The Washington herald., 1916-08-31
FAIL IN ATTEMPT TO
POSTPONE STRIKE DATE
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.

uoh the adyisability OF making public
appeal to the union employees through
out the country to disregard the strike
order for thirty days, II the leaders re-
mained obdurate
representative Taggart, Of Kansas, in
troduced bill in the House providing
that In case any railroad falls to carry
treignt and passengers to the reasonable
satisfaction OF the public. the Attorney
General shall bring proceedings to place
the road In the hands of a receiver. In
appointing such receiver the court will be
asked to appoint the president or some
other officer OF the road in case he Is
willing to serve. The bill provides that
the road shall then be operated on an
eisht-hour basis, the pay for eight hours
TO be the same as 1t is now for a full day.
w. G. Lee. chairman OF the trainmen's
brotherhood, issued this statement:
Strike Inevitable.
No power under heaven short of
satisfactory settlement with the execu-
tives can prevent the men from striking
on Labor Day"
A. B. Garretson. chairman Of the con-
ductors brotherhood, said:
You can say emphatically that the
question OF postponement of the strike
Is not even under consideration"
The three bills upon which hearings
VIII be held today are in substance as
follows:
Commerce act making eight hours
legal days work on ali railroads engaged
In interstate commerce. This tentative
measure provides for a wage commission
OF three members, two Of whom shall be
recommended respectively by the rail-
roads and the brotherhoods, which shall
observe and report on the administrative
and financial effects. 1t also authorizes
the Interstate Commerce Commission to
Increase freight rates.
.. A provision to make strikes and
lock-outs illegal until after an investi-
CATION by special commission and to in
crease the effectiveness of arbitration.
.. Giving the President authority to
operate railroads as a military necessity
and for the transportation of mail. and
to impress men into the service for this
purpose.
Strike Talk at Capitol.
The air was full Of strike talk on Cap
ltol Hill throughout the day. Senator
Cummins started an acrimonious discus
sion at the meeting OF the Interstate
Commerce Committee. Later he carried
the fight to the floor OF the Senate. He
said the President and his advisers in
their search for legislation were steering
Dtl"een SCylla ana CnaryDOls.
TT will be Interesting to see how far
we can steal away from one without en-
countering the perils of the other" he
said.
The resolution introduced by Senator
Lee by which the brotherhood leaders
are urged to postpone for one week the
date set for the strike follows:
In order to AFFORD sufficient time
for the intelligent consideration of the
ln1r aIa
to Congress of August 2s. the Senate
Of the United States hereby requests
the representatives of the railroad en-
ployes who have fixed upon September
for the commencement of the gem
eral strike to postpone the date for
the beginning Of such strike for one
week"
Action Expected Today
The resolution was referred to the
Interstate Commerce Committee and
Is expected to be reported favorably
today.
Discussing the meeting of the Inter
state Commerce Committee Chairman
Newlands said:
we spent the greater part of the
morning considering whether or not
we should have hearings Although
legislation to be effective must be
that each side to the pending contro-
versy should be heard briefly.
The brotherhood the railroad Of
ficials. and representatives. of the ship
pers will be given three hours each.
With these views before US think
we can formulate such legislation as
will be satisfactory.
The attitude of every member of
the committee. regardless of politics,
G n rci
and earnestly with a view to doing
what is best for the entire country
81 believe we can legislate by Sat
urday night in time to prevent this
strike. We must do so, or the strike
order must be postponed"
Chiefs Expect Strike.
The railway executives expects a strike
They said today their greatest problem
would be to keep their lines open so
they can handle what is absolutely nee
eesary.
The greatest effort in the history Of rail-
reading. it was said. is being made to
avoid congestion of freight when the
railroads become shorthanded by refus-
Ing now to accept freight which may
not be able to handle after a. m. next
Monday.
The roads are passing on to connecting
ilnes as rapldly as possible all freight
on their lines, so they may free them
selves Of responsibility for what is on
their rails.
Each railroad individually is making
preparations for guarding its property.
II there should be disorders interfering
with the transportation of malls. or OBJ
structing interstate commerce, the Fed
eral government will be asked to furnish
protection. This was done by President
Cleveland when interference with the
malls was feared.
The railroads, It was said, will arm
their employees engaged in the operation
of trains, and will also have armed guards
along their right of way and on their