New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-02
Senate Drops Own Measure;
Ready to Pass House Bill

Washington, Sept. 1.-The Senate
agreed tonight 10 vote tomorrow
afternoon on the emergency eight-hour
law already passed by the House and
designed TO avert the impending rail-
road strike. Administration leaders in
the upper house are confident Of its
passage. In spite Of the opposition Of
the Progressive Republicans and fight
that developed on an amendment to
the House bill, there seems 10 be no
doubt that the Senate will approve of
the House measure and thereby pre-
vent the threatened tie-up.
The Senators spent all afternoon dis
cussing an eight-hour bill that was re-
ported out Of the Senate Interstate
Commerce Committee late last night.
II contained two sections, however,
which Immediately stirred up bitter
opposition not only on the part Of the
Republicans, but on the part Of the
Democrats, who insisted that the Presi-
dents hand must be upheld and peace
assured AT any cost
Penalty of Obstruction.
One Of these provisions, not includ-
ed in the House measure, set PEN
atty upon any attempt to obstruct or
delay the transportation facilities Of
the country. Immediately there was a
storm Of opposition based on the the
DRY that il might be construed to pun
ish strikers who desired TO quit work
as train operators. This intention,
however, was denied by Senator New
lands, the committee chairman and
sponsor for the bill.
The other provision. embodied as a
committee measure had been suggested
BY Senator Underwood, Of Alabama
i. proposed to give the Interstate Com
merce Commission the power to fix the
hours of labor and 70 prescribe reason
able and Just wages for all employees
of railroad companies engaged in inter
state commerce Senator Underwood's
intention was 70 secure something per
manent that would save the country
from a situation similar to the present
one when the provisions Of the emery
ency measure expire.
When the House measure, which
passed late this afternoon, was intro
duced IN the Senate late tonight, how
Ger the original Senate bill was
droppeG and consideration immediate
lv begun on the House proposition.
Senator Underwood Immediately Of
5ered as an amendment 20 that measure
the sections of the Senate bill which
gave the Interstate Commerce Com
mission power OF hours OF work and
wage schedules.
Cummins Fights Underwood.
Senator Cummins led the fight
against this amendment as well as
against the bill itself He warned the
Democrats that they were approaching
nothing short OF government ownership
u they insisted upon such a law. Sen
stor Borah. Of Idaho, expressed the
sentiment Of all the Senators and Of
the entire Congress in fact when he
charged that Congress was not acting
according 20 lis reason and Judgment,
but according 70 dictates coming from
outside the Senate chamber.
The entire debate in the Senate, as
in the House, gave ample proof Of the
fact that the Congress was acting un-
der duress; that il feared not to act
according % the Presidents sugges-
ton. The politics OF the proceedings
were clear % the most casual observer.
Lesping In the Dark.
I. was admitted on all sides that the
legislators did not know what they
were legislating that they we're mere
u jumping through a hoop held up by
the railway unions, while a whip lash
drove them on, frantically, bindly. 70
the end that was sought. The railroad
companies, the shipping interests, the
fact that the burden Of conceding the
only terms that the unions would ac-
cept a. the price Of the country's res
cue, meant that the public would pay
the bill in the end, got scant considera-
ton in the face Of the red flag waved
By the 100000 organized voting men.
Cummins Fears Amendment.
81 am Of the opinion" said Sena-
tor Cummins, that the brothcfhoods
will not accept the bin ~ amended
az satisfactory settlement
"lf thoge chiefs" answered Senator
Underwood. "order strike or refuse
20 order IL stopped because Congress
snscts a law, II would be an act moth
ing short % treason"
"They will discharge what they con