Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-01-24
WHEN TRAINS STOP
WAR HALTS

THE full brief Of Senator Chamberlain
we do not know and cannot know
unless the epaulets Of censorship are
ripped from its shoulders in the debate
and tonly the uuado~ned uniform is left
to cover those details general knowledge
Of which would obviously he detrimental
to the best interests Of the country. The
President called FOR a showdown, as he
ought to have done. and we hope that a
showdown there will be. Nor is the couu-
try interested in trivial criticism. There
have been many bluudcrs, Of course, but
this is not a nation cnraptured Of post
nortens. We want TO know if what is
being done now is being done in the most
efficient possible manner. II not, we want
to substitute program Of action that will
assure maximum results.
But there Is one thing that no censor
ship can conceal and for the revelation Of
which no congressional investigation Is
necessary. The transportation system Of
the country can hide behind no wells, fol
the results it produces or fails to produce
are apparent to every citizen, particularly
to those who in the dreariest winter known
in many years shiver by hestless radiators
and peruse the papers in vain expectation
OF discovering that the coal famine has
been terminated. They accept with proper
consideration the various explanations ana
excuses offered for the collapse Of trans
portation, but they ask, But why can We
not get coal?" why expect. they argue,
to transport troops and supplies, guns and
munitions, across submarineinfested
ocean 5000 miles to France if it is beyond
the power Of Government control and rail.
road management combined to bring coal
fifty miles to- Philadelphia over tracks
which have been cleared Of a large part OF
their passenger traffic, with many passen-
ger locomotives and crews available for
freight service? Why those endless lines
of freight cars motionless and why con
gestion that is alike humnating to our
pride and presumptivo evidence Of incfi.
cheney?
Following the hve-day industrial shut,
down which afforded little relief, Director
General Of Railroads AIcAdoo orders q gen.
eral freight embargo, and it is intimated
from Washington that passenger rates
travel and permit the release of additional
crews and trains for freight traffic. We
do not doubt the wisdom Of and necessity
for these moves since it is plain that relief
Of some kind must be obtained; but we,
in common with thousands of citizens, are
beginning TO wonder If personnel may not
be the particular part Of railroad equip
ment requiring speeding up at this time
ard if a lackadalsical attitude on the part
factor contributory to the Reorganization
which is 50 apparent. It may be we'll for
the railroads TO appreciate the fact that
Government control was as much for the
purpose of stabilizing and protecting their
huge credits as il was to facilitate distrlbu-
tion, and any particular railroad which
collapses under Government control or be.
comes less efficient puts itself in a position
where explanations not wholly routine in
nature will be demanded not only by the
Government but by the people also. The
value Of railroad securities, we supposed
was not true estimate of the value OF
railroad service, but recent failures TO get
results, it is only fair to say. are causing
considerable dissatisfaction and some re
sentiment
1T Is, of course, disconcerting that the
Pennsylvania Fuel Administrator should
have 10 send this message to Washington
! appeal for reassgnment Of coal that
cannot be forwarded 10 New England and
New York points owing 70 the terminal
and car congestion.
II the Government Is nurturlng conges
tion and emphasizing famine by trying q
make two trains run where only one car
80. at the same time not permitting car,
20 fiow along lines that are open, It is tira'
that the McAdoo-Garfield control becam,
co.ordlnatsd and its policies mutually help
ful. IT, indeed. the railroads can haul on
commodity only and not enough Of that
We may As well quit living in a FOOLS para
dise ana endeayor TO strengthen the fuuda
uaaial Ank a. our industrial chain. Tn
la6. s||p'up a. this country, omittinl