South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-08-22
international News Service:

international News Service.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 22.-On the
shoulders of eight of the biggest
railroad executives in the country
was today placed the responsibility
for the consideration by the rail
roads of PreS't Wilson's proposal 20
avert the threatened railway en-
ployes strike The big group Of rail-
road presidents delegated 10 a COM
mittee the formulatioE OF the state
ment OF facts upon which they
would consider the impending crisis.
The committee was given no author
ity TO formulate a counter proposal
to PRIEST Wilson or TO definitely re-
command acceptance or rejection of
the presidents demands
Headed 10y Hale Holden. president
of the Chicago, Burlington and Quin-
cy. the committee was named. iuI
was announced for general con-
sideration of the questions invOlv-
ed"
The comittee went To work at once.
and while the executives generally
threshed over various mooted points,
the eight men sought 10 weed out
of the situation all irrelevant and UNI
important details. They proposed
to confine the discussion OF the sit
uation by the railroad presidents to
the bare essentials. and 10 this end
they endeavored 70 eliminate an coll
lateral questions The committee
will lay before the railroad eXecu-
tives a statement of the conditions
which must be met.
The presidents committee of eight
reported to the fun mem bership Of
presidents at ] o'clock this after
noon. that it had been unable to
come 10 any conclusion. The COM
mittee arranged to have luncheon at
the Metropolitan club at . o'clock
and resume its sessions afterward.
Committee i Announced.
In announcing the appointment of
the committee the railroad execu-.
tives issued the following statement:
MT Hale Holden president of
the Burlington. as spokesman for the.
railroad executives. who are confer
ring with Pres't Wilson on the rail-.
way wage problem, announced this
morning that a committee from the
three score executives now in Wash
ington has been named for the gem.
eral consideration Of the questions
involved
The members of the committee
are Hale Holden. e.. =. and @ rail-
road, w. A. Atterbury Pennsylvania
railroad, Fairfax Harrison. Southern
railway: r. = Loveu. Union Pacific
railroad +. p. Ripley Atkinson.
Topeka and Santa Re railway; AL.
fred H. smith New York Central
railroad; Frank Trumbuu, Chesa-
peake and Ohio. Daniel Willard
Baltimore and Ohio
The committee is in continuous
session considering the situation. but
it Is understood that no conclusions
have yet been reached.
Hold Conference.
The members OF the committee
conferred with various groups Of
executives and sought 20 acquant
themselves with the various differing
conditions confronting the railroads
in different parts OF the country.
They proposed 70 maintain contnu-
Gus conference with their colleagues
until their work was completed.
Meantime hope for AN early set
Element of the situation today Wan-
ed. The railway presidents were
plainly determined 20 give the mat
ter full and complete consideration.
They proposed TO thresh over every /
detail Of the presidents proposal and /
every possible effect Of his plan on
the railroad industry. before COM (
hitting themselves upon IT, II was
apparent that their course would I
consume time and IL was expected 4
that their reply hardly would be
ready during the day
Wilson Meets Cabinet.
RECOGNIZING the probability Of de- /
lay. Pres't wilson turned his atten-t
ton temporarily 90 other matters /
For the first time since the president /
took charge OF the strike negotia- /
tons he called his cabinet % the /
white house today for a routine
meeting
A new feature entered the situa-
ton today when Chairman Hurley /
OF the federal trade commission APP
Deared al the hotel where the rail-
road executives have quarters He
buttonholed dozen Of the western
railroad executives and held what
appeared 10 be heated conferences
with them in various parts of the
lobby lie declared that he had no
nlessaza from the president and tbatl