Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1916-08-20

ldcIS warranted the interstate com merce commission might grant an in crease in freight rates. and the sec ond was the suggestion that the eight hour day basis would be accepted oniv tentatively, and might be terminated after investigation by the commission, provided under the presidents plan.
 Railroad officials, however, evident 1 ly feel that before decision is reached every opportunity should be given the business interests to decide what might be the effect on them of an eight-hour railroad day. There is no concealment of the fact that some of 1 them believe that many manufactur- CTS and shippers are bound to register their opportunity to this proposal, and i that pressure will be eXerted to have members of the senate and house ex- press to the president their conviction along the same lines.
 Placing the Blame.
 In his address to the officials, President Wilson said:
 "1f strike comes, the public will know where the responsibility rests. It will not be upon me-"
 While President Wilson was confer ring with the executives he made pub lie statement outlining his plan, and declaring it seemed to him q "thor- oughly practical and entirely fair pro gram, and 1 think the public has d right to expect its acceptance"
 One ray of hope that it might in- duce the railroad managers to make 1 concessions stood out in a suggestion that the interstate commerce commis- sion might determine whether it would be right to increase freight rates to meet the added compensation to en- ployes.
 After the conference President Will son sent the following telegram to IA presidents of Western railroads:
 "Discussion of the matters involved in the threatened railway strike is continuing. It is highly important that I should personally confer with you or some one authorized to repre- sent you at the earliest possible mo- ment. Hope you can arrange mat ters so as to be able to come to Wash ington at once."
 Wilson Posts Public.
 While the railroad presidents were in conference with President Wilson today the president gave out state ment outlining his plan of settlement, and saying:
 ''1t seems to me thoroughly prac- tical and entirely fair program, and 1 think the public has the right to ex- pect it's acceptance"
 President Wilson's statement fol- lows:-
 q have recommended the conces- sions of the eight-hour day-that is, the substitution of an eight-hour day for the present 1O-hour day in all the existing practices and agreements. l made this recommendation because l believe the concessions right. The eight-hour day now undoubtedly has the sanction of the judgment of so- ciety in it's favor, and should be adopted as a basis for wages even where the actual work to be done can not be completed within eight hours.
 "Concerning the adjustments which should be made, in justice to the rail roads, and their stockholders, in the payments and privileges to which their men are now entitled Gf such adjustments are necessary), there is wide divergence of opinion.
 Eight-Hour Roads Prosper.
 "The railroads which have already adopted the eight-hour day do not seem to be at any serious disadvant- age in respect of their cost of opera tion as compared with the railroads that have retained the 1O-hour day, and calculations as to the cost of the change, must, if made now, be made without regard to any possible ad- ministrative economies or readjust- ments.
 "Only experience can make It cer- tain what arrangements would be fair and equitable either on behalf of the men or on behalf of the railroads That experience would be definite guide to the interstate commerce com mission, for example, in determining whether, as a consequence of the change, it would be necessary anC right to authorize an increase of rates for the handling and carriage o1 freight (for passenger service IS not affected).
 I, therefore, propose that the de- mand for extra pay for overtime made I by the men and the contingent pro- posals of the railroad authorities be postponed until the facts shall have taken the place of calculations ant lOIGCdSC WlCl IcSdlu eo CiS CAANNo' N- a change to the eight-hour day; that in the meantime, while the experience was developing the facts, l shoule seek and, if need be, obtain authority from congress, to appoint small body Iof impartial men to observe and thor loughly acquaint themselves with the result with the view to reporting tf congress at the earliest possible tlm' the facts disclosed by their inquiries , but without recommendation of an! ! kind; and, that it should then be en tirely open to either or both parties to the present controversy to glv' notice of termination of the presen agreements with view to institutlnla inquiry into suggested readJustment of pay or practice. , "This seems to be a thorough. . practical and entirely fair program and I think that the public has tn right to expect its acceptance"
 GETS BIKE" THIEVES.
 Constable Clint Green returned las night from Little Rock with thre young negroes wanted here on charge of the theft of bicycles. Four cam