Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1918-01-25
American and English Government
Control of Railways
I

passed in August, 1915, Secretary Nc
Adoo as Director General of the Rail-
roads took possession and assumed con-
troll of the railways of the country at
midnight, December 81. 1t is proposed
that the Government pay the stock
holders dividends based on the average
net operative income for the last three
years.
The Director Generals first act was
to direct that all officers and employ
ees Of the transportation system taken
over continue their duties as usual and
that the railways should be operated
as a national system of transportation,
the national needs being held in all
Instances paramount to supposed cor
porate advantages. All the railway
property and facilities are to be fully
utilized without regard to ownership,
and the designation of routes by ship
pers and traffic agreements between
carriers are to be dlsregarded when in
terfering with the exp edition of traffic;
through routes are established. Exist
ing rate schedules and outstanding or
ders of the Interstate Commerce Com
mission are to be observed until an
nulied.
The Director General called upon all
officials to take up vigorously.
and Immediately the matter of the COM
mon use of terminals and parallel lines,
wiping out al, competitive prohibitions
and waving competitive control or So
licitation of traffic. The terminal facil-
tiles in the large citie s are to be treated
as a unit when necessary. An immed-
late study and investigation of railway
and especially terminal conditions were
directed.
In some sections of the country an
embargo was placed on any consignee
not releasing freight prom pity upon ar
rival; certain passenger trains were an
nulled; and all over the country the
demurrage charges on unloaded cars
were increased.
The Director General appealed to
the people of the United States to OBJ
serve this week beginning January IA,
as "Freight Moving Week." urging the
people at large as we'll as the railroad
forces to make a supreme effort to I'M
load all freight cars and remove freight
from railroad stations and clear the
deck for a more expeditions moving of
freight.
The Director General says that every
railroad officer and employee is now, in
effect, in the services of the United
States, and each as important a factor
in winning the war as q man In the
trenches.
Secretary McAdoo asked for the CO.
operation of the railways, the railway
officials and employees, and the people
at large. The response was immediate
and strong, and Government control in
the United Stated has become a pub
lie, national effort participated in by
the whole people.
EuHhtSu
The ex perience of the English Gov
eminent In rail way control Is of prime
interest to Americans at this juncture.
The folio wing summary of the railway
control by the English Government is
taken from a speech delivered In the
January 4 by Senator Henry F.
Hollis, of New Hampshire:
"The English Government took en-
tire control of all rail ways in Great
Britain on August IA, 1914, agreeing to
pay the stockholders the came earnings
as they received in the year 1913"
las traffic demands increased while
facilities decreased, due to wear and
and the enlistment of thousands
OF railway workers, was had
to reduction Of service and the employ
ment of women and men not capable
of bearing arms, the Der of women
employed increasing in 8 years from
$1,000 to LOG, 1000. Freight cars were
pooled without regard to ownership,
and the loading and unloading Of cars
were ex Expedited under heavy penalties,
fines, and i'm prisonment; it was made
a criminal offense to fail to load OIL I'M
load in accordance with the rules. Pass
trains were %annulled, reservation
of seats abolished, traffic diverted, and
passenger rates advanced fifty per cent.
- -
discourage travel.o
1.-THE Government control In Eng
land was exercised through a railway
executive committee Of 10 appointed by
the Government from the general man.
ayers Of certain important roads, this
board having as its official chairman a
of the cabinet, the president of
the board of trade. The staff of each
roroainod undiafurhad -