The sun., 1918-08-23
UNIFIED RAILROAD
SATISFIES M'ADOO
Secretary Says He Is Not Con-
cerned With Question Of Per-
manent Control.

During a general discussion Of the
railroad situation, Secretary OF the
Treasury William G. McAdoo admitted
in the Hotel Vanderbilt yesterday that
tie Administration hopes some day to
prove to the public that the unified OPP
Grafton of the railroads of the country
was for the best interests Of all the
people.
Mr.. McAdoo had Just returned from a
survey of railroad conditions on Long
Island and was pleased by what he had
seen. He had visited the Sunnyside
freight yards. the new army and navy
warehouse at Bayside and the Bush
Terminal, and had found conditions sat
isfactory.
On the whole, Mr.. McAdoo believed.
the same Il ing could be said Of the
general railroad situation throughout the
country in spite OF the grave shortage
of passenger coaches. In certain places.
lie added. there Is an improvement IN
passenger traffic conditions since Gov
eminent control was established.
Many of the attacks against the Rail-
road Administration. Mr.. McAdoo
thought. were inspired by persons who
had a partisan prejudice against the
principle of Government control.
DO you think that Government con-
troll of the carriers has come TO stay?'
he was asked.
81 can't say" he replied. who can
say? Besides ] am not affected by that
consideration at all Whether what do
furthers or retards the possibility OF
permanent Government control doesn't
make any difference to me- My objec.
is to make the Railroad Administration
as efficient as possible. The people will
settle the matter Of Government owner
ship or control. but l hope through Gov
eminent management to demonstrate a
unified railroad system Is a good thing.
'The present object Of the Railroad
ADMINISTRATION is to give the public as
good a service as Is consistent with the
demands of the war. Whenever that
| service is insufficient 1t is not because
the Administration wants 1t to be so. At
because the war makes II unavoidable.
On Long Island. for instance. The mill
tary pressure is very great. and t Is
almost impossible to handle the soldiers
and their supplies and still accommodate
the public with the same old Ieg-.e OF
comfort"
Every month. Mr.. McAdoo stated, the
railroads carry about 100000 troops
from one part Of the country to another
and in addition to that the roads have
to provide not only for the handling of
supplies for our own troops but also for
| the transportation OF munitions destined
for the Allies. Nevertheless. he said.
the freight car facilities were splendid
and were far in excess of the passenger
carrying facilities.
Through the imposition OF extra taxes
on Pullman compartments and Pullman
seats, the Secretary admitted. the Ad-
ministration hopes to discourage to a
great extent the practice of riding de
luxe. 1t hopes also to curtail passenger
travel and in this way save fuel and
locomotives for the hauling of freight.
II would like" said Mr.. McAdoo with
smile. ito induce those people who
travel unnecessarily TO stay home and
invest their money in Liberty bonds and
War Saving Stamps
In retaining some OF the old executives
, OF the railroads. Mr.. McAdoo declared
he disregarded political leanings but
placed high value on efficiency and
patriotism. So long as the railroad men
| were loyal to their country, ne added, lie
did not care what political labels they
wore.
The Secretary added word abou.
the next Liberty Loan and expressed
his opinion of people who sell their Lib
erty bonds when they are not forced "a
do so by stress of circumstances.
Il look on such people as cutters and
unpatriotic citizens said ne. THE
credit OF the United States is as vital
to the country as health is to the in
dividual and as virtue Is to a woman
Any manswho sells his Liberty bonds
deliberately, thoughtlessly or unpatri-
otically is injuring the credit of the
United States and is adding to the ma
tlon's difficulties in lighting the war"