to these tasEs if the civilian organization proves impracti- cable.
 Transfer of locomotives from the west and south, where congestion is not so serious and weather less inclem- ent. was planned by Director General McAdoO and his staff. With the equip ment will come a number of employees from those districts to assist the over hurdened east. Reports of frozen boil CTS in locomotives and trains stalled in snow, led 10 special consideration of a plan of augmentng the available mo- tive power on trunk lines east of the Mississippi and north of the Ohio river. An immediate embargo on movement of a number of non essential products also was discussed.
 Despite the weather freight is actu- ally moving faster than before the gov ernment assumed management ac- cording to reports from interstate com merce commission inspectors. Con- gested switch yards are being cleared without regard to old priority orders At least ten trains carrying in all 800 cars of coal reached New Jersey termi- nals today and many were either Vbuted through the Pennsylvania pas senger tunnel or ferried to the east riv- CT for transfer to Brooklyn or dis patched to New England.
 Nine ships were pledged by the ship ping board to carry coal from Hamp- ton Roads to New England. Director General McAdoO tomorrow will discuss the labor situation under government operation with heads of the four rail- way brotherhoods who were invited tC confer with him. They will be told ot the pressing necessity not only for re- taining all prese-t Workmen, but fol drawing new employees into the ser vice, and for sustaining a high order of efficiency under the government! operation plan.
 Wages probably will not be discussed at the conference except tl a genera way, but the brotherhood heads may b' told that the entire problem of read iusting wages will he taken up by thu railroad administration as soon as tn more immediate operating and traffi questions are disposed of.
 Officials are anxious that railroa, employees shall not get the impression that any wholesale Curtailment of job or salaries is in prospect. Although number of railroad agencies which ar not considered essential now that com petitive conditions have been abolished may be eliminated eventually, it i considered improbable that the em ployers will be transferred to othe branches of the service. This rear engagement applies particularly to traf fife solicitors, publicity bureaus an legal advisers.
 Mir. McAdoo is considering the nam ing of additional district supervisors c railway management with function similar to those of A. H. Smith, as signed to direct transportation on east ern trunk lines as MT. McAdoos assis tant. It probably will be a week or te days before specific consideration given the selection of other region; assistants, however since the east
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