The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1916-09-08
STRIKE SITUATION
BEFORE CONGRESS
PRESIDENT ADDRESSES JOINT
SESSION IN ENpEAvoR TO
PREVENT WALkoUT.
gavors an Efoht-Hour Day for the
MEN. and the Appointment Of
Body Of Men 20 Observe the
Actual Results.


Washinton.- President Wilson ad- |
dressed Joint session OF congress on |
August 20, in an effort to get letgisla-
tion that would prevent the threat
ened railroad strike. called for a. M
September T.
In his address the president admit |
ted he had failed to bring about an |
amicable solution of the controversy
President Wilson consumed Just
twenty-one minutes in delivering his
address, He recommended:
Enlargement and administrative re-
organization of the interstate com
merce commission.
An eight.hour day for all railroad
employees engaged in operating
trains In interstate traffic,
A congressional committee to study
results of the application of the eight
hour day to railroad operation alike
for the men and for the roads.
An instruction from congress to the
interstate commerce commission TO
consider just what increase In freight
rates the railroads would be entitled
TO, II any, due to the eight-hour day.
An amendment OF the federal media.
ton, Cancellation and additional laws
to provide for a full public investigar
tion before a strike or lockout may be
lawfully attempted.
Granting the president power in
case OF military necessity to seize and
operate such portions Of the railway
as may be required for military uses;
10 draft into the military service such
train crews and administrative off,
cials as circumstances may require.
Al his conference with leaders OF
lahe house at the capitol Tuesday night
President Wilson was urged by his
party lieutenants to abandon all but
his first two propositions to congress
and let the others go over until the
next session.
Representatives Kitchin and Adam.
son appeared to think that II the
president got one-hslf OF his program
within Few days he would obtain
very satisfactory results. With the
enlargement OF the commission and
the establishment Of an eight.hour
day, house leaders believe the strike
will be ayerted The impression the
president had concerning the ability
and willingness of the senate to rush
through his program astonished the
Democratic house leaders, who, fol
lowing the presidents address. gave
voice TO their opinion that there would
be weeks OF debate In the senate II
the whole program were pushed.
Although negotiations between the
employers and men were broken of
Tuesday by the rejection OF the rail
way presidents latest proposal for
arbitration, President Wilson Ia con
tinuing his efforts TO bring the two
sides together on some form of agree
ment.
When the brotherhood leaders on
Tuesday rejected the latest propose
TO the railroads and definitely set the
strike for Labor day without further
notice, President Wilson decided K
lay the whole situation before con
gress.
Immediately after the president haC
delivered his recommendations. con
gress set about TO see how they nigh
be enacted into law.
President Wilson expressed his ear
nest hope that the brotherhood
would yield TO his request that, pend
ing action by congress, they rescin'
their strike order He asked the lead
ers TO do so at their eonferenc Mon
day night. but they declined, saying
they had not the power. Presiden
Wilson takes the position that Il
view OF his recommendation to con
gress the hrotherhoods have NOTHING
10 gain and much to lose II they carr
ut their strike order, because he be-
lieves under such circumstances pul
lie opinion viii stand against then
The cost OF the strike to the mer
the railroads and the public will b
almost beyond compution.
The men making demands numhe
400 coo, The employees affected wi
total a. least 1000 600 Those deper
dent upon the employees of the raj
roads. and who will suffer as a resu
of the enormous loss In wages. ar
estimated at 5000 600 ut least, Their
are 226 railroads involved. The mill
age totals 2b7.2il The capital stoc
OF these railroads is $s.6SS, 2S6 81.
The investment In these road
represent the staggering sum ,
Ei7 geo 900 600
Representatives of the railroad
clam that II the demands OF the the
were met. II would cost them at lea
800 900 900, while the representatiy,
Of the men declare the cost To Il
roads would be about $25000000.
Auto Turns Turtle.
Sail Lake CITY --Nlne rnnn ware /