The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-09-01
PRESIDENT GIVES
HIS COMMENTATOR
Railway Heads Are Opposed
to the Measure and Are
Awaiting the Outcome of
the Legislation Which
Wilson Is Trying to Hurry
Through Both Houses

Washington, D. c., Sept All out
ward indications of the progress of Pres
ident Wilson's legislative program to
prevent the railroad strike were favor
able when Congress resumed work to-
day. The president went to the capitol
early to hurry things along.
! The Senate interstate commerce com.
mittee got to work early ON its bill for
an eight-hour day and an investigating
committee assembled to report a spe-
cial rule providing for a vote on the
Adsmson bill not later than O'Clock
this afternoon.
The Adamson bill has been approved
by President Wilson, and the heads of
the railroad brotherhoods have said that
its passage by both Houses of Congress
would be considered satisfactory set
tlement. The railroad heads, having
voiced protest against the legislation,
did nothing to-day, awaiting the out
come. Barring unforeseen complications,
it seemed assured that Congress would
act finally before Saturday night and in
time for the brotherhood heads to call
of the strike set for Monday morning.
Although President Wilson still de-
sires strongly to see his whole legisla-
tive program accepted, and Democratic
leaders in the Senate have ideas of their
own about what should be done, admin
istration spokesmen virtually conceded
that the bill finally passed would provide
only for;
An eight hour day for trainmen in
interstate commerce, effective December
/ or January /, with the present ten
hour rate of pay and pro rata over time;
and
A small commission appointed by the
president to investigate the working off
the law from six to nine months and
report to Congress.
With a provision authorizing the in
terstate commerce commission to fix
schedules of wages on railroads, the SEN
ate interstate commerce committee fa-
yorably reported the eight-hour bill.
A heated discussion followed the call
ng up of the Adamson bill in the House.
Bennett, Republican, de-
bounced the proposed legislation. There
ire worse things than strikes" said Ben
lett, "and one of those things is the de-
;truction of the American system of gov
| don't propose to cast my
'ote with pistol at my head"
Representative Cooper of Ohio, Repub-
lean, denied that labor was holding up
congress as Bennett charged. "It was
lot the railroad men who asked for this
egislation,' he said. The do say, how
yer, that if this House passes this bill
o-dsy and the Senate tomorrow they
would be able to call off the strike"
Garretson May Call Off Strike.
A. B, Garretson, spokesman for the
abroad brotherhoods, held brief confer
nee with the president to-day, and the
resident kept the cabinet waiting while
e talked with Garretson. White House
ffieials said that the leader called to
i've the president some information; but
arretson himself declined to say wheth-
r he discussed calling off the strike.
here was every indication, however.
nat the administration expected the
.rike to be called off before Sunday
orning.
epubhcan Senators Propose Legislation.
Republican senators in conference to-
~ decided TO draft legislation of their
yn to offer as a substitute for that
opposed by the Democrats to avert the
rike.