The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1916-08-30
EMBARGO ORDERS
ISSUED BY ROADS AS WILSON Ar.
PEALS FOR RELIEF FROM
THREATENED STRIKE
President submits Revised Arbitration
Plans To Congress - Railway
Heads Favorable To New
Program.

washington, August zS-fTesluehl
Wilson, laying the railway strike sit
uation before Congress today with
recommendation for legislation, ad-
vanced the crisis to a place where the
next developments depend upon two
points. They are:
Whether the legislation he proposes
can be passed?
If enacted will it be effective to pre-
vent a strike already called for a.
m, September 4?
Neither Of these questions can be
answered tonight.
The Brotherhood heads themselves,
announcing their intention to fight
certain portions of the Presidents
program, are at loggerheads over
whether its enactment would prevent
the strike.
The railway presidents, favorable
to President Wilson's plans, IN the
main, think it would make it difficult
for the strike to begin.
Developments Follow Quickly
Meanwhile, although negotiations
between the employers and men we're
broken off today by the rejection of
the railway presidents latest proposal
for arbitration, President Wilson is
continuing efforts to bring the two
sides together, on some form of agree
ment. Efforts which might well be
described as almost superhuman are
being exerted to that end.
When the Brotherhood leaders this
morning rejected the latest proposal
to the railroads and definitely set the
strike for Labor Day, without further
notice, President Wilson decided to
lay the whole situation before Con-
gress. Before a Joint session of the
House and Senate and with solemn
recital of the distress and disaster
strike would bring to the country, the
President proposed a plan of legisla-
ton. This is the proposal in his own
language:
First-Immediate provision for the
enlargement and administrative re-
organization of the International Com
merce Commission along the lines en-
bodied in the bill recently passed by
the House of Representatives and now
awaiting action by the Senate; in or
der that the commission may be en-.
abled to deal with the many great and
various duties now devolving upon II
with a promptness and a thorough
ness which are with its present con-
stitution and means of action prac-
tically impossible.
Second-The establishment of an
eight-hour day as the legal basis alike
Of work and of wages In the employ
ment of all railway employees who are
actually engaged in the work of oper-
ating trains in interstate transporta-
ton.
Third-The authorization Of the APP
pointment by the President of a small
body of men to observe the actual re-
suits in experience of the adoption of
the eight-hour day in railway trans
portation alike for the men and for
the railroads; its effect in the matter
of operating cost, in the application of
the existing practices and agreement
TO the new conditions, and in all 9TH
er practical aspects. with the pro-
vision that the investigators shall re-
port their conclusion to the Congress
at the earliest possible date, but with
out recommendation as to legislative
action; In order that the public may
learn from an unprecedented source,
just what actual developments have
ensued.
FOurth-Explicit approval by the
Congress Of the consideration by the
interstate Commerce Commission oil
an Increase Of freight rates to meet
such additional expenditures by the
railroads as may have been rendered
necessary by the adoption of the eight
hour day, and which have not been
offset by administrative Establishments
and economics, should the facts dis
closed justify the increase.
Fifth-An amendment of the exist
ing Federal statute which provides for
the mediation. Cancellation and arbl-
tration of such controversies as the
present by adding to 1t a provision
that, in case the methods OF accom-
mediation now provided for should
fail, a full public investigation of the
merits of every such dispute shall be
instituted and cOmnlafad hafora a