The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-09-04
AOAMSON BILL IS

! s.
CONTINUED From First Page.)
tho President Is responsible for the
present situation whicn confronts
Congress, and expect him to suggest
some way out Of the difficulty. An
announcement OF some definite plan
is expected from the White House as
soon as the President returns.
The brotherhood leaders did not
express a desire to be present at the
signing Of the eight-hour bill. They
were entirely satisfied to have the
President afflx his signature on Sun
day
President Wilson directed Secretary
Foster to notify the brotherhood lead
ers as soon as the bill was signed
Garretson's comment at the time was:
Il try TO be a good loser and do
not like to rub It in on the other fell
t low when win. All can say Is
that We are very happy"
! 1t was learned that the brother
| hoods would have been satisfied 70
rescind the strike order II Congress
had passed the eight hour law with
out attempting to fix wages. The fact
that Congress established a precedent
for an eight hour day il considered
the big victory,
Seeking Heads or Tails"
Elisha Lee, chairman of the rail-
way managers committee. left WASH
ington today for his headquarters in
! Philadelphia. He said he had not
| been able TO determine where the ef-
| feet OF the Adamson law would begin
I or where II would end. He added
that he had been unable to f1nd any
/ body else who could mako heads or
tails" out of the measure.
= Frhnpn attnruav for thA
tives' advisory committee. said. THE
larger issue In whether or not the
, orderly process OF government can be
, obstructed by the threats of the calam-
tiles to the general public by a few
people,
/ The advisory committee OF the rail-
ways, 1t was learned, will meet IN
New York Mt an early date to deter
mine what data and evidence will be
created by the new law to make an
investigation and report the effects OF
the etght-hour day.
Talk of Testing Law.
A test OF the law Will be . matter
for discussion at the same time. The
railroad representatives were much
Interested In the report that Presi-
dent Wilson had been advised to
abandon the remainder of his pro.
gram.
i The position of tho railroads wa,
thus outlined by one Of their foremost
spokesman:
The brotherhoods cared little Abou
the principle OF tho eight-hour day
They wanted more money, and that II
what Congress has attempted TO Civ
them. although under duresA.
The brotherhoods have succeeded
In having the standard yard stioi
shortened. 1t gives them ton hour
wages for eight hours work Wheth-
er this shortening of the yardstick ii
fair matters little.
The principal question II: Can Con
gress compel a merchant to give c
full three feet of cloth for a yart
when 1t shortens the yardstickf
The railroad executives. howeve-
will approach the problem from tn,
broadcast standpoint. They recognize
the right of Congress to establish q
legal workday. That principle was es'
tabl!shed when tho maximum number
OF hours railroad employees may work
in one day was passed The execu'
. tivss will take into consideration fu
ture problems looking with vision e
future relations between the railroadl
and labor on the one hand and be-
tween the railroads and Congreas OF
tho other.
Fight ON wage Feature.
The government regulates the In
come of the railroads now. It ough
TO regulate the outgo AZ we'll. to re-
, late them. so that It may Intelligent
, ly and Justly pass upon rates and othel
. questions It undertakes to regulate
i. There were said to Be three way
= In which the night ON tho wage featur'
Of the act may be opened:
Nv 49,
the employees as nxed by law tn
wages prescribed by the bill which
amounts to ten hours pay for eigh
: hours work, with pro rata pay 70
: overtime
/ 2, An amendment of tho law q
o either the short or tho next regula
: session Of Congress. or repeal OF GER
Z tain provisions In the act.
= g. BY injunctions brought by rail
o road stockholders to prevent the com
panies from paying tho men ut tn,
rate prescribed by Congress.
4 The Adamson bf1l was not siEne<
4 at the Union Station in accordance
I with any pre-arranged plan Tn.
: train to which the private car was at
tackled reached Washington at III
o'clock Secretary Forster was Their,
to meet the party and tell the Presi
dent the bill was at sne white Hons,
|. awaiting him.
Mr.. Forester was informed that tn,
Z President was still sleeping.
Brotherhood Men Go Homo.
a The secretary waited around awhfl,
Z and fearing there would be a eerioui
] delay hurried back to the White House
= placed the bill In hi. pocket and re-
. turned to the station.
n President Wilson was>~ awake b,
= this and announced that he would 40
r compiish the measure with his sigma
l. ture as soon A. no had hreakfastsd.
e Later tho President and Mrs. VII
= son and Mr.. Boiling took a motor rid
h stopping for few minutes IT II
: white HOUSE. There no met 6eare
tAsy Wfisea, ~ the pspastsnan1 ~ -