Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1916-08-25
RAILROADS YIELD
EIGHT-ROUR DAY
Subcommittee of Executives
Makes Report.
STRING ATTACHED TO OFFER
Companies Demand President Guar
antee Them Against Losses Also
Ask Commission to Prevent
Revival of Controversy.

Washington, Aug. 23.-The subcom-
mittee of the railway executives APP
pointed as board of strategy to frame
a reply to President Wilson'S demand
for concessions to the men that will
prevent a general strike have made a
report.
1t is understood they have recon-
mended the granting of the eight-hour
day, but with a string tied to it.
The purpose of the string, it is said,
as TO make possible a withdrawal Of
the concession If the president does
not give satisfactory guarantees of
much desired new legislation.
The announcement of the prelimin-
airy report of the committee of eight
members followed within a few hours
after a cabinet meeting at which Pres
ident Wilson's attitude On the contro-
versy was given unanimous approval
by his official family.
The subcommittee represents the 60
railroad presidents who answered the
presidents call to come to Washington.
It's members are closely affiliated with
many of the greatest financial institu-
tons in the country. The days pro-
ceedings, which were continuous for
ten hours were frequently interrupted
/. conferences over the long-distance
telephone.
Made in Secret Session.
The executives as a body of the
tpboIa roooivo1 +bn ,.opar+ In, caorot cac-
sion. The belligerent element, repre-
sented chiefly by the western railroads,
are said to have recognized the futility
of holding out against the president
much longer
1t was admitted the principal hope
now is to commit the president and
the government to definite assurances
providing two things:
1. Legislation which will prevent
recurrence of a similar occurrence be-
fore all the processes of judicial in
vestigation have been exhausted.
2. A practical guaranty that the rail-
roads will be compensated for the
money loss they claim they will sus-
tain by granting an eight-hour day.
1t is understood the plan Is to ask
the president to urge congress to ere
ate two commissions-one to investi-
gate future wage differences; the
other to make special study of the
present dispute and determine the
amount of the increased expense the
new arrangement will cause.
Higher Rates Expected.
On the report of commission such
as the last named, relief would be ex-
pected from the interstate commerce
commission in permanently increased
freights.
The new report also suggests as an
alternative that the president agree to
release from an eight-hour agreement,
II such is reached. the railroads on
which it can be shown that the short
day arrangement is impracticable.
If the suggestions contained in the
tentative plan are approved by the ex-
ecutives, delegates will be appointed
TO confer with the president and re-
port back in order that the compro-
mise proposal may be formally made.
Public Backs Wilson.
This is the railroads side of the
controversy. Persons close to the
White House indicate that the presi-
dent is not in a frame of mind to
make concessions. The approval
given his proposals by the cabinet are
said to have strengthened his deter
mination to remain firm for the eight
hour day plan without entangIing
qualifications. The president has re-
ceived assurapces from many quar-
ters that the public, which he re-
ferred TO as the great American jury,
is on his side of the argument.
Protest Against Plan.
The railroad executives have also
endeavored to arouse sympathy from
the public One result was a flood
of kilograms from agricultural and
commercial organizations from all
parts of the country. but chiefly from
the West. The majority of these mes
sages protested against the eight-hour
day as proposed by the brotherhoods
and urged by President Wilson.
The subcommittee which has under
taken to unravel the tangle by which
a disastrous strike can be averted
originally consisted only of Hale Hol-
ton of the Burlington, chairman
Fairfax Harrison of the Southern r
s. Lovett of the Union Pacific, A. Fl.
Smith of the New York Central and
Daniel Willard of the Baltimore &
Ohio, After the arrival of more ex-
ecutives w. w. Atterbury of the
Pennsylvania E. p. Ripley of the San
ia Fe and Frank Trumbul of the
Chesapeake X Ohio were added to the
committee
1t was learned that the tentative re-
port warned the executives that grant
ING the eight-hOur dav to only n minor.