Norwich bulletin., 1916-08-28
Railroad EmpIOyGS
 Will NOt Arbitrate
THEIR RESENTATIVES IN
 WASHINGTON so INSTRUCTED
CONFER AGAIN TODAY
Plans Have Been Made for Joint ses- sion of Senate and House to Hear President Wilson Ask for Special Legislation.

Washington, Aug. 27.-Tentative plans for a joint session of the sen ate and house to hear President Will son ask for legislation to prevent the threatened nationwide railroad strike were discussed by the president with Senator Kern, the democratic leader, tonight, when it seemed virtually cer- tain that a break between the rail- roads and their employees must fol- low final conferences at the White House tomorrow. Possibilities of legislation were talked over by the president, Senator Newlands, chair man of the Interstate Commerce Committee, and Secretary Lane dur ing the day and tonight he made a quiet trip to the senate office build ing to find Senator Kern attending a meeting of the finance committee. Brotherhood Men Leave Washington
 Since last night the belief that ne. gotiations between the railroad execu- tIVeS and representatives of the men would end without an agreement has been growing. This feeling was strengthened today when the mem beTs of the brotherhood committee of GAO, tired of their long wait, departed for home after deIegating their pow CTS to effect a settlement or call a strike to a committee of 24, instruct ed under no cirCumSta noes to agree to arbitration of the demand for an eight hour day at the present rate of pay for ten hours.
 Congress May Deal With Situation.
 Whether the plans considered by President Wilson and his advisers at the conference will be carried out de- bends upon tOmOrrow's developments. but it is understood that if all efforts fail to bring the employers and their men tOget[er the president will go before col REess and ask that it deal with the situation, even if that neces- sitates indefinitely prOlong1ng the present session.
 Strike Within Next Ten Days.
 Unless the railroad heads recede from their demand for arbitration of brotherhood head said tonight, a strike affecting about 100000 men will be called within the next ten days.
 Both Sides to Confer With President
 Today.
 Representatives of both the rail- ways and the brOtherhOods will con- fer with the president tomorrow. The executives of the lines will present the plan to which they agreed finally yesterday. It's outstanding feature is a demand for arbitration of wages under the eight hour day or any day. When they have departed, the broth erhOOd heads, acting under inStruC- tiOnS received from the committee of $40 today, will go to the White House and apprise President Wilson that they cannot accept arbitration of this feature of their demands and that in general they stand on his proposal, made a week ago, to COncede the eight hour principle and arbitrate the other issues.
 President May Aask for Delay.
 What will follow no one attempts to forecast accurately. There was a re- port tonight, however, that the pres ;dent might ask the men to postpone action for a period in order that he might seek legislation which would force and provide for a settlement without tieing up the cOuntry'S trans portation systems.
 Railroad Managers Take Precautions.
 Among the presidents and mana gers here, the opinion prevailed that the proposal of the men would not be acceptable to them and there was no COncealment of the feeling that if President Wilson has no other sug- gestiOn to make, a strike is coming. The proposal may be taken under consideration if the president asks it, but little hope is entertained that the view tonight will be changed. The railroad executives already have for mulated the most careful plans to take care of the situation should a strike ensUe. They declare that a strike cannot last long and that their precautions will insure the running of all necessary trains.