The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-08-31

Gated to all parties of the controversy
during the day, include the following
propositions to be attached to a pending
bill, which would enlarge the interstate
commerce commission:
Establishment of eight hours as the
standard for a days work for railroad
employees operating trains in interstate
commerce and the appointment by the
President of a wage commission of three
members to observe the administration
and financial effects of institution of the
eight-hour day, the President to submit
its recommendations to the interstate
commerce commission, which would ac-
cept the findings, unless clearly erroneous,
and adjust rates to insure a fair return
on invested capital; wages of employees
not to be reduced for a period to be
determined, below the present standard
days wage, pending the report and pro
rata proportion to be paid for service in
excess of eight hours; the commission
also to study and report on the problem
of compensation for railroad employees.
WOULD AMEND EXISTING LAW
Amendment of existing arbitration laws
directing the board of mediation and
Cancellation, If unable to induce parties
to submit controversies to arbitration, to
refer differences to a board for investiga-
ton, pending decision of which 1t would
be unlawful for employers to cause a
lockout or employees to cause a strike;
each party to controversy to name one
member of the board of investigation,
which would consist of three members
Empowering the President, whenever
railways engaged in interstate commerce
or in transportation of the mails shall
cease to operate or be seriously inter-
rupted because of strike, to direct oper-
alton of railroads sufficient for military
purposes; to draft into federal service
all persons necessary and to use the mill
itary forces of the nation.
Immediately after the tentative legis-
lation had been made public general de-
bate was begun in the Senate on the
controversy, Senator Summins opening
the discussion. The Iowa senator as
serted that compulsory arbitration was
impra cticable and unconstitutional, that
any attempt to fix minimum wages by
law, although within the power of Con-
gress, was doomed to failure, and that
legislation to prevent strikes by forcel
of law would mean practical prohibit
ton of labor unions. He suggested that
modified or partial restriction of the
right to strike in a combined way might
make for Industrial peace.
LEE TO REMAIN
The railway presidents and the man
ayers conference committee were in
separate session practically all day
The managers discussed possibilities |
of the strike and what their roads |
might be able to do if 1t came They |
decided tonight that Elisha Lee, chair |
man of the committee, and few 9TH |
ers shall remain here for several days. !
the rest to go home at once Mr.. Lee |
probably will be the chief spokesman |
at the Senate hearing tomorrow
The feeling among the presidents to- |
night had not changed. tits all up to |
Congress and the people now" said |
one executive tonight There is moth |
ing we can do"
The brotherhood heads spent many |
hours today planning a vigorous fight |
on the compulsory investigation fea- |
ture of the Presidents programme |
which they will combat, for the pres |
ent. to the exclusion of everything else |
in it. They declined, tonight to say
who would wage the fight for them,
but 1t was said on good authority that |
Senators Cummins of Iowa and Lea of |
Tennessee probably would be very ac-
tive in their behalf. No one has been |
chosen to oppose the investigation plan |
in the House because the brotherhoods |
have great confidence that they will |
defeat it in the Senate and they have |
a great number of representatives. 1t
Is said, who are anxious to champion |
their cause in the House
None of the brotherhood heads would |
even admit that they had been APP
pealed to by administration officials |
to postpone the strike. They had busy |
day. First, they were at the capitol |
and then they called on Secretary Will (
son and advised him regarding their |
view of the Presidents programme In |
the afternoon they conferred with Sam |
uel Gompers, president of the Ameri- |
can Federation of Labor, at his office. |
They declined to discuss their confer
ence with Mr.. Gompers, but it was |
learned that he showed no disposi- |
ton to sympathize with the movement |
for bringing about a postponement of |
the strike.