Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-09-02
SENATE EXPECTED TO
ACCEPT STRIKE BILL

Continued From First Page1
must legislate for all, from the barns
stormers to the genius who portrays
the human passion"
He pictured Congress legislating
while the unions stand, stop watch in
hand to see that the legislation is pass
ed on time.
Senators McCumber and Brandegee.
Republicans, both opposed the pend
ing bill.
To Avert Future Trouble
Senator Husting. of Wisconsin, in
sisted that Congress should do some
thing to avert the country's being
confronted with the same crisis again
as soon as the proposed investigating
committee has made its report.
Senator Sterling, of South Dakota,
opposed the bill declaring that he
would not submit to Congress being
'dragooned." The pending legisla-
ton he characterized as "a piece of
perfidious peace"
Senator Weeks said the brotherhood
men had put Congress in the position
of stand and deliver" He said he
believed that a majority of the train
men do not want a strike and that if
it were called it would last but a few
days.
IF Congress accedes to this de-
mand," he added, "it is an end tenn
porarily at least, to representative
government"
Senator Owen contended the con-
troversy was not the only railroad
problem confronting the country and
insisted that Congress would have to
undertake further legislation. He fav-
ored the pending bill because it would
avert the strike and afford Congress
an opportunity to consider the railroad
, problems in the broader aspect.
Senator Newlands offered an amend
mcnt to make it a misdemeanor for
any person to interfere with the op-
Grafton of trains, punishable by fine
not to Xceed 500 or Imprisonment
ont to xeceed six months. or both.
This, he said, followed exactly existing
law relating to interference with trans
portation of the mails.
Just as soon as the House bill,
unamended, becomes a law" A. 3.
Garretson, spokesman for the brother
hoods, reiterated to-day the strike
order will be recalled"
This was the first official statement
showing that the House bill was wholly
satisfactory to the brotherhoods.
From other sources came persistent
reports that an arrangement might be
perfected whereby the strike could be
called off officially before President
Wilson actually affiXes his signature to
the bill.
the Senate would throw all the nego-
tiations in the indefinite stage, and
with that in mind administration lead
ers used every effort as the debate in
the Senate progressed to insure pass
age of the House bill in its original
form.
Heads of the four brotherhoods,
anticipating favorable action, had
code messages to local union officials
ready revoking the order sent broad
cast early this week for a strike start
ing at a. m. Monday If the bill is
passed, it is believed they will not
wait until it is signed by President
Wilson, who was at Long Branch, n.
j., to receive formal notification of
his nomination.
The Senate convened early to-day
after a prolonged session last night,
which ended in an agreement to vote
at p. m. this evening or before. De-
bate continued over the amendment to
give the Interstate Commerce Com
mission authority to determine wages
of interstate railway employees.
It's opponents urged that it's
adoption might render the bill un-
satisfactory to the brotherhoods and
would be allowed to stand. They con-
tended also that it was unnecessary
as an emergency measure.
The Adamson bill provides that be-
ginning January l, 1917, the standard
work day for employees on steam rail-
ways more than 100 miles long en-
gagged in interstate commerce, shall be
eight hours; that a presidential COM
mission of three shall investigate con-
ditions under the eight-hour basis for
period of between six and nine
months; that daily wages shall not be
reduced below the present amount for
longer day during the Investigation,
and overtime pay shall be pro-rata.
The bill was passed in the House by
vote of 239 to 56, and sent to the
Senate where at the night session it
was substituted for a similar measure
prepared by the Interstate Commerce
Committee. In both houses the meas
ure was debated hotly