New Britain herald., 1916-08-26
MAY PASS THE ISSUi
 BACK TO "BIG FOU|
Leaders of Employees Exp Difficulty in Restrain Them After Tonight-I ecutives Work All | Preparing Statement President Wilson.

washington, Aug. 2o.-The thrA ened railway strike situation tookz added tensity today as the railway ecutiVes continued their deliberata over the form of their counter E posal to President Wilson's plan the brotherhood leaders awaited next move.
 The executives have been told that mems leaders expect difficulty in straining them after tonight. presidents worked steadily all md ing and the fore part of the afternI carefully preparing their statement President Wilson, but shortly a2 noon had taken no final vote on Il
 As has been outlined unofficiallJ declines to concede the eight hour without arbitration and investigai of it's application to railroading, makes some concessions as to cod eral issues.
 The effect of the executives coul proposal will be to pass the issue hI to the brotherhoods, and the outl is Variously described by those touch with the negotiations. Some of the railway executives their proposition is positively t1 1 last; some of the mems leaders st| | firmly against arbitration. Others | both sides have hopes that out oI will come further negotiations dsl | ing a strike and possibly avertinV A statement issued by the fedN l board of mediation today on the ! dement's it had conducted was : garded as significant. It describe 1 report about to be made to the sen1 1 which will disclose that in every | of settlements conducted under old Erdman act, or the later Ncwlal ! law. substantial advantages have b l won by the employees throu V al tration. The only instance f,rofi where the men did not benefit wal settlement made without the part nation of the federal mediators. President Wilson regards the sit ton as serious, but has nos given hope of a settlement. He will q
 tinue to use every effort to bring h sides together.
 Secretary Lane, formerly mem of the interstate commerce comm sion. has kept in close touch with negottations and conferred today " tho president.
 Crisis Imminent.
 A crisis appeared imminent tod when a counter proposal Involving bitration was prepared by the railrt presidents for final submission President Wilson. On the acccptal itv by the railway brotherhoods' co naittee of $40 depends largely whetl the presidents personal efforts to, T diate shall fail. Heretofore the bro erhood leaders have stood fir against any plan to arbitrate their mand for an eight hour day as bs in determining wages.
 The railroad executives met ca today to perfect the draft of tn proposal, and were expected to ss it immediately to President Wills who had an engagement with brotherhood leaders about noon.
 The railroad presidents contend. on the ground that eight hour basic day, sought by brotherhoods Is actually a question wages rather than of working hoI and consequently is properly subj to arbitration.
 Further, they propose that if board, which might be commerce commission some other public body to be creat finds wage increases should be gra ed, the order would be considered fective from the time arbitration gins, and a fund would be establish by the railroads to insure such bj The employees would bound not to make further demal nor to strike pending investigation
 Partial Rejection of Wilson Plan
 This answer of the railroad exc tives would amount to partial rel ton of President Wilson's comprom plan, whereby the railroads were conCede the eight hour day and other questions in dispute were to arbitrated. Some members of brotherhood committee. although s hostile to arbitrating the eight ho demand, were said to favor taking { railroads proposal under advisenAs and continuing negotiations next we'
 Brotherhood leaders had recetV
 (Continued on Ninth PaaeA