The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1916-08-31

, that they are to promptly obey."-'
1+++++++ 49,
Washington, Aug. 2S.-President
Wilson tonight definitely decided to 60
before congress in person tomorrow or
Wednesday to recommend legislation
To avert the threatened nationwide
railway strike or stop it if it comes be.
fore congress can act.
He worked until late tonight on his
message in which he will tell mem.
Sers Of the senate and house the negO-
cations to date and lay before them a
definite legislative program.
The president reached this decision
after conference at the White House
with the committee of eight railroad,
presidents and the four brotherhood
heads, on a new proposal for settle
ment Of differences, suggested by the
executives, and after prolonged dis.
sussfOn of the situation at the capitol
with the members Of the democratic
steering committee of the senate.
The proposition of the railway exec.
ltsses was that an investigation of all
issues Be conducted by a commission
to be named by the president, the in
vestigation to last for period of three
months, no action to be taken by eth.
Or side in the meantime, and at the
conclusion of the inquiry the situation
to be what it is now, the employees hav.
ing the choice of either arbitrating or
striking. The brotherhood heads
urOmise d reply tomorrow and there
vas every indication it would be unfav'
orab1e.
When the railroad brotherhood
heads went to the White House to-
night the president not only laid be-
fore them the plan of the executives,
but strongly urged the withdrawal OF
tentative strike order sent out yes
terday subject to release, calling for
WaTkout of the 100000 brotherhood
members at a. m. Labor day, Sept. 4.
This request was fatty refused, the
leaders saying only the committee OF
$40 which left Washington yesterday
had power to recall the order.
Copies of the strike order were
brought to the presidents attention
after they had got to the possession OF
the railroad executives. It had been
known that the members Of the COM
mittee of $40 carried home with them
4 tentative order but no one outside
the broth erhood councils had suspect
ed that a date had been set and the
president is said to have been greatly
perturbed by the information.
After the refusal to Withdraw the
order, he communicated with the rail-
road presidents who held meeting
that lasted until late in. the night.
In spite of the apparent final failure
OF his efforts to bring the two sides
together, the president was represent
ed tonight as being still hopeful OF
zverting strike.
The legislative program prepared
Tor congress includes the following
measures: ... .
An eight hour day law for railroad
employees so framed as to give the rail-
roads time to prepare for 1t; and a
law patterned after the Canadian IN
dustrial disputes act, providing for an
Investigation of industrial disputes on
railroads by a commission and pro.
hibiting strikes or lockOuts pending
the outcome of the investigation.
In addition to these measures, there
are under consideration resolution
70 increase the revenues of the rail.
roads in case the expenses are increas-
ed and law creating authority for
Che operation of the railroads under
the federal government in event OF
strike.
The plan tonight was to have the
first two measures introduced as
amendm ents to the bill which already
has passed the house, increasing the
Interstate commerce commission from
seven to nine members.
Although on the surface nation
wide railroad strike was nearer to
night than it has ever been, confidence
vas expressed in official quarters that
the steps under consideration would
have the effect of preventing the walk
cut.
Final arrangement for the appear
ance of the president before congress
were completed tonight but he dis
cussed the question fully with the
democratic steering committee Of the
senate and they agreed with him that
he should address a joint session.
The time of his appearance depends
largely upon further conferences to
morrow with the executives and the
employees.
At today's conference the RAILROAD
/. presidents did not formally present
he statement agreed on by them last
q Friday night, which amounted to 9
! ssIs