Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-08-19
Outlines Settlement Plan

20 OS4NAO
Outlines Settlement Plan
While the railroad presidents were
in conference with President Wilson
to-day, the President gave out a state
ment outlining his plan of settlement
and saying:
1T seems to me a thoroughly
practical and entirely fair program
and | think the public has the right
to expect its acceptance"
President Wilson statement follows:
Il have recommended the conces-
sion of the eight-hour day-that it,
the substitution of an eight-hour day
for the present ten-hour day in all
the existing practices and agreements.
| made this recommendation because
| believe the concession right. The
eight hour day now undoubtedly has
the sanction of the Judgment of So
clety IN its V and should be adopt
ed as a basis for a even where
the actual work to be done car not
be completed within eight hours.
Concerning the adjustments which
should be made, in justice to the rail-
roads and their stockholders, in the
payments and privileges to which
their men are now entitled Off such
adjustments are necessary there is
a vide divergence of opinion.
X. r. Not at DISADVANTAGES
The railroads which have already
adopted the eight-hour day do not
seem to be at any serious disadvant-
age in respect of their cost of oper-
alton as compared with the railroads
that have retained the ten-hour day,
n calculations as to the cost of the
change must, If made now, be made
without regard to any possible admin
istrative economies or establishments.
only experience can max it GER
tam what arrangements would be
fair. either on behalf of the men or
on behalf of the railroads. That ex-
perience would be a definite guide to
the interstate Commerce Commits
sion, Tor example, in determining
whether, as a consequence of the
change, it would be necessary and
right TO authorize an increase of rates
Tor the handling and carriage of
trelsht Cfor passenger service is not
affected). NV
Public Expects Acceptance
I therefore proposed that the de-
hana Tor extra pay for overtime made
oy the men n the contingent pro-
posals OF the railroad authorities be
postponed until facts shall have taken
the place of calculations and forecast
with regard to the effects of a chance
10 the eight-hour day; that in the
meantime, while experience was de-
HeIoplng n facts, I should seek, and
~ duIUOTlIN from
Congress to appoint a small bodv Of
impartial men to observe and thor
oughly acquaint themselves with the
results, with a view to reportine 10
congress at the earliest possible time
the Facts disclosed by their INQUIRIES
put without recommendation of anv
KIND; and that it should then he on
tirely open to either or both nsrtias
10 the present controversy to give no
uce OF a termination of the presan+
agreements with a view to in~stituting
INQUIRY into suggested readjustments
OF pay or practice.
Inls seems to be a thoroughly
PractIcai n entirely fair program,
ana think that the public has The
Tight 10 expect its acceptance"
Right to Increase Fa,cs7
one ray of hope that it might in
ouce the railroad managers TO make
concessions stood out in a sugpastinn
Ihal N interstate Commerce Com
mission might determine whethar -
would be right to increase freight
rates 70 meet the added compensation
VIII Continue Negotiations
The railroad presidents Indicated
they would make a statement soon,
All said that the question was NOT
Closed and that the negotiations would
be continued. 'uU
President Holden of the Burlington
spokesman for the officials, said no
Time a been set for them to see
PRESIDENT Wilson again, but thai II
was necessary to confer with the com
mlttee OF managers which has the au-
thorlty to accept or reject plans.
Chiefs Disappointed
Several of the executives indicated
disappointment over President viii
sons statement. but showed particular
interest in his mention of the nossi-
Dllty OF the Interstate Commerce
in freight rates.
In his ak to the executives to-day
president Wilson told them they were
racing a condition, not a principle.
He asked why they should demand ar
oltration when there was no law for
compulsory arbitration, and he knew
IT 70 be impossible to get a compulsory
arbitration law through Congress. The
employees he recalled, had consistently
refused arbitration and he believed
IT was impossible to gain it in the
present controversy
i have been asked to sit as a judge
said the President in substance "I
cannot do that. | simply can suggest
a plan. a way in which this question
can be settled fairly to all sides"
Again Urges Acceptance
President Wilson urged again that
tuS IdlITOduS accept the plan, adODt
the eight-hour day temporarily and
then allow the proposed Commission
to fully investigate the facts. He
pointed out hat the railroads brought
forward n set of statements and
the employees another and 1t was inn
possible for him to tell which was
correct.
In conclusion President Wilson said
he believed his plan was the only
equitable way of settling the contro-
versy n that under. it, both sides
would be treated fairly. He consid-
cred 1t useless to discuss the principle
of arbitration, when 1t seemed impos-
slble to bring about an arbitration in
b present situation.
Mr.. Holden gave the President esti-
mates of the effect of the eight-hour
day to the railroads. President vii.
son in reply urged that the railroad
officials. with the committee of man
ayers. very carefully consider his nIan
before giving any final answer. That
was agreed to by the railroad execu-
tives.
Employees Make No Reservations
1t was learned definitely that in
their acceptance of President WiIson's
plan the employees made no reser-
walton.
One of the railroad presidents said
after the conference that he did not
consider the situation hopeless. but
| that ~ MAS vary Garf1,.~ n- "