The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1916-12-11
LABOR LEADERS
Draw Rail Bill For Congress-Presi-
dent Wilson's Legislative Program
Is Halted Pending Proposed
Substitute - Federation
Ready to Make Fight.

Washington, December S-Congres-
sional action on President Wilson's
railway legislation program probably
will await the results of determined
efforts of labor leaders to draft as
a substitute tor all forms of compul-
sorry arbitration plan for dealing with
strikes, actual and threatened, which
will be agreeable to their followers,
employees and the administration.
The determination of the President
to undertake making impossible by law
such a situation as he faced last Sep
TENDER in the railroad disput, has
aroused all branches of labor to the
greatest activity. The unofficial al
lance between the American Fedora
ton of Labor and the four railway
brotherhoods arraigned recently at
Baltimore for the purpose among
other things of poposing dangerous"
Legislation, is bearing its first fruit in
conference between representatives Of
both organizations for the purpose of
drafting a plan that will shelve all
compulsory arbitration bills.
Slow on Program
Congressional leaders, aware of this
ACTIVITY, are inclined to go slowly on
the Presidents program, pending an
|nouncement of labor proposals, pro-
vided, of course, they are revealed
during the present session of Con-
gress. delay even of sixty days, a
House leader said today, would still
leave Congress time to take any ac-
ton it might deem necessary.
If a scheme satisfactory to the
workers is drafted, it is understood. IT
then will be submitted to representa-
tives of the railroads and other en-
ployes and to the President Approval
of it probably would mean that Con-
gress, at least, would eliminate the
compulsory arbitration feature from
any legislation enacted.
Plans approved by the President for
the introduction of his railway pro-
gram in Congress, contemplated no
new bills. All of the proposals, 1t was
agreed today between Senate leaders
and Representative Adamson, chair
,,n, 80 .ho uoreo CoDoDoarna Commit
tee, will be offered as amendments to
a House bill now before the Senate,
This measure would provide for an
additional number of the Interstate
Commerce Commission members and
amendment of it to meet the various
features of the Presidents program.
This would be comparatively simple
in comparison with introducing sew
eral separate measures.
No Need For Haste N
Under this amendment arrangement
there is no need for urgent haste In
either House, the leaders think. The
Senate Commerce Committee will con-
tinut to hear testimony on the railway
situation generally the House Com
mittee which framed the Adamson Act
for the present will not touch the rail-
way situation in so far as it concerns
the Presidents program and in the
meantime labor leaders, employees and
the President can be carrying on their
negotiations.
II no substitute plan can be agreed
upon, the Congressional machinery
will be ready for rushing the Presi-
dents program in what ever form he
may desire, to a speedy vote. If ii
should include a compulsory arbitra-
ton feature. organized labor is ex-
pected to make the fight of its life
against 1t,