Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-04-04
WILLARD DENIES
R. R. BREAKDOWN
-------.s-ii',
3. and O. President, Addressing
Senate Committee, Con-
tradicts McAdoo
BlAMES RAIL REGULATIONS
BlAMES RAIL REGULATIONS

"hsiItNktOS, .Npl ~ lsuI'S Sh'"
ing the railroads of the country moved
only per cent more traffic in 1918
than in 1917 were cited BY Daniel
Willard. president of the baltimore
and Ohio Railroad Company. before the
Senate Interstate Commerce Committee
today TO refute the recent testimony of
William &. McAdOo. former Director
General of Railroads. that the roads
had broken down in 1918 prior to
Government control.
Mr.. Willard appeared AZ Il resump-
tion Of the committee investigation
into the general railroad situation. as
scrting he was unable to find any
thing in the record to justify the state
ment that the railroads in this country
have ever broken down, either before.
during or since Federal control"
Mr.. Willard declared the 'seriouS
situation which developed undo" the
war load in 1917 might rather be- at
tributed to n failure. If not II break
down, Of our system of railroad regula-
tion as then in effect.
Rapidly mounting operating expenses
in 1917 were proving serious tinan-
cial problem for many of the roads. he
said. because under the law they were
unable to advance. their rates without
permission from the Interstate Com
nero" Commission. The commission.
Il" asserted. did not seem willing (pcr
hnpS did not feel authorized under the
law to deal with the matter with such
promptness and liberaIity as the situa-
ton demanded.
Two Years Figures cited
Former Director General McAdoo
has pointed with pride. and ju>tifiably
So Mr.. Willard continued. ''to the
record of accomplishments of the rail-
roads under his direction during 1918.
but the figures show that the same rail-
roads that moved 43O. 900. 900. 900 ton
miles in 1917. moved only 44O. 900 900.
900 ton mics in 1918. or about > per
cent more. I submit that difference
in accomplishment Of only > per cent
between III" two periods is hardly .uf-
tic;ent TO indicate q breakdown in the
one year and satisfactory accomplish.
mcnt in the other"
He quoted from Presiden, Wilson :
address to Congress in January. 1918,
stating that the taking over of the
roads was "not' because Of any derr-
LECTION or failure Oh their part. but
only because there are some things
which the Government could do and pri-
vate management could not. Mr.
Willard declared the former President
clearly showed thereby that he did no,
fs" the roads "hud failed to do all
that could be expected Of them under
IN" circumstances.
The financial condition nf the ear
ricrS. resulting from mounting costs Of
operation in the face of II fixed basis
Of earnings he added. was one of the
"outstanding reasons why the Gov
crnnent took over control.
Despite the ''cOnsostton and con
fusion which naturally followed the
country's entrance into the war. Mr..
Willnrd said tn" railroads showed an
cifertive capacity for ro-op"ration
under their executives railroad war
board in 1917, solving many difficult
transportation problems and handling
volume Of traffic TT 900 ,n0, 900 ton
miles greater than that handed two
years before.
Criticisms Unjust
Disrlaiming any intention 10 criticize
Federal operation. Mr.. Willard charged
that statements had been mad" to cast
disrrsdit uniustly the private man,
agemcnt of the carriers. lie cited Mr.
McAdoo's statement to tn" committee.
that 1872 Baltimore and Ohio loComO-
tives had been frozen up during the
severe winter of lolI-lS. This. Mr.
Willard snid. was without Justification.
reports showing that los had minor
freezes but brought in their trains and
We're repaired at on average cost of
81 per~cngine.
Labor conditions during Federal con-
Irol. Mr.. Willard said, presented "com-
pleX and serious problems because
thousands of experienced railroad men
left the railways for war service, neces-
situting use Of unskilled men.
Mr.. willard emphasized that he had
not criticized Mr.. McAIoo's manage
ment Of the railroads, and added:
AT the same time. | do not believe
and have said that ther" was a condi-
tion Of inefhciency Of certain kinds of
labor during and immediately subse-
uuent to Federal control. ] do not hcsi-
tate to say that not only before Federal
control. but during Federal control and
since then. the men in the train and
engine service generally have performed
their work in such n manner that what
| have said about ineficiency does not
apply TO them. ! have no reason to
say or think that the great majority of
the men who worked In the shops and
Offices and on the tracks during and
after the war were not loyal and
patriotic and ] do not say so.