The Washington times., 1916-09-01
a STRIKE seTTLRMsNrIN sIoHT

81
Indications today are that the rail-
road tie-up will be averted. Con-
gress, confronted by q condition such
as never before was known, will In
all likelihood rush to passage the
eight-hour law which the brother
hoods have indicated they would ac-
cept a. q basis for temporary settle
ment, pending experience and study
Of its workings. The measure which
has been formulated provides for es-
tablishment Of eight hours as the le-
gal day in the train service, and for
pro rata payment rather than time
and a half for work in excess Of
eight hours. The railroad managers
are not satisfied, though willing to
accept these conditions. %. Il
Admittedly the legislation which
now seems certain to pass in time to
prevent the strike is Of makeshift
character. It was impossible that it
should be otherwise. The President
is to appoint commission to study
the workings and financial effects of
the new plan for period Of not less
than six nor more than nine months,
and within thirty days from the end
Of this period Of observation shall re-
port its findings to Congress and the
President. Meanwhile, the present
rate Of wages shall continue in force,
employees who are now given . fixed
wage for q nine or ten hour day,
shall receive that same wage for an
eight-hour day.
The demand Of the railroad men
that they be given time and half
for overtime is denied; they will be
paid for overtime merely at the same
hourly rate that they get for the
eight hours. 1t will be understood,
however, that this really gives them
an increase for the overtime. An
employe who now draws 81 for q
ten-hour day gets 40 cents an hour.
Under the new arrangement he will
get 80 cents an hour, and this so
cents will be carried into the over
time period.
Apparently there is to be no i'm
mediate legislation establishing COM
pulsory arbitration. The railroad
employees protest against it, and the
present purpose is to accomplish as
little as possible consistent with the
first purpose Of preventing the
strike. On the other hand, it may be
set down as very certain that when,
a year or so later, the whole ques-
ton is presented anew in connection
with the report Of the observation
commission, all these questions will
demand attention.
Thus the unprecedented labor
crisis of 1916 will mark the initia-
ton Of period Of complex and diff
ficult consideration Of a wide range
Of labor questions. It is not to be
believed that the country will per-
NIT indefinite continuance Of the
haphazard conditions under which
the present crisis has been possible.
If the 100000 trainmen are to get
what amounts to large advance in
wages, the 100000 other railroad
employees will require consideration;
their claim to the eight-hour day
will have to receive attention. AL
ready they have indicated very def
nitely that they will expect that
attention; and it would be outrage
ously unfair to deny it.
Thus there arise two sets Of prob
lens that intimately concern the
capability Of the companies to meet
the new wage bills. The 100000
trainmen will require more wages
from the general wage fund. The
100000 other workers will like
wise require more; and somehow
the roads will have to be given the
privilege Of collecting it from the
public before they can disburse it.
So 1t may be expected that the
questions whose detailed study is
now being initiated, will be in the
forefront Of public discussion and
agitation for long time. The eight
hour question is made a national