Evening star., 1916-08-25
Final Action Delayed.

Objections which developed last night
at a meeting of railroad presidents and
managers, to points in the tentative plan
evolved by the committee of eight presi-
dents. considering ways to avoid the
threatened general strike, resulted in post
ponement of final action. The conference
adjourned with the presidents in such
mood that. as one president phrased it,
the controversy may be settled in twenty
minutes, or 1t may go over until next
week
A statement issued by the railroad ex-
exutives last night. summed it up this
way:
''At the invitation Of President Wilson,
Messrs- Hale Holden. Judge r. S. Lovett
and Daniel Willard went to the White
House at noon and held Il short con-
ference with the President
"A conference of the railroad executives
was held at o'clock. and a new phase Of
the situation Of some Importance was laid
before the conference by the special COM
mitree.
After a considerable discussion with
out definite action. adjournment was
taken until II O'Clock tomorrow (Friday)
morning. In the meantime the special
committee of the presidents will continue
Its labors"
The special committees plan, drafted
aiter weeks consideration. would pro-
Vlde Tor granting an eight-h hour ..ba Sic
day 10 the trainmen. but with assurance
that every effort would be made by the
administration to secure freight ra te in
crease 10 recompense the roads, and the
Iufther assurance that Congress would he
asked TO enact legislation to insure set
tiement OF future labor disputes through
an investigation commission.
Arguments Against Freight Increase
The entire plan has not been laid be-
fore all the executives and managers
IT'S points have been discussed at the
various conferences. II developed after
last nights meeting that objection had
been raised to the freight rate increase
feature on at least two grounds
II was agreed by some that there can
be no assurance of rate increase. be-
cause no one could say what the inter
state commerce commission might do
and that some of the most important
shippers Of the country already have
made IL plain that they are not in sym.
IIathy with any move which may mean
Il rate increase
II was pointed out also that although
President Wilson has expressed his be
lief that such a rate increase SHOULD
be granted IL the eight-hour day IS
given the employees. no one can tel
how the next election is coming out ant
that there can by no possibility be ar
increase before next Msrch or probabl,
later.
Attention was called TO the fact that
the commission hitherto has held tina,
II cannot consider wage standards II
dealing with proposed rate increases
although legislation by Congress NIGH
remove that difficulty.
Arguments Against Commission.
The principal arguments against III,
idea OF a permanent commission 70,
the prevention or settlement of strike,
were that it would almost certainly b.
fought by labor In Congress, and tina
while President Wilson might be en-
tirely willing now TO back such legis.
lation he might not be in position &c
90 so when il wss proposed. Repre-.
sentatives of the brotherhood who
heard this phase of the plan were
plainly against IL.
counter suggestion was heart
among the presidents that strike ques
tions should be left to the interstat,
commerce commission, with power u
investigate and make public repor
of their findings with strike held IL
allegiance pending the investigation.
The special committees plan hat
been tentatively accepted by the com
mittee of eight, and IL was the subjec
of yesterdays conference at tn,
white House. Its substance was com
municated to the labor representative
through Judge William l. Chambers o.