Gunnison news-champion., 1916-09-08
STRIKE CALLED OFF ALlI:S MAKE GAIN
Brotherhoods Revoke Order to
Tie Up Railways.
SENATE PASSES S.HouR BILL.
Adopted by Almost Strict Party Vote
- to 2s-Preside,t Wilson Sign.
Measure In Private Car on Trip &c
hodsensiile, Ky.

Measure In Private Car on Trip &c
hodsensiile, Ky.
The Adamson eight hour day bill,
sxacted from congress last week BY
the railroad brotherhcods as the price
OF calling OF the nationwide strike
ordered for Monday. was signed by
President Wilson In his private car at
the Union station in Washington
where he stopped on his way from
Shadow Lawn, n. J.. to Hodgenvilie.
Ky.
How long peace shall reign as a re
suit OF the bill is dependent upon de
velopments on the proposed test OF
the constitutionality OF the act Should
the railroads take no action. but await
the beginning OF an Investigation OF
the workings OF al eight hour day by
the special commission for which the
measure provides. the brotherhoods
will remain inactive,
The employees leaders declare
however. that should the law be held
unconstitutional and the railroads at.
tempt TO restore the ten-hour day or
their lines, a strike will follow
Senate Passes Adamson Bill.
Three hours after the senate passe1
the Adamson bill, previously passet
by the house, the heads of the iou
great railroad emp.oyees' brother
hoods telegraphed over 600 code mes
saSes to their general chairmen in all
parts OF the country canceiling the
strike order issued last week TO take
effect Monday morning
The legislative expedient to avert o
strike was passed in the senate by q
vote of 43 to 2S-aimost a strict party
vote-amid stirring scenes, after many
senators, Democrats and republicans
had fought desperately to amend the
measure by provisions designed tc
prevent Industrial disasters in the fu.
ture. Some senator's, thoroughly
aroused. declared congress was being
coerced into enactment OF legislation
that 1t did not desire and that IL knew
would return TO plague 1t in the future
Officials OF the brotherhocds who
witnessed the final passage of the bin
at once flashed the code message sig
mailing to the waiting trainmen of the
country through their chairmep the
message that satisfactory settlement,
had been secured
What the sill Provides.
The bill that stopped the strike pro
vides that after Jan. j, 1917. eight
hours shall be regarded As a basis
of reckoning for days. pay OF men
engaged In the operation of railroad
trains in interstate commerce, except
ing roads less than 100 miles long
and electric lines; that they receive
pro rata pay for work in excess OF
eigh; hours and that their rate of com
pcnsation shall not he changed pend
ing an investigation for six to nine
months of the effect of the eight hour
day upon the railroads by q commits
sion to be appointed by the president
Efforts to amend TIE bill in the sen
ate were futile. the supreme effort to
alter II having been led by Senator
Underwood. who sought to provide
that the interstate commerce commits
sion should have power to fix railroad
wages and hours Of service in the
future. This amendment was defeat
ed by q vote OF 81 to IA.
Only two Democrats. Senator Hard
wick Of Georgia and Clark OF Arkan.
sas. voted against the bill. ana one
Republican. LaFollette. voted for It.