The sun., 1919-03-11
HINES CALLS RAIL
CRITICISM UNFAIR
Defence Of Federal Control Is
Made by Answer to Howard
Elliott.
LABOR INCREASE SMALL.
Problems Shown in Readjust-
mont From War to
Peace Basis. .
Special Despatch 10 Tnr Sex.

bpeCt0t Dsspdtch 10 IHn SVE.
wAsHIsoroN, March 10.--Director-
General OF Railroads Hines took sharp
issue to-day with the recent address in
Chicago OF Howard Elliott. president of
the Northern Pacific Railroad Company,
in which Mr.. Elliott declared that Fed
eral control Is injurious to tho public
interest. Mr.. Hines attacked the basis
Of comparison on Mr.. Elliott's statement
that the increase in the number OF en-
ployees on the Pennsylvania Railroad
indicated this clearly. Mr., Elliott said
the number OF employees on the Penn
sylvania had increased 16 2-3 per cent.
in December. 1918. over December, 1871.
Mr.. Hines stated that conditions OF
operation and not Government control
are responsible for the difference. He
added: There are two fundamental
mistakes OF treatment which vitiate Mr.,
Elliott's argument and emphasize Its
unfairness TO the Railroad Adminietra-
ton. Mr.. Elliott first makes the mis-
take Of treating the Pennsylvania Rail-
road as typical OF the entire country.
This is not the case. Taking the rail-
roads under Federal control as a whole
the number Of employees in January,
1919, as compared with December, 1917,
tnOWb an luCTchbe Oh OnlJ Cav per
cent, much less than the increase on
the Pennsylvania system.
Increase In Employees.
The increase in the number OF en-
ployees under Government control as
compared with the number of employees
when the roads were under private man.
agement Ia almost negligible except in
the regions Of intense war activity, and
the most striking of these was the ALLIE
gheny region (Which includes the Penn
sylvania RailroRd). where the essential
coal and steel were produced and where
many shipbuildlng yards and other war
plants were located.
MIR. Elliott makes the further mis-
take OF charging up as necessary char
acteristic of Federal control under peace
conditions temporary features which
were really due TO war conditions.
During 1918 the United States Rail-
road Administration organized the rail-
roads OF the country on n war basis. to
do the railroad part OF the work of de-
feating the Germans. There was an
extraordinary turnover OF railroad en-
ployecs due 20 the constant loss OF en-
rloyees TO the military and naval ser
vice. 10 the service OF operating the
American railways IN France and to
other lines OF work which were paying
higher wages. This necessitated EN-
ployment Of many unframed and mex
perienced men, and In the nature Of
things involved the necessity for having
more men 10 do the same amount Of
work.
Burdens OF war shown.
| Again the transportation service
under war conditions was in many re-
spects much more burdensome than Is
indicated by the mere number OF ton
miles hauled. A vast number OF special
trains, passenger and freight, had TO be
run and an unusual empty car mileage
had to be made. Again the Railroad
Administration had to keep organized
up TO its maximum capacity so as TO be
ready to put forth constantly increas-
ing effort and be ever ready even "
there might be an exceedingly severe
winter to do everything that ought TO
be done to carry on the work on an in
creas!ngly extensive scale and under an
Increasingly heavy strain. Thus the
Railway Administration had to be In a
state of preparedness for the maximum
war needs in spite OF the difficulties in
| obtaining trained employees ; It therefore
had to put forth every effort to have its
forces sufficient as winter came on 10
meet any emergency.
THE armiStice came 30 unexpectedly
that 1t was impossible by the end OF the
year to readiust the organization so as
to get rid OF these war conditions and
get down again TO a peace basis. The
problem was taken up promptly and has
ever since been pursued with Nigor in
order TO get back to a peace hasis, hut
several months will still be required for
J that purpose. To seize on the war con
ditions which still existed in December
| 1918. as an argument against the Ell
| cheney OF the Railroad Administration
even after readjustment 10 peace condi.
tons is calculated to confuse and 1.
most unfair to the railroad officials Of
all ranks who have been trying 81
Loyalty and intelligently to bring IN,
railroad conditions back TO a norma
peace basis"