Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-01-03

Many economies brought about under
unified management, such as rerouting
common use of terminals and equipment
heavier loading and elimination of use
less competition, Mr.. McAdoo explained
will not be reflected until this year
Nevertheless, he said. reports from five
Of the seven operating regions show that
on group Of selected principal items
OF economy, savings totaling ss5,576,0OU
have been effected.
MANY Of the changes In railroad
operation inaugurated during last year,
the director general testified, should
prove of permanent value and should
continue. if possible, regardless Of what
form of control is decided upon for the
railroads Such reforms include; Main
tenancc of the permit system so as to
control the traffic At it's source; main
tcnance of heavy loads for cars; pooling
Of repair shops elimination of circui-
. touS routes unifcatiOn on terminals
maintenance of the sailing day plan
consolidation of ticket Offices. utiizd-
ton OF universal mileage ticket, stand
ardizatiOn of equipment maintenance of
the uniform freight classification intro
duced by the railroad administration
maintenance of common timetables be-
tween important points maintenance of
high dcmurragc rates and uniform rules
establishment Of through way-biling
freight from point of origin to destina-
ton. elimination Of the old practice Of
paying in mileage or per diem rental toi
the use Of freight or passenger cars Of
one carrier by another SimlIiicatlOn Of
the old practice Of apportioning inter
line passenger revenue; and utilization
+ Of water routes for the relief Of crowded
rail lines"
! Competition and self-ntercst Of ndi-
yidual roads would prevent the carrying
out Of many Of these reforms under the
old system of private management. de-
clared Mr. McAdo".
private carriers" he said IN emDha- =
sizing this point may not enforce rules
which. although designed 20 bring about
efficiency and economy, might drive hus-
ness away from their lines All the waste
resulting from these practices and rum
ming into huge costs is paid for by the
public in the form Of increased rates"
Benefits Of Unihed Control
The retiring director general told the
| Senator's how tn" Government. taking
over the railroads the first Of last year
/ at a time when they We're threatened
with physical and financial breakdown
had rghted conditions gradually
moved G.49G, 900 troops, hauled great
quantities of food at a critical time
in February when the very success
Of the war depended on the food situa-
tion, and had hauled 37,0s3. 900 more
tons of bituminous coal during the ten
months ending October 81 than in the
same period of the year before.
Whatever inconycniences may have
= resulted 10 civilian travellers" he as
serted. "are due entirely to war cond!-
tons, and are in no way related TO the
fact that the railroads were under Gov
ornment control"
The director general went at length
into the necessity for pooling terminal
facilities in scores of cities, referring
particularly to Cincinnati, New York and
Chicago This program cannot be carried
out, however, he said, except under some
form Of unified control extending over a
, number Of years.
He emphasized that waterways should
be used more extensively In co-Ordinat,
ipC with railroads. but expressed doubt
whether this Owuld be don" r. the roads
went back 10 Comuetitiy" private man,
agement. The Cap" Cod Canal should
continue under Federal control, he said.