The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-09-01
Continued from First Page.)


Great honors bring great RESPONSE
bilities, and tho President should
have shown moro courage
Spirited Debate Started.
A quorum Of the House was on hand
when that body met Mt II o'clock and
MS soon as the rule calling up the strike
bill was presented the lower body
plunged into q spirited debate.
Opposition to the bill cropped out on
the Republican SIDE. but 1t was appar-
ent the measure would go through by
a comfortable majority late today.
ordep to make two to five r.inute
; were OF the me too" sort and general
began S, ~ am heartily certify n I fayo av. 81
Some Of the Democratic orators said
S Ssssiy sor y as permanent measure
Congressman william s. Bennett of
New York made bitter speech as
| sorting that the labor men were prac-
in hand. to demand legislation at
once. That Is shot gun procedure"
he said.
The pending bill he described as a
eventually must end in Congress Ak
ing the hours of labor on ali articles
entering interstate commerce.
Blow to Republican Government.
This bill is destructive Of a repub-
lican form Of government" he
shouted.
Mr.. Bennett said he had once worked
as a train brakeman and was elected
By labor votes, but have always
played fair with labor. whether I
agreed with the men or not.
II have never deceived them. and I
shall not deceive them now. This
legislation Is the worst blow ever
dealt organized labor"
Mr.. Bennett said he didn't propose
ito cast my vote with a pistol at my
head"
Congressman Lenroot, Republican.
of the Rules Committee. blamed the
President for bungling the strike sit
uation. The Presidents Interference,
he suggested. had precipitated the
| crisis.
Chairman Adamson. Of the Interstate
Commerce Committee. refuted this state
ment. He said the pending bill was an
| emergency measure to avert the strike
and that after full investigation Con-
gress would enact legislation adequate
ly protecting the rights Of the public.
| the railroads. and the employees.
| Mr.. Lenroot said he would vote for the
bill but only because he regarded II as
temporary measure to avert national
calamity.
During a spirited argument between
Chairman Adamson and Congressman
Dennison Of Illinois. the latter urged
an amendment to the bill to provide an
eight,hour law for All employees engaged
Congressman Sterling. Republican. de-
clared:
1.-THE same powerful organization that
L. LII ~ l. L..
will prevent changing II. 1t will be at
the doors OF Congress forbidding a
change II the investigating commission
finds the increase unjust"
an emergency We shall establish a
great principle" Congressman Brit.
Democrat countered. 1.-THE roads will
be the gamers and not the losers by
ployes wifi be- Of more value" '
Text of the Bill.
The text OF the eight-hour bill intro
duced In the House Is as follows:
Be 1t enacted by the Senate and
House Of Representatives. that:
Section !. Beginning January l. 1917.
eight hours shall in contracts for la
Dor and service be deemed a days work
and the measure or standard Of a days
work Tor tn. the purpose OF reckoning the
now or may hereafter be employed by
any common carrier by railroad, except
electric interprban railroad which Ia sub
ject to the provisions Of the act of Feb. 1.
1887. entitled An act to regulate COM
merce." as amended. and who are now
or may hereafter be actually engaged
in any capacity In the operation of
trains. except electric interurban rail-
persons or property on railroads from
any State or Territory Of the United
States or the District of Columbia to
any other State or Territory Of the
United States or In the District Of Co
lumbia or from one place In a Terri
tory to another place In the same Ter
ritory or from any place In the United
states to an adjacent foreign country
or from any place in the United States
through foreign country to any other
place In the United States.
Shall Name Commission.
Section 2. That the President shall ap-
point a commission Of three. which shall
observe the operation and effects Of the
institution of the eight hours standard
workday as above defined and the facts
and conditions affecting the relations
| between such common carriers and en-
poyes during a period of not less than
six months nor more than nine months,
within thirty days thereafter such COM
mission shall report Its findings to the
President and to the Congress; that
each member OF the commission created
under the provisions Of this act shall re-
ceive such compensation as may be
fixed by the President. The sum of
$4,000 or so much thereof as may be
necessary be and hereby is appropriated
out of any money in the Treasury not
otherwise provided for the necessary
and proper expenses incurred In connec'
ton with the work of such commission,
including salaries, per diem. travelling
expenses of members and employees, and
. rent, furniture, office fixtures, and sup
, plies. books, salaries, and other neces-
sary expenses, the Same to be approved
, by the chairman Of the said commission
and audited by the proper accounting
; officers Of the Treasury.
Section 8. That pending the report o.
the commission herein provided and fo
a period OF thirty days thereafter thu
compensation OF railway employees sub
ject to this act for q standard eight
p hour workday shall not be reduced be
, low the present standard days wage
. and for all necessary time in excess o
I. eight hours such employees shall be pal,
at a rate not less than a pro rata 70
such standard eight-hour workday.
: Section 4. That any person violating
!. any provision OF this act shall be guilt!