The Caledonian-record. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1920-current, 1921-10-21
COMMANDER
MAYO GETS
NEW OFFICE
Distinguished VermOnter
Will Coordinate the
Federal Traffic

(Our Washington Correspondent
Commander Chester G. Mayo,
U. S. ~, OF Vermont. sen of Ad-
mlral Henry I. Mayo, and scion
OF long line OF Green Mountain
ancestry, has been chosen to fill
/ a new and most important office
IN the vast Government reorgan-
lzatlon plans now ooing forward
rapidly in Washington. His ap-
polntment as Chief Coordinating
Officer for Federal traffic under
the Bureau Of the Budget has just
been announced, and, true to the
best traditions of the service in
which he has grown up, Comman-
der Mayo is with promptness and
| dispatch today organizing his
corps of assistants, and mapping
out his campaign for the salvage
of substantial sums to the U. S.
treasury.
In selecting Commander Mayo
for this big job, Brig. Gen. Char
les G. Dawes, head Of the Budget
Bureau, went to the Navy for a
man who has demonstrated his fit
ness for the task by handling all
of the Nays traffic in his capac-
lty as Supply Officer. For several
years he has been in charge of the
Naval disbursing office in Wash
lngton, which is responsible for
making payments for practically
all of the supplies and services OBJ
tanned by that Department and
whose disbursements have run as
high as $84,000,000 a month. He
is thoroughly familiar with rail
road rates and the movement or
traffic, and his appointment to
this post out of a clear sky and
without any solicitation in the APP
pointee's behalf.
The new officers problems will
he literally of ''fifty-seven varie-
ties" for at the present time the
Federal passenger and freight traf-
fic is being controlled by just that
number of different agencies with
in the Government, and it is to CO.
ordinate these into one smoothly |
operating machine, with the ulti-
mate object of achieving greater
efficiency at a less cost to the Gov
crnment, that he was placed in
charge of the newly created office.
Commander Mayo will be as
sist in his task by a Federal Traf-
fic Board, consisting of one person
from each of the Government de-
partments and Independent estab-
liShments which make or direct
shipment of material owned or
controlled by the Government,
and he will be further aided by a
group of six prominent railroad
men who will meet in Washington
as often as necessary to advise
upon the various problems that
may from time to time arise in the
prosecution of the work. The
names of these half dozen assist
ants will be announced later by
General Dawes.
This organization will make a
complete study of the traffic prob
lens confronting the various Dc
partments and Independent estab-
lishments of the Government, and
will set up uniform classifications
of all commodities, raw materials
and finished products both, shipped
by the Government, so that ship
ments may be made at the lowest
possible tariff rates. The board
Will also draw plans for improving
and stabilizing methods of making
shipments and for the settlement
of accounts.
Such instructions as may be
necessary will be issued by the
Board, governing the shipment of
freight and passengers by the
Government; all matters relating
to classification of material or ter
minal switching charges, freight
rates, etc. Further, Commander
Mayo and his corps of assistants
will participate in the adjustment
Of questions growing out of the
Governments dealing with the
carriers, and will file complaints
with the Interstate Commerce
Commission in all cases where
such steps may be necessary.
How important a factor this
Board may become in the delicate
situation with respect to railroad
'ates and the wages paid to mem
oers of the railroad employees 7
lnions may readily be seen.
The Chief Coordinator for Fed
,ral Traffic is ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
nenter Not only his father, the
distinguished Admiral who COM
handed the Atlantic fleet during
,ntire period of the World War,
nut also his grandparents, and
.reat grandparents on his fathers
ide were native born Vermonters.
Commander Mayo was born in
Burlington, in 1881 and has served
Up through the grades of Ensign,
Lieutenant DrD. Lieutenant Com
handler, and Commander. He has
cen eighteen years of commission
ID service, and the Navy is not yet
o lose him even to the broader
ield to which he has just been
amed, for he will continue to dis
barge his duties in the Naval Blu ::
eau of Supplies and Accounts, at !;
east for the present.
HENRY VI. BARRY
Washington October 20 1921. |