Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-09-05
BROTHERHOOD MEN
CALL OFF RAIL STRIKE

interstate commerce commission should
have power to fix railroad wages and
hours of service in the future. This
amendment was defeated by vote of 81
to IA.
Only two Democrats, Senators Hard
wick of Georgia, and Clarke of Arkan'
sas, voted against the bill and one Re-
publican, LaFollette Of Wisconsin, voted
for it.
The roll call follows:
For the bill: Democrats. Ashurst.
Bankhead, Beckham, Bryan, Chamber
lain. Chiffon, Culberson, Fletcher, Hitch
cock, Hughes, Husting, Johnson Is. D.
Kern, Lane, Lea (Tenn), Lee, (Md.).
Lewis. Martin, Myers, Newlands, Over
man, Phelps. Pittman, Pomerene, Rams
dell, Reed, Robinson, Salisbury, Shep-
pard, Shields, Simmons. Smith (Ariz.)
Smith (Md), Smith Is. c., Swanson
Taggart. Thomas, Thompson. Under
wood, Vardaman, Walsh and Williams
AZ
Republlcans-LaFoll
Total 43,
Against the bill: -Borah,
Brady, Brandegee, Clapp, Colt, Cum
MINIS. Curtis, Dillingham;. Dupont, Gal
linger. Gilvara, Jones, Kenyon, McCum-
Der, Mclean, Nelson, Norris, Oliver
Penrose, Sherman. Smith (Mich.),
Smoot. Sterling. Wadsworth. Warren
and weeks-26
Democrats-Clarke (Ark) and Hard
wick-2.
Total Is.
INCREASED WAGES.
Railroad officials have declared that
the action of congress will cost them
$60,000.0OO a year in increased wages
to the trainmen. Brotherhood officials
say the enactment will mean not more
than an annual increase of, $50, 900, 900.
In congress and among the railroad
officials there has existed doubt as to
the constitutionality Of the law. but
what steps If any may be taken to test
this has not been indicated
Quick action by the brotherhood heads
followed the action in the senate. No
doubt existed in their minds that Presi-
dent Wilson would sign the bill as soon
as IL was handed to him. The measure
embraces virtually all Of the presidents
original proposals to the employees and
the railroad heads. although it is only
a part of the legislative program he
took to congress last Tuesday when his
negotiations had failed.
Issuance Of the orders of cancellation
followed meeting of the four brother
hood heads and thirteen remaining
members of their committee of $40.
Some opposition TO acting before the
president actually had affixed his sigma
ture was evidenced IN the meeting, but
in the end the seventeen voted unani.
mously to call off the strike Immediate
~. All of the code messages had been
prepared in advance and as quickly as
the decision was announced clerks
rushed to telegraph offices with arm
loads of the messages.
No two Of the more than 500 dis
patches were alike. One of them read:
at is reported that a big fire is raging
in Toronto" Another said There is
danger of your house burning down to-
morrow"
Even the brotherhood heads did not
know all the messages contained, the
composition OF them having been left to
clerks
The original plan to wait until the
president had signed the bill before call
ing off the strike was abandoned in or
der to facilitate transmission of the mes
sages. 1t was thought that II the order
was not sent out until tomorrow many
small telegraph offices probably would
be closed and the 10000 or more local
chairmen, all Of whom in turn are to
(Cont1nusd on Page q. Dol. a.