Evening journal., 1916-09-02
SENATE VOTE ON
EIGHT HOUR BILL
This AFTERNOON

CONTINUED From First Page)
the longer and more comprehensive
bill prepared by the Senate Inter
state Commerce Committee. While a
,lose vote is expected on Senator
1nderwood's amendment authorizing
he Interstate Commerce Commis-
zion to fix rates Of pay and hours
,f labor. it was believed it would be
'oted down.
Last nights session was the first
1 many months for the present Con-
ress. The galleries we're iammed.
Washington society turned out de-
pite the stuffy heat. in full dress,
Palm Beach and shirtwaist and skirt.
Uncle Joe Cannon, Democratic
leader kitchin. Chairman Adamson'
of the House Interstate commerce
committee, and John ]. Fitzgerald,
chairman Of the House ways and
means committee we're prominent
among members Of the House who sat
on the big leather davenports at the
back of the chamber TO hear the SEN
7tors' verbal pyrotechnics.
Senator La Toilette. Of filibuster
fame, aching to get into the fray. had
come all the way from Wisconsin for
it. but had to sooth his nerves with
a long black cigar as he sat in the
doorway of the Republican cloak
room. and listened to Senator Cum
Minis draw the spotlight for two
hours.
Senator Penrose sat in his specially
made chair to fit his great size, inter
mittently tanning, except when he
thought Of new way 10 harry the
nemocrsts and leaned across the aisle
to whisper the glad idea to Senator
Gallinger
For the most part, and excepting
Senator Borah. who was as anxious
to speak as La Toilette. Senators loll-
ed in their chairs. Senator Lewis
was another exception. On him de-
veloped the task Of fixing things"
between leaders for vote. He show
ed n sign of dislike for the Job that
sometimes distracted attention from
the speakers.
Debate Amendments.
Senator Shafroth opened the de
bate today by moving to change Sena
tor Underwood's amendment so thai
It. would be specifically stated that NJ
employe effected by the bill would bt
compelled by its terms to work anC
that stopping of work would not con
stitute delaying or obstructing oper
alton Of trains for which the amend
ment provides a fine of 5000 or one
years Imprisonment.
Suppose" said Senator HardWick
the railroad president came to III
and said:
'Legislate us increased freight ant
passenger rates or we will stop oper
ating all trains in this country wha
would we do? We would not be per
mitted to be coerced."
Why don't YOU Republicans stoI
criticizing and offer something q
avert this striker
"I think we all agree the main ques
ton over the chief interest is to pre-
vent this calamity. So we shall do
IN the way possible by legislation
Senator Sherman, Illinois, bitterl,
denounced rushing the bill into lei
islation in a few hours when ther
should be DAYS of deliberation. wv
are doing this under threat" he said
To prove his point he read severa
kilograms from large labor unions o
the middle west, pleading with him 4
urge passage of the eight hour bill an
to oppose any form Of compulsory ar
bitration.
"I would rather be a dog and ba
at the moon" he said, than be
senator enslaved by such dictation
and threats These messages sho'
the way the wind blows by demandin
that I urge government ownership c
roads.
sherman read other telegram
one from Joe Burns, OF the Whit
Rats. (an actor association OF Oh
cago. and one from a bookkeeper
the same place. Burns urged pa
sage Of the s-hour law.
"This means" continued Sherma'
that If we legislste for the railwa
employees. we'll have to do il Il
every other labor organization.
will never end We might as we
wipe the Interstate Commerce Con
mission out OF existence"