The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-01-01
War Board. Operating Conn
mittee. Pri2rity Rules All
Discarded by McAdoo
WILLIAMS Is MEMBER
OF ADVISORY BOARD
First Aim Is to Relieve Coal
shortage in New England
and Get Lines Clear tor u
ture Heavy Work

Washington, Dec. 2f.~-Director-
General McAdoo took drastic steps
to relieve the consequences OF
railroad congestion. developed under
private operation.
He abolished the railroads wal
board and the operating committee OF
vice-presidents-which had been sci
lup under private controI-and saIbsti.
ituted In their places a directing stad
tof his own, consisting Of John SkeI-
ton Williams. com ptroller Of currency;
Hale Holden. president OF the Chica-
go. Burlington and Quincy railroad.
Henry Walters. president of the At
lantic Coast Line; Judge Edward
Chambers, vfce-president of the Santc
Ft, and Walker d. Hines, assistant to
the director-generai ex-of7cio.
He suspended all priority orders and
released the Jam on traffic all alsng
the line.
te ordered Immediate steps TO res.
liove the coal farnincs In New England
land New orb city. and complete re-
lief In promised within a fortnight.
lie took preliminary measures to
do away with all unnecessary passen-
ger traffic, decreeing that essential
freights-food, fuel and the raw ma
~tertais for munitions-be given the
right OF way.
lie Ia, Killed. the problem OF wages
ard, under the slogan hat contented
labor Is cheapest In the long run,
promised a fair hearing to the broth
aYkoods or THURSDAY. An Increase 81,
wages for some OF the employees Ii
ipractically certain.
He gave orders which started $500
coalriaden cars moving Immediately
TO New England. and In conferences
with the shipping hoard and railroad
officials ARRANGED for the N~ortheaster1
states to get their minimum require
rnents. by land and water, of three
million o a a month.
AT this same conference it was de-
termtned that immediate steps be
taken to divert from New York Large
quantities of freight now going to that
terminal for export. and to send 1t to
baltimore, Norfolk and other Atlantic
sea ports where there is less coages
ltioh. A special committee to handie
this problem was determined ur.on, II
will be headed by Major-Genera
George W. Cocktails. representing the
~ar department. and representatives
NJ the food and fuel administrations:
the navy. shipping board and other
Interested departments.
Mr.. McAdoo will ask Asavor Hyfau-
of New York city, tomorrow to assign
men from the street cleaning depart
ment OF New York and other depart-
r1ents OF the municipality TO help un4
load the coal cars in the Jersey City
yards.
Secretary Of the Navy Daniels Ia,
sued orders tonight to alt navy Yards
to release surplus coal on hand for
Immediate shipment to New England
to relieve the famine there.
/ Likewise he ordered t1e command
ants at all the yards TO make irnmedf-
ately available for the poor living in
the neighhorhood Of the yards all the
cord wood h yards could spare.
Hair the enormous Goa pile at tina
Boston ward was ordered turned oyess
tonight to h needs of the people.
j.. Chairman Hurley. Of the shipnfne
board, in conference this afternoon
with Director General McAdoo. Sac.
rotary of War Baker. Secretary OF INA
Navy Daniels. Fuel AdmtnistratSr
Harneid, Food Administrator Hoover
ard operating men OF the railroada
agreed to turn over at once Ave stirs
TO the task of carrying soft coal ID
New England from Norfolk and Ter
~ Scar y VI q AUFS& OF tISSG n9TR
been engaged in the Belgian relief
work.
In addition tc these FIVE ships for
the c~oastw1se movement. Mr.. Hurley
announced ton light that he was a.
ranging to provide 1--WE moro In tha
future.
Furthermore. the shipping board
chairman has directed Charles AZ
Peg. general manager OF the Emerxl
gcncy Fleet corporation. to take stock
Immediately of the resources OF tho
inland waterways OF the country win
n view to having the en-
gage. partially at least. in the creataons
or enormous barge fleets to travel r.
rivers and canals. relieving some Y
the traffic burdens OF the railroads.
Dtrector-GeneraI McAdoo tonf~hl
issued general order Number q:
IL is to the chief executives of IT,
roads. II directs that they beein
morrow their accounting for the 800
eminent. Ihe methods will be th1as1
followed for the Interstate cummerxT
commission INK will be the sxmn a1
before the roads were taken =