Evening star., 1916-08-25
the board Of mediation and concilia-
tion.
Not Firm for Commission.

1 tion.
Not Firm for Commission.
The railroad presidents are under
stood not to be insistent upon the COM
| mission idea for the settlement of
| future disputes. and the main difficulty
| has been the working out of operating
| plans under an eight-hour day. and of
giving assurances to the presidents and
managers that they can count upon
freight rate increase.
Presidents and managers agree that
| the operating problem presented Is
one of the most complicated they ever
have undertaken. There seems to be
general opinion that the eight-hour
day must be granted. but the roads
which now are operating on only a
narrow margin of profit, or on which
the physical difficulties are unusual.
present serious problems to be over
come. The effort has been to include
in the eight-hour day concession
solution of some of the other ques-
tions, such as overtime pay, etc, which
might make it less expensive to the
railroads.
1t has become known that In their
conference with President Wilson the
executives pointed out that since it
was his view that the eight-hour day
is approved by society, apparently it
eventually must be extended to other
lines of endeavor. An estimate of the
ultimate cost was given the President.
Public Opinion Consenting.
President Wilson is said to have
taken the position that the freight rate
increase will be forthcoming. because
the weight of public opinion will back
the eight-hour day, and will also back
,1or 70 ~,
enue to provide for the added expense.
Statements were issued last night by
President Pennington of the Mime
apolis st. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie.
and Z. r. Albright, general manager of
the Atlantic Coast Line, emphasizing
the railroad view of the additional cost
to them of an eight-hour day. Mr.. Pen
nington said for the railroads to accept
something which would cause them to
spend S52 GEO, 900 more annually would
seriously affect their credit.
He pointed out that in 1907 the rail-
roads earned 5.S5 per cent on their in
festment in 1913 the rate was 4.S3. in
f:'4 3.94 per cent, and in 1915. 4.04 per
GER. nespite large increase in earn
ings th- .Sst year. he added. incomplete
returns show a probable rate for 1916
of about $50 per cent.
Mr.. Albright said If the eight-hour
day is adopted and the present standard
run for a day of 100 miles is retained, it
will mean an increase for engineers on
his road from a minimum wage Of $5.25
per day to $7.1S per day.
Brotherhood Leaders Waiting.
Brotherhood leaders maintained last
night that the full plan of settlement
to be suggested by the railroad heads.
which is said to contain some amend
ment to the Presidents proposal al
ready accepted by the men. had not
been outlined to them oficially They
knew of it in a general way. they said,
but had no definite information re-
garding It,
We have our ears to the ground
listening was the way A. B. Garrett
son summed up the situation.
1t is known, however, that If the
railroad heads insist upon the forma-
ton of a federal commission for the
investigation of labor differences be-
fore a strike Is called, as reports have
it they will. vigorous opposition will
be voiced by many members of the
brotherhoods. This plan, which has
been freely discussed among the rail-
road heads. has not been suggested
10 the brotherhood leaders officially to
determine how they stand on it, it is
understood. but several of them will
oppose II If it is proposed