Tonopah daily bonanza. [volume] (Tonopah, Nev.) 1906-1929, 1916-08-25
CONTINUED from Page !,

cannot be conceded is apparently
growing. 1t was said the presidents
are standing more closely than ever
for arbitration than at any time since
the men assembled. 1t is indicated
that the executives are preparing an
answer for the president insisting on
arbitration.
The special committees plan, draft
ed after weeks consideration, would
provide for granting an eight hour
basic day to the trainmen, but with
assurance that every effort would be
made by the administration to secure
a freight rate increase to recompense
the roads, and further assurance that
Congress would be asked to enact
legislation to insure settlement of
future labor disputes through an in
vestigation commission.
II was argued by some that there
can be no assurance of rate in
crease because no one could say
what the Interstate Commerce COM
mission might do; and that some OF
the most important parts of the coun
try have already made II plain that
they are not in sympathy with any |
move which may mean rate in !,
crease 1t was pointed out also that
although President Wilson has ex-
pressed his belief that such rate
increase should be granted If the
eight hour day is given the employees,
| no one can tell how the next election
| is coming out and that there can be
no possibility of an increase before
next March or probably later.
The principal arguments against
| the idea of a permanent commission
for the prevention or settlement of
| strikes we're that it would almost
certainly be fought by labor in Con
gress, and that while President vii
son might be entirely willing now to
back such legislation, he might not be
in position to do so when it was
proposed.
The special committees plan has
been tentatively accepted by the com
mittee of eight. The railroad presi-
dents are understood not to be in
sistent upon the committee idea for
the settlement of future disputes, and
the main difficulty has been the
working out of operating plans under
| an eight hour day and of giving as
suranees to the presidents and man
ayers that they can count upon a
freight rate Increase Presidents and
managers agree that the operation
problem presented Is one of the most
complicated they have ever under
taken. There seems to be a genera
opinion that the eight hour day mus
be granted, but roads which are nov
operating only on. narrow margin o
profit or on which the physical diff
culties are unusual are the serious
has been to include in the eight hou
day concession solutions of some o
the other questions. such as overtime
\ pay, etc, which might make it les
. expensive to the railroads.
. 1t has become known that in thei
conferences with President Wilson
the executives pointed out that sine
it was his view that the eight hou
day is approved by society, it ever
= tually must be extended to other raj
: road employees and to those in othe
lines of endeavor. An estimate c
the ultimate cost was given to tn
president.
President Wilson Is said to hav
taken the position that the freigf
rate Increase will be forthcoming b.
cause the weight of public opinio
:, will back the eight hour day and wi
dibo pdCh any pan W BiNC tHO VII .
tors the revenue to provide for th
added expense.
Mr. Albright said IL the eight hot
day Is adopted and the present stan
ard run for day of 100 miles is r
I tanned It will mean an increase Il
! engineers on his road from min
] mum of $525 per day to $71S pr
= day.
II is known that il the railros
heads insist upon the formation
~ federal commission for the inves
- cation of labor differences before
strike is called. as reports have
- they will. vigorous opposition will
- voiced by many members OF Il
- brotherhoods.