Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-08-31

fMr. Garretson to say that It was his
understanding. that the proposed Dill
would not prevent any man from leav'
ing his employment during investiga-
ition. Concerted action. he said. was
what it was designed to prevent.
quite true" Mr.. Garretson said;
but II only men individually now
threatened to strike on the railroads
we would not be here now discussing
this proposed legislation"
For Military Purposes Only.
The brotherhoods. Mr.. Garretson said,
would not oppose the CONSUMPTION act
as long as it was only for military
purposes.
las long as 1t Is merely for the pur-
pose of defending the flag we men of
these organizations are ready to. do
our part. Though we oppose the prin :
ciple of CONSUMPTION we are not spoil
ing to go beyond these borders to
fight
Asked the attitude of the brother
hoods on Senator Lees resolution to
have the strike postponed week. Mr..
Garretson said he would like to dis
cuss that later. So far as could be
learned. however. there was no chance
of the brotherhoods acceding to the re-
quest. They still insist that they are
powerless to postpone the strike.
GarfetSOn SAID tnaI IN accepting inc
Presidents proposal which the railroads
refused the men had yielded SO per
cent of their demands. Senator Cum
Minis asked what he meant. Garretson
explained that the railroad managers
declared that the original demand OF
the men for eight hours a day and time
and half for overtime would cost
them S1O0, 600, 900 a year, and after we
accepted the Presidents proposal for
eight hours and pro rata pay for over
time the railroads reduced this eStlmat e
to $5O,0O0,00e.
while the railroads only pay pro rata
for overtime" Garretson said, there is
no incentive to them for shortening
hours, because a true eight-hour day
Is impossible on railroads. AS long as
the railroads can pay pro rata for over
time, it makes no difference to them.
But, assured the eight-hour basis with
,, ten hours pay, and pro rata for over
time, the men yielded in order to reach
. settlement"
Views of Samuel Gompers.
Samuel Gompers. president of the
American Federation of Labor who fol
lowed Mr.. Garretson, said that the fed.
GRAFTON had adopted resolutions sup
po~tinG the fight by the brotherhoods
and protesting against compulsor.
=, I'll. ,lon or any compulsory aware
that would take away railroad mems
rightful ownership of themselves. He
said the American Federation of Labor
believed they realized in view of exist.
ing conditions that there was little
time for Congress to act in the present
emergency.
He attacked the proposed Legislation
to give the government authority tc
operate the roads for military pur.
poses if a strike comes. He called il
! CONSUMPTION and said it was indie
feasible in times of peace.
Senator Newlands denied his asser
ton that the legislation denied tn.
right of the worker to quit his Job
Senator Newlands said it meant only t.
affect the right to quit in concert.
Mr.. Gompers said he believed he haG
contributed as much as anybody il
America to avoidance of strikes.
Things Worse Than Strikes.
But, gentlemen" he said. there are
| things worse than strikes.
I'VE have got to live when tina,
strike is over and is history. And then
ask you. will we find upon the statute
books a law that says that men are
criminals if they strike in concert
Such a condition is intolerable. I trust
this legislation will not be enacted By
the Congress of the United States"
Senator Newlands asked Mr.. Gompers
to give the committee the solution OF
the problem.
"On Monday" said Senator NewIands
the railroads of the country will be
tied up and transportation, except for
umanitarian and government pur-
poses, will cease. 1t is unnecessary to
describe the conditions that will fol-