Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-09-01
PENDING ACTION OF
CONGRESS, DELAY OF
WALKOUT IS URGED
CONTINUED from Page oneJ

his efforts to have the measure rushed
Besides that, the president takes the
position that it is the patriotic duty OF
the brotherhood leaders to rescind OF
postpone the strike order in view OF
his recommendations to congress ano
the efforts being made to act upon them
BILL Is SATISFACTORY.
Enactment into law of the presi
dents eight-hour day bill as now drawn
guaranteeing the present ten-dour day
wage" said w. G. Lee, head of the train
mems brotherhood, 'wfll be regarded as
a satisfactory settlement of our differ
ences with the railroads and there will
be no strike. To prevent a strike, how
ever, this bill must become law before
next Saturday midnight"
The senate interstate commerce COM
mittee arranged it's first public hearings
on the measure today, and allowed three
hours each for argument by brother
hoods and railroads. The plan was to
present the finished draft to the senate
Saturday, ready for immediate action.
HOUSE AGAINST DELAY.
The house, however. was not disposed
70 wait so long. It's leaders set Friday
afternoon as the time when they would
take the initiative If the senate had
not acted, and give assurance that the
house would pass the measure then un-
der special rule, making it effective No
vember i.
The measure contemplated would es-
tablish eight hours as the standard work
day for railroad employees engaged in
interstate commerce, it would authorize
appointment by the president of a COM
mission to study conditions under the
eight-hour day and report its recommen-
dations to congress, the president and
u Fba IN ha q q
commerce commission; pending the re-
port daily wages should not be reduced
below the present day for longer hours.
other measures were under contenI
plation, but the eight-hour day and in
vestigation proposals were regarded as
the most effective pieces of emergency
legislation.
The attitude Of congress today, that
of determination to prevent the strike,
was exemplified by the resolution, peno-
ing in the senate, calling on BROTHERHOOD
officials to suspend the strike. order for
one week; and the statement of Senator
Thomas, that if the government failed
to protect the public in such a crisis, 1t
had no right to call itself govern
ment.
House leaders decided not to wait for
the senate to act as they first planned
and agreed on a bill designed to carry
out the presidents recommendations for
an eight-hour day and a commission
investigation. 1t has some modification
from the senate drafts. 1t was intro
duced by Representative Adamson, of
Georgia, chairman of the interstate COM
merce committee, and has the backing
of Speaker Clark and Democratic Lead
err Kitchin.
Unless the senate acts promptly on
the two propositions-the only ones in
the presidents program favored. by
house leaders at this time-a special
rule will be invoked to rush the Adam
son bill through the house and over to
the senate by Saturday.
Postmaster General Burleson also
conferred with Chairman Adamson on
movements of the mails. They discuss
ed the old law of 1862, which allowed
the president to operate railroads in
case of public necessity.