The Washington herald., 1918-05-28
SAYS NADOO'S
ACTION FORCED
Comment Favorable on Dis
missal Of Presidents, I.
Says Holland.

One OF the best comments oeca-
stoned by the action Of Director
General McAdoo with respect to the
railway presidsnts was made BY q
man who has been Of influence In
the financial district and in railway
management. He said: There Is
not q railway president highly COM
petent for management of O great
railroad who, II he were placed in
the position Mr.. McAdoo now oceu-
pies. would not have done precisely
what the Director General has done.
For 1t is inevitable that this be
done IL the Federal administration
Of the railroads isI to be success
full"
Naturally. some. perhaps, Of the
railway presidents are much con-
cerned over this action, not know
ing exactly where II will place
them. nor what the effect Of 1t will
be upon the relation of the railroads
Of the United States IN the future
TO the government and to the peo-
pie.
Government Ownership.
AhCAC mas oAN ~ ANA hCN q oNo-
picion in the minds OF some OF the
railroad managers that the Federal
legislation whereby unexampled
power over the American railroads
was given to one man, and he an
officer of the administration. might
lead after the discrimination Of the
war TO such changes In the entire
policy Of railroad management and
control as would amount to actual
government ownership. Some be-
lieye that this change will be newt
able in case the Federal admins
tration OF the railroads proves to be
successful.
At the same time many are the
surmises yentured referring to the
future relations OF some of the
ablest railroad managers to the new
order which Director General Nc
.Adoo has established. Four or five
railway presidents are spoken Of
as possessing in the highest degree
qualifications for the administra-
tion or railroads both upon the op-
Grating and the financial side. The
name of Daniel Willard is often
mentioned.
His record in building up the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad to
position which surpasses. even that
highly efficient condition which was
identified by the administration OF
John w. Garrett. of the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad-especially at the
time of the civil warts frequently
referred to. Mr.. Willard commands
a large salary and earns every penny
of f. His facility in railroad man
agement and his equal skill in work.
ing out, probably after counseling
with very able financiers. the finan-
cial policy OF the company, would
Of course justify Director General
McAdoo in naming him as one of his
chief subordinates. But would Mr..
Willard be willing to accept a post
of that kind? Vast responsibilities
would be placed upon him, but they
would not be accompanied with equal
power.
Rixley ana the Government.
President Ripley. Of the Atchison
Railroad system. Is sometimes spoken
of as being more autocratic than were
James ]. Hill, or E II. Hartman, or
even Commodore Vanderbilt His
methods. however, have worked out
wonderful results for the Atchison
cept a subordinate appointment under
the government which, while involving
great responsibilities, would not con-
fer upon HIM power that would match
these responsibilities? He might be
willing to do this for patriotic mo-
tiyes, but 1t is very doubtful whether
from the point of view of railroad
MANAGEMENT he would accept the sui
ordinate position.
The president Of the Pennsylvania.
Samuel Rea. has achieved so greatly
that he is often compared with the
Ablest Of his predecessors such as
Thomas A. Scott. ]. Edgar Thomp-
son and even A. ]. Cassatt. His serv-
ices to the railroad company are re-
garded as worth all the salary which
he receives and even more. He has
already given-as in fact Daniel VIII
lard and other able railway presi-
dents have done-important service,
although in an advisory capacity, TO
the government
None Of these railway presidents,
nor all Of the railway presidents of
the United States, when acting in a
group were able to persuade the In
terstste Commerce Commission to In
crease rates except grudginsly. and
certainly were unable to secure vast
amounts Of fresh capital of which
the railroads stood in need.
Furnishes Capital
But at one stroke of the pen Director
General McAdoo furnishes the rail-
roads Of the United States with nearly