South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-01-03

Director General Tells Inter.
state Committee Three Al
tentative Solutions Are
Presented.
b. United Press

b Unit,d Press:
WASHINGTON. Jan. Return
Of the railroads 20 the several hum
dred companies which controlled
them before the war is impossible
IL certain important reforms are a
be preserved, Director Gen. McAdou
declared I'm a statement 10 the sen
ate interstate commerce committee
today.
McAdoo declared there are threa
alternatives in the railroad situa-
tion:
Return to several hundrei
companies controlling them befora
the war
2-Government ownership and
control
-Reconstruction OF the railroad
map so As 20 wipe out ,he hundreds
OF different companies and substi-
tute a few, under strict government
control. to combine the advantage Of
unified operations with initiative ot
private management.
McAdoO warned congress. how
ever that unless a fair time Is Civ
en- for a test OF the reforms he sug-
gested through continuation OF the
government control. the government
Will not feel like holding the roads
for the entire q months period aft
er the war. which the law fixes as
the limit OF federal control He urg
ed congress 10 continue government
control until Jan. Z. 1924. as
means Of providing fair test %
federal control
Reviews His Policies
McAdoo presented a complete re-
view Of the policies inaugurated hy
the railroad administration.
Many Of the changes in the rail-
road operation inaugurated during
the period Of the last year should
prove Of permanent value am
should continue If possible. what
ever form OF control is decided upon
for the railroads" said McAdoo
Among these reforms McAdo0 in
cluded.
Maintenance OF the permit svs-
tenn so as 20 control traffic az us
source: maintenance OF heavy loads
for cars. pooling 81 repair shop
elimination Of circui-ous routes.
unifcati0n Of terminals. cons0lida-
tion OF ticket offices: utilization of
universal mileage tickets. standard
ization Of equipment. maintenance
OF p uniform freight classidcatior.
introduced bv the railroad admins
tration. common time tables be
tween importan. points high de-
murrage rates and uniform rules
establishment ~ through wav-
billing freight from point OF origin
20 destination
Rendering unnecessary the rehin-
ing or connecting or in-ermediat-
routes
Elimination of the practice 60
paying iu mileage or per diem rental
for the use of freight or passeuEer
cars Of one carrier by another
Simplifcation Of the old practice
OF apportioning inter-line passeng-r
revenue.
Use Of water routes for The reieas0
Of crowded rail lines.
Competition Chang.s Matters.
Some OF these reforms can be con
tfnued should the roads be return
ed 10 private operation. others car
not said McAdoo.
Competition and SELF interest die
tate that when the roads are undt-
private control. each carrier gets -
much business as possible and keeRs
/ t. regardless or the fact that ~
/ aggregate result may be- wastefsf
4 and unecononnical.
Private carriers may not enforr
rules which. although designed tc
bring about efficiency and economy
might drive business away from
their lines. al the waste rerIltre
/ from these practices and running ir-
/ 20 huge costs b. paid for bv The
public in the form or increased
rates
McAdOo's Views
In presenting his views 90 -hs
! committee. McAdoo said.
II have given YOU "A statement 20
the transportation conditions a year
z ago. OF the transportation achieve
ments under federal control duriEe
a year OF war and of the present
situation.
What remains 70 be considered
CONTINUED ON PAGE FOUR