The Washington herald., 1916-08-27

OF eight has asked for an appointment al
the White House. They are awaiting the
pleasure of President Wilson"
When the statement was issued the
executives had no definite knowledge Of
the main purpOrt OF the conference be-
tween the President and the Democratic
leaders in the Senate They had decided
unanimously to renew the demand that
the question OF an eight-hour day be sub
mitted to arbitration.
Their only concession was a proposed
agreement to set aside from October l.
the increase in wages that would go
to the men in the event of a decision
in their favor.
At the Capitol the President was closet
ed more than an hour with Senator
Francis G. Newlands, OF Nevada. chair
man of the Senate Committee on Inter
state and Foreign Commerce, and Senator
John w. Kern. the majority leader. When
he left the conference the President said:
"All l can say, is I came up here on
matters pertaining to legislation"
Senators Kern and Newlands were also
uncommunicative but it was learned they
had informed President Wilson they had
canvassed the situation in Congress. AS
a result they expressed the opinion that
his wishes with regard to new legislation
could be carried out at this session.
Immediately after the President left
the Capitol, the Democratic steering
committee was called into session. Later It
Is understood Senator Newlands inform
ed the White House the committee was
ready to act promptly on any sugges-
tion he might make. After dinner SEN
ator Newlands and Secretary of the In
terror Lane visited the White House for
a secret conference. They entered and
left by the east door.
Secretary Lane then went into confer
enCe with the subcommittee Of the execu-
tives at the headquarters of the latter,
after which it was stated another meet
ing between President Wilson and the
executives would not be held until after
today.
1t is said that in formally requesting
Congress to pass an eight-hour law,
President Wilson will offer as a COM
promise:
1. The Interstate Commerce Com
mission to be increased from seven to
nine members.
.. Congress TO create a commission
TO investigate both sides of the dis
pute and make recomm mcndntions to be
taken up at the next session of Con-
gress.
,. An amendment to the NewIandS
bill to increase the Interstate Com
merce Commission, which will author
ize the body to consider wages, the
cost of labor and labor conditions, as
related to general operating expenses.
4. A resolution from Congress- d.
recting the Interstate Commerce Com
mission to Investigate and readtusr
freight rates to meet the added bur-
den In wages represented by the
eight-hOur day.
1t is considered certain by politicians
that Senators, among whom Borah, Cum
Minis, Kenyon, Clapp and Morris are
prominent are likely to organize serious
opposition to the Presidents proposed
new legislation relating to the Inter-
state Commerce Commission. 1t Is being
already pointed out that any increase
in authority given the commission at this
time would amount to instructions to
grant increased freight rates and other
decisions demanded by the railroads since
coming to Washington.
The Interstate Commerce Commission
not long ago ruled it is claimed that
the body was without authority to con-
slider the questions of wages or labor con-
ditions in determining the freight rates
the public should pay.