Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-01-02
DELAYS, NOT SHORTAGE,
CAUSE OF SUFFERING
Railroad Men Elated at Edict
Sweeping Aside Priority Demands.
Passenger Traffic Secondary.


movement of other freight, Mr.. McAdoo
has taken vigorous steps to clear tracks
Of coal cars, held in freight jams for
weeks, and, in some cases, months.
In this course. it was learned. he has
the approval Of the White House. Com
plants have reached the administration
of general dissatisfaction in various
parts of the country regarding the coal
shortage. Railroad men themselves
have represented that the conflicts be-
tween the fuel and food administrations
and the director of priorities, Judge
Robert S. Lovett, have resulted in de-
lays In coal shipments.
Blame Shortage on Roads.
Director General McAdoo was in con-
ference yesterday with walker D. Hines.
Hale Holden, Robert S. Lovett and Ed
ward Chambers, in regard to the ma
tional coal problem. The conclusion
reached was that railway congestion,
rather than coal shortage. has been re-
sponsible for the lack of coal in many
communities.
Railroad men frankly were elated
over the decision of the director gen.
eral. and especially at Mr.. McAdoo's or
der yesterday sweeping aside all previ-
the railroads war board for weeks past
has been there was no reason for coal
shortage in view of the increased pro-
duction of both bituninous and antha-
cite coal. They contended the delays in
shipment were due to the mass of pri-
ority orders. not SO much those of Judge
Lovett, as those affixed by Quartermas-
ters and chiefs of various government
~ *
and the railroads directed to go ahead
with movement Of coal. the railroad
men believe they can settle the coal
question in reasonably short time.
Hundreds Of Cars Released.
Hundreds Of coal cars were released
yesterday from yards where they have
been stalled behind shipments of high
er preferential ratings. Today they
moved over eastern roads to relieve the
acute coal shortage in the northeast
For the relief of New England, Director
McAdoo got from the shipping board
ships in addition to those already OBJ
tanned to carry coal from Newport
News and Norfolk. Mr.. McAdoo also or
dered the Pennsylvania railroad tunnels
under the Hudson river, heretofore used
exclusively for passenger trains, to be
used for coal trains for the relief of
II.
Mr.. McAdoo is giving preference to
fuel rather than to food because of the
obvious impossibilfty of substituting
other fuel for coal. which can be done
when there is shortage of certain
kinds of food; because of the intense
suffering caused during the cold wave,
and because of the recognized desir-
ability of allaying the discomfort which
naturally arises when whole communi-
ties are shiyering and clamoring for
coal.
For this last mentioned reason IL is
recognized distribution of coal not onlv
is matter for giving comfort to the
population. but is necessary meas
ure toward producing state of mind
which will make for the most loyaI
support of the government and best
efforts toward winning the war.
Passenger Traffic Secondary.
For the time being passenger traf,5c
is to be regarded by railroads as a sec
ondary consideration. Roads not only
have been instructed to eliminate pas
senger trains when they can, but also
to disregard passenger schedules when
necessary freight movement demands
such action. The movement of coal
the Hudson tunnel may be ex-
pected to delay passenger service on
the Pennsylvania railroad between here
and New York. and patrons of the road
must be prepared to face this incon-
venience as a war necessity. Within
the next few days announcements are
expected from many railroads all over
the country that passenger schedules
are to be curtailed.
1t is not unlikely that a sustained
may be carried on later urs-.
ing the public to avoid unnecessary
riding on trains just as there already
have been launched efforts toward con-
servation of food and fuel.
Indications today were that President
Wilson would go before Congress Fri
day to present his recommendations
for legislation to make government
operation of railroads fully effective
and provide for reimbursement of the
roads on the basis of pre-war earnings.
The Presidents plans already have
been drafted into legislative form and
bills embodying them probably will be
in both houses Immediately
after his address.
Some officials think there will be
vigorous fight over the question of
whether the legislation should be
war and limited time thereafter. or
should remain in force until specific-
ally repealed or modified by Congress.
Lost in Confusion.
Hundreds of kilograms pouring in to
the railroad administration told of coal
trains or individual cars apparently
lost in yard confusion. These reports.
most of which were submitted by In
Commerce Commission In
spectors, were referred to railway ex.
ecutives, with instructions to clear out
The stalled freight as fast as physically
possible, and to notify the administra-
ION of the extent of their inability to
move certain quantities of freight.
EARLY action to divide the country
INTO operating districts. with q govern
ment supervisor over each. and possi-
bly a federal railroad agent for
each state, has been strongly urged
upon Director General McAdoo, and he
Is said to be considering this policy
Many. of the kilograms which have
reached him In the last few days are
from persons or organizations urging
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