The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-08-25

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son might be entirely willing now 10
back such legislation he might not be
in a position 10 do so when it was
proposed. Representatives of the
brotherhoods who heard of This phase
of the plan today were plainly against
it. A counter suggestion was heard
among the presidents that strike ques.
lions should be left TO the Interstate
Commerce Commission, with power
10 investigate and make a public re-
port of their findings, with Strike
held in allegiance pending the lnves'
legation.
Plan Tentatively Accepted.
The special committees plan has
been tentatively accepted by the COM
mittee of eight and it was the sub
ject Of todays conference at the White
House Its substance was commune.
called 10 the labor representatives.
through Judge William L. Chambers,
Of the board Of mediation and con-
cilation.
The railroad presidents are under.
stood not 10 be insiStent upon Inc
commission idea for the settlement OF
the future disputes. and the main oil.
ficulty has been the working out OF
operating plans under an eight hour
day and Of giving assurances 10 the
presidents and managers that they
cannot count upon a freight rate IN
crease. Presidents and managers a.
gree that The operating problem pre-,
sented is one of the most complicated
they have ever undertaken. There
seems TO be a general opinion that the
eight hour day must be granted. but
roads which now are operating on on
~ narrow margin OF profit or on
which the physical difficulties are un'
usual present The serious problems 10
he overcome. The effort has been to
include in the eight hour day conces-
sion solution Of some other queS'
lions such aS overtime pay, etc, when
might make it less expensive TO the
railroads. There were reports 10.
night that some of the executives still
are unalterably opposed to granting
The eight hour day under any circum.
stances. and might attempt tomorrow
10 force 4 decision which would bring
the negotiations 10 an end, one way
or another.
Il has become known that in their
conferences with President Wilson,
the executives pointed out that since
il was his view that the eight hour
day is approved by society, apparent
ly il eventually must ne extended 10
other railroad employees and 10 those
in other lines OF cndeavor. An est.
mate of The ultimate cost was given
the President.
Will Get Increase.
President Wilson is said 10 have
taken The position that the freight
rate increase will be forthcoming VI.
cause The weight Of public opinion
ii III la, on1 will
also back any plan 10 give the rail-
roads the revenue 20 provide for the
added expense.
Statements were issued tonight by
President Pennington. of the Mlnnc-
apoIis. ST. Paul and Sault Sic Marie
and p. r. Albright, general manager
of the Atlantic Coast Line emphaSIH.
ing the railroad view Of the additional
cost Of them of an eight hour day.
Mr.. Pennington said for the railroads
10 accept something which would
cause them 10 spend $52.Ohu.hoD more
annually would seriously affect their
credit. He pointed ont that in l3Of
the railroads earned $50 per cent On
their investment: in 1915 The rate was
4.S3: in 1914. 3.94 per cent. ana IN
1915, l.04 per cent. Despite large
increase in earnings The past year. lie
nuuPu, lCNti AS '''4''' -
probable rate for 1916 OF about o.oO
per cent
Mr. Albright said If the eight hour
dav is adopted and The present stan
dard run for day of 10 miles is re-
tanned I'll will mean An increase Tor
engineers on his, road from mini
mum of s12J per day 10 Sis per day:
Hope was high among brotherhood
men tonight that a satisfactory sell
Element would be reached tomorrow.
Assurances from their leaders. after
the visit paid them by Judge Chamb-
ers carly in the day with message
from the White House. that the out
look was favorably Cheered them. Inc
men maintained that they received no
details Of the Judges communication.
but they we're satisfied with their
leaders optimism. The leaders de-
rlined 10 comment. but all of them
wore broad smiles and said they be-
licvcd that. negotiations soon would
end satisfactorily.
Plan is Unknown.
Brotherhood leaders maintained 10
night that the full plan OF setlIemen.
10 be suggested by the railroad heads.
which is said 10 contain some amend
mpnt 10 The Presidents proposal al
ready accepted hy the men. had not
been outlined 10 them officially. They
knew of il in a general way, they
said, but had no definite Information
regarding it. s
we have our ears to the ground
listening" was the way A. b. Garret'
son summed up the situation. Ihat'
save for his statement earlier IN the
dav that The message conveyed by
Judge Chambers "certainly was not
DEPRESSING" was the only comment he
had 10 make throughout the day. Otn'
or leaders were equally silent.
stage in the negotiations had been
reached, they declared. where none oil
tho men could say anything.
1t is expected that il the railroad
heads insist upon the formation of
Federal commission for the investiga-
lion of labor difficulties before a
strike is called. as reports have it
they will, vigorous opposition will be-
voiced BY many members Of the
Rrrotherhoods. This plan, which has
been freely discussed among the rail-
road heads. has not been suggested 10
the Brotherhood leaders officially 10
determine how they stand on It. 1t IS
understood. but several Of them VIII
oppose it if il is proposed.
Men Quieted.
Fear Of EN- parrhSSlnG Tue tltsiueit'
as we'll as injurinG their own cause, to-
day quoted the "insurgent" Brother
hood element, who yesterday. for,
time. threatened TO disrupt the calm
daily meetings of the employees with
their demands for action. AS result.
the gathering today was peaceful,
and adjournment was taken until o.
morrow morning Al IN O'CLOCK, With
out a sign Of protest.
Tho leaders bad pointed out 10 the
INSURGENTS that thus far in The nreo-
tia,ions the weight of the Presidents