The sun., 1916-08-25
R. R. SPLIT WIDENS
ON NEW PROPOSAL
Continued from First Pdge.

Ntio III duJOuTnnlent was taken
until III O'clock tomorrow morning. In
tho meantime the special committee Of
the presidents will continue It's Labors."
AT the conclusion of this general con-
ference the special committee Of railway
Immediately went INTO session
continuing their deliberations until far
INTO the night In the hope Of arranging a
pian for avoiding An open break.
virtually all the plans which have been
considered by the managers involved gem
orally either action by tho Interstate
commerce Commission or by Congress,
When these suggestions were laid before
tho executives by their special committee
the belligercnt spirit. which has been
gaming ground Oerccptibly In the last
day or two. manifested itself.
1t was asserted the President was in
no position TO give positive assurances
OF either action by Congress or by the
Interstate Commerce Commission Rail-
road executives insisted they we're being
asked TO give UP millions In cash In re-
turn for which they we're to accept yagu tic
promises.
The Indignation Of shippers contributed
to the revolt. Railway officials. upon
Information that the shippers will con
est any movement for any advance in
freight rates. found small solace In the
fact that the President would be sympa-
thetic with them In their efforts TO in
crease their revenues.
Commission's stand Recalled.
IL was pointed out that although Pres
ident Wilson has expressed his belief
That such a rate Increase should be
granted II the eight hour day is given
the employees. no one can tell how the
next election Is coming out and hat
there can by no possibility he an In
crease before next March or probably
later.
Attention was called. too, TO the fact
that the commission hitherto has held
that II cannot consider wage standards
In dealing with proposed rate increases.
although legislation by Congress might
remove that difficulty.
Thu principal arguments against the
Idea OF a permanent commission for the
prevention or settlement of strikes were
that IT would almost certainly 30 fought
by labor In Congress, and that while
President Wilson might be entirely will
Ing now to back such legislation he
might not he In a position to do 50 when
It was proposed. Representatives OF the
brotherhoods who heard OF this phase OF
the plan to-day were plainly agains, il.
A counter suggestion was heard among
the presidents that strike questions
should be left to the Interstate Com
merce Commission. with power to in
vestigate and make a public report OF
their findings with a strike held in abey-
ance pending the investigation.
Wilson Calls Newlands.
Tho President. II was said tonight.
was In communication to-day with Sem
ator Newlands, chairman OF the Inter-
state Commerce Commission. The sug-
gestion has been made that authority b..
given the Interstate Commerce Commis-
sion in the adjustment OF freight rates
as TO make fairly certain tile granting
OF the increases necessitated by the eight
hour day.
Railroad officials. however. see small
hope in Congressional action at this
time. The session is nearing its end.
The Democrats are trying desperately 81
bring about an adjournment so that
they may take up their campaign. No
tice has been served upon them that any
legislation bearing upon the present con-
troversy will be fully discussed by :he
Republicans. Under these circumstance
the railroad presidents are reluctant n
take any chance of Consressional aid
either now or during the next session
when the elections are over.
In the meantime the executives. who
from the first have opposed the accept
ance OF the eight hour day and held out
for arbitration VI all matters in dispute,
are gaining recruits. Whether they VIII
carry the day is to be determined to-
morrow.
The railroad presidents are understood
not to be insistent on the commission
idea for the settlemewt OF future dis
putes, and the main difficulty has been
the working out OF operating plans under
an eight hour day and Of giving assur-
ances to the presidents and managers
tina they can count upon a freight rate
increase. Presidents and managers
agree that the operating problem pre-
scented Is one OF tho most complicated
! they have undertaken.
There seems 10 he a general opinion
that the eight hour day must he granted,
but roads which now are operating on
only a narrow margin Of profit or on
which the physical difficulties are un.
usual present serious problems to be
overcome. The effort has been Ia include
in the eight hour days concession "A So
luton OF some of the other questions
such as overtime pay, &c. which nigh,
I make II less expensive 10 the railroads.
There were reports tonight that some
Of the executives still are unalterably OPP
posed to granting the eight hour day
under any circumstances n might at
tempt tomorrow to force n decision