Evening star., 1916-08-23

| ing to formulate an answer on behalf
of the roads to President wilson's Sng-
| rested plan for meeting demands of the
union brotheihoods the substance OF
their conference with the President at
the White House last night 1t is
understood the purpose of that visit
was to secure Mr.. Wilson'S specific
: ideas on how the railroads are to re-
imburse their treasures for the many
! millions additional expenses whieh
would arise out of acceding to the
Presidents plan for an eight-hour wage
basis.
The attitude of the President on this
subject was not disclosed. but the
report was considered significant as
showing in what direction the rail-
road heads are turning in their eHorts
to reach a conclusion.
President Hale Holden of the Bur
/. lington. and chairman of the committee
E of eight made the following statement:
"A meeting of the presidents and
managers was held at IL o'clock TINS
O'Clock In the meantime the special
committee of the presidents is in ses-
sion giving further consideration to the
various problems presented by the sit
uation.
Leave Statement Of Cost.
The three presidents who were at the
White House last night left with
President Wilson comprehensive
statement of the estimated cost of ex-
tending an eight-hour day to all rail-
road employees and employees in indus
trial concerns throughout the coun-
try. with the request that the fresi-
dent examine them carefully. The rail-
road presidents take the position that
extension of the eight-hour day to
railroad trainmen eventually means
that il must be extended to all other
railroad workers, and to many OF thoSe
in Industrial pursuits.
Before the meeting of all the execu-
tives with the committee of elght TO-
day it became apparent that there
would be some difficulty in getting all
the presidents 70 agree to any counter
proposals which involve an elSht-hour
day with ten hours pay
TeIegrars have been received by sew
eral presidents from shippers on their
lines urging a stand against the eight
hour day on 'he ground that IN the
last analysis it will mean an increase
in freight rates.
Bankers Support Railway Chiefs.
So far as the bankers interested ir
the roads are concerned one president
of big eastern road said today that
instead of urging the presidents to ac-
cede to the White House demands bank
ers were for the most part using their
influence to support the executives IN
their insistence upon arbitration.
Some of the executives who might be
expected to agree to the White House
plan for settlement OF the diihculty are
said to fear that President Wilson can
not give any positive assurance that
the roads can recoup for the additional
burden of the eight-hour-pay day.
Outstanding Principles.
Rumors from the meeting seem to
show that there are two outstanding
principles in what President Wilson has
declared upon this matter-first. that
society declares in favor of an eight
hour day. and to this they believe he
will firmly adhere; second. that he ia
vors the principle Of arbitration. The
railroad executives believe that they
must concede the principle of the eight
hour day. but that they can get the
President as a counter concession to
ofhcially recognize arbitration for the
settlement of all future industria! dis
putes. They frankly admit that in con-
sequence of the increased wages being
forced on them through acceptance OF
an eight-hour day they would be forced
to appeal to the interstate commerce
commission for authority to increase
their freight rates.
They must go before the commission
with the wage increase forced upon
them. that the commission may not
saw to them why should we let you
raise your rates just so that you can
pay out more money in saiaries?' They
realize that the President cannot die
tate to the commission that the roads
be allowed to raise their rates to meet
the additional expense imposed by oper-
alton of the eight-hour day; but they
want to have as definite an understand
ing as they can get at this time that
they will be allowed to increase their
rates.
Railroad presidents said that while
this Is big proposition and of far
reaching effect in the future, they hope
to see il settled definitely soon as
possible. a spirit of optimism that the
crisis soon will be passed by mutual
concessions dominated the assemblage
of railroad chiefs today.
Leaders Growing Alarmed.
The railroad employees committee OF
$40 general chairmen showed such
marked signs of unrest today at the
delay in the negotiations between Pres
fdert Wilson and the railway execu-
tives that the leaders of the men were
alarmed and openly expressed fears OF
their ability TO hold them much longer.
An employees meeting this morning
was thrown into uproar by speeches
Of minority, which demanded imme-
diate action unless the railroads accept
the Presidents plan, but the leaders
succeeded in adjourning il until 10
O'Clock tomorrow morning before any
vote could be taken on any Of various
proposals. They said afterward that
while the pressure for an Immediate
action came from a minority 1t was
strong. but they believed the majority
would be willing to give the President
little more time.
Some OF the men urged that most of
them go home. leaving the brotherhood
heads with authority TO call a strike II
the railroads do not accept the Presi-
dents plan.
Playing for Time" Is Belief.
1t is our belief" one of the commit
teemeu said. that the railroads are
playing for time with the President.
-ust as they have done with US for
:.any months There is no reason why
they should not have given the Presi-
1eat sa answer by this time. They are
'-yiEE TO tire US out and get public
:rJtinIent on their side. They are tir-