The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-09-02
Adamson Eight-Hour Bil.
 Passes in House by Big
 Vote and Goes to Senate
tcontinued from Page ore)

of Pennsylvania was constantly on the go between them and Representative Keat- l ing of Colorado, who conducted their l fight on the floor. When the vote was taken, they obviously were pleased. Their | failure to make statements was attributed to fear that anything they might say would have an undesirable effect upon de- | Alterations in the Senate.
 In opening the Senate debate today Sem ator Newlands referred to the legislative suggestions made by the President and said the enlargement of the interstate commerce commission would not be pressed because of serious opposition to it at this time. Regarding important legislation to prevent future labor crises" said Senator Newlands, "the committee could not re- port today. Whether it will be reported in the future remains for the committee to determine. The same is true also of the suggestion for bill authorizing the President to operate trains in time of ne- cessity for military purposes
 Senator Cummns asked if the provision imposing a penalty for obstructing move- ments of trains would apply merely to physical Instructions or would affect em- ployes who refused to move trains. Sena- tor Newlands said the point had not been considered; that the purpose was to keep the roads open. Senator Cummins sug- gested that it might be construed to deny man the right to strike and would 1 therefore be unconstitutional.
 FIRST CRITICISM
 The first criticism of the committee $ work came from Senator Reed, who wanted to know if the section directed l against strikes and that giving the inter- state commerce commission power to fix
 wages of railroad employees had been sug-
 gested to President Wilson. He insisted
 that only one would deprive the worker l of his right to contract for his own pay and subject him to involuntary serv' I tude" and the other render him liable te l imprisonment for some slight offense Senator Newlands said the two provisions
 had been inserted without suggestion oJ the President.
 i ITO drag into this bill matters of mos l serious concern that are necessary tt
 meet the emergency" said Senator Reed twill provoke bitterness of debate, pro
 long discussion and defeat and passage of the measure in time to prevent tht
 catastrophe impending"
 There are suggestions here that are absolutely revolutionary. At this crisis 1 with the house burning down before oul | very eyes, the senator from Nevads wants us to stop and reform all crea- l ton.
 When you lay before the railroad ern pIoyes of the country provisions whicf properly construed would take away theil right of individual contract you VII
 arouse such feeling. such consternation | such indignation, that instead of stopping l the strike you will absolutely force 1t Why not proceed as the President sug pested and let other matters wait for de \ liberation after the strike is settled?"
 A REAL WAGE INCREASE
 Senator Underwood said the legis' lation was not to insure an eight-houl day for the railroad employees, but tc | give them 25 per cent wage increase I which the labor men say Is right ano ! the railroads say Is destructive.
 ."The people of the United States arc | threatened with a debacle not equalet | except in the great war;" he declared starvation, business paralysis an' | war stare the people in the face. Fol one, I am willing to surrender my in dividual judgment and vote for thi' l legislation without knowledge of thu | facts to bring peace.
 sIn his suggestion for compulsor, arbitration the President was right If you only want to settle this contro versy in the interest of one side-or ganized labor-pass the eight-hour bill I kl rx,fI1 hn st r r,,nf ter what you put in this bill and wh, should we say to the public now tha we will settle this thing, but in si, l months you will have to face this dan ger again. Give the interstate com
 merce commission authority to fl, I wa ges and hours and no such crisis car l again arise in this country"
 PITTMAN OBJECTS
 Senator Pittman objected to tn, l statement that President Wilson ia
 vored compulsory arbitration bill
 but Senator Underwood insisted tha the bills laid before the interstate com | by an assistant Attorney General ana
 member of the United States board of mediation and conciliation.
 I Senator Newlands said the President
 had seen the section giving the inter. | state commerce commission power tc regulate wages.
 Senator Underwood declared that the l provision giving the commission au- | thority over wages broadened the wage
 to S00.000 men instead of confining il | to 400. .000.
 1 This provision provides a perma- nent board of arbitration in this coun- i try for railroad employees" he said. ''I' affords labor an opportunity for itt | day in court. In future 1t will not have I <~ xrr{x oA <{et xA ts 1 rights.'
 l Objection to any action other than 1 the eight-hour legislation was voiced l by Senator Simmons. who said hs thought passage of the bull with ths 1 interstate commerce commission wage l inta load Sfril (