The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-01-05
COAL TRAINS MOVE FAST.
NEW GOVERNMENT ORDERS |
SPEED FREIGHT.
Prompt Action Taken-An Existing
Priority Orders for Whole Country
Suspended I'm Favor Of Fuel.

Washington, Jan. Goal trains
went forward today under new gov
ernment orders based on the belief Of
director General McAdoo that rail-
way congestion rather than actual
shortage is responsible for the fuel
famine in many districts
Upon receipt of reports that hun
ureds of loaded coal cars were stalled
on sidings behind long strings Of cars
containing shipments OF higher pref
eGential rating than coal, ali existing
priority orders for the entire country
were suspended by Robert S. Lovett
priority director Of the war industrial
board, on recommendation Of the di-
rector general. This is expected to
result in quicker movement OF the
entire mass of congested freight
whose sluggishness has been caused
largely by a. multiplicity of priority
orders.
President Wilson, it was learned to-
night, will go before congress Friday
to present his recommendations for
legislation to make government oper-
alton fully effective and to provide for
compensation Of the carriers and leg
islation which has already been
drawn will be introduced immediate
ly after his address. Some officials
think there will be q vigorous fight
over the question Of whether the leg
islation should be effective only for
the period Of the war and limited
time thereafter, or should remain in
force until specifically repealed or
modified by congress-
Representatives Of the railroads
were to have appeared tomorrow be-
fore the senate interstate commerce
committee but when word came that
the president desired to address con-
| gress Friday, 1t was announced that
they would ask permission to with
hold their statements for the present
The committee instead will hear Com
missioner Atchison Of the interstate
commerce commission.
Director General McAdoo spent g
busy New Years day. He broke rail.
way precedents by ordering that the
Pennsylvania Company's tunnel under
the Hudson river. heretofore restrict.
ed to PASSENGER trains, be used tc
hasten coal supplies into the heart OF
New York city. The orders are to
be followed. even If they interfere
with passenger schedules.
The action was considered signffl.
cant by railroad men not only because
of the direct results, but because i,
indicated how determined the govern.
ment is to use all facilities to their
utmost regardless OF previous prac-
tices. to relieve congestion and pro.
mote efficiency.
AT the first conference of Mr.. Nc.
Adoo in the New Year with his ad-
visers and executives, it was decided
to put additional ships now controll-
ed by the shipping board into service
carrying coal from Hampton Roads to
New England.
1 Hundreds Of telegrams pouring into
railroad administration told of coal
trains or individual cars apparently
lost in yard confusion. These reports,
most of which submitted to interstate
commerce commission inspection, were
referred to railway executives with
instructions to clear out the stalled
freight as fast as physically possible.
Ear!y action TO divide the country
into operating districts with q govern
mcnt supervisor over each and pos
sibly q federal railroad agent for
each State has been urged strongly
upon Director General McAdoo and
he is said to be considering this pol
icy.
a