davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1916-09-03

"This legislation is the first step
toward securing standard working
conditions for all railroad workers
engaged in the movement of trains,
even to the negroes on southern
lines.
There are something like 350.o00
in the four brotherhoods. and others
who are not organized; Tor instance,
there are about 10000 telegraphers
towermen, etc. who have not been
eligible for our orders, who will be
benefited by this eight-hour day
law.
Naturally. we are greatly pleased
with this satisfactory settlement
for which we have been contending
for nine years.
THE fight must have cost us more
Evening star., 1916-09-03
DIED.

WHITE. On Saturday. September
1915, al Lenox, Mass. MAR
GARET STUYvESANT RUTHER-
FORD, wife of Hon. Henry White of
1924 Crescent street northwest. Wash
ineton, D. c., in the sixty-second year
Euneral services at Trinity Episcopal
Church, Lenox, Mass, Monday, Septem-
ber 4, at 8 o'clock.
Evening star., 1916-09-03
newspaper
throughout

newspaper publicity this morning
throughout the country would be of
great assistance in getting The word TO
the employees who would he affected by
the strike.
Evening star., 1916-09-03
LIVELY FIGHTING GOES ON
ON BOTH SIDES Of SOMME
French Admit One Loss, But Report
Checks for Foe at Other
Points.

LONDON, September 2.-Lively fight
ing is in progress between the Germans
and the French and British in the region
north and south of the River Somme In
France, says the official statement is
sued today by the German army head
quarters staff The Germans last night
recaptured from the French trench
near Estrees.
French Official Report.
The latest French statement follows:
"On the Somme front there was con-
siderable activity on the part of the
enemy and of our artillery, notably in
the sector of Maurepas and Immediately
south of the river. The Germans. made
violent and repeated attacks on por-
ton of the trenches taken by US on
August 81 south of Estrees. They sue
ceeded in occupying some parts of
these positions at the cost Of appreci-
able losses.
TN the Champagne German recon
noitering parties west of Auberive and
south o. Tanu.e weie dispe4 sea py nand
grenades. A Russian patrol put to
flight a party of the enemy northwest
of Auberive after lively fighting.
Germans Are Nervous.
"On the right bank of the Meuse
(verdun 'front.' the night was disturbed
owing to the nervousness Of the enemy,
who violently bombarded our positions
in the neighborhood of Thiaumont
work and for no reason whatever set
up curtains of fire. German attack
against the village of Fleury was stop
ped by our fire.
West of Pont-a-Mousson the Germans,
after artillery preparation, attempted to
emerge from their trGncnes near Fay
en-Haye. Our curtain of fire caused this
operation to miscarry. Northwest OF
which was attempting to approach our
repulsed Everywhere else the night was
calm"
German Communication.
The German official statement fol-
lows:
western theater-North and south
of the somme lively fighting continues.
In the Foureaux wood-Longueval sec
tor-hand grenade engagements took
place, Southeast of Maurepas a French
attempt to advance was unsuccessful.
Last night a trench which was still in
the hands of the enemy near Estrees,
was recaptured.
ION the right bank Of the Meuse artll-
lerv activity was revived considerably
at times"
Evening star., 1916-09-03
Felt Crisis Demanded It.

Senator Pomerene said he would sup
port the bill, because he felt the crisis
demanded it. and he was regardful of
those who would be hardest hit by a
strike and not by those extremists on
either side involved in it.
II find myself in the position where I
cannot support the bill" said Senator
Kenyon. Il think the Underwood
am mendment would destroy union labor
and I do not believe it should be de-
Stroved.
Il am opposed to this bill, because it
is humbug.' said Senator Kenyon.
The men will find themselves after
nine months just where they were be-
fore with strike on their hands.
Furthermore, ] am opposed to the bill
because Congress is abdicating it's right
to reasonable judgment and mediation"
Senator Reed denied Congress was
showing cowardice in passing the meas
ure. He said the bill was designed to
meet an emergency. that the brother
hood leaders were not attempting to
force Congress to legislate. and that
there were many senators opposing the
bill who would not dare vote against it
unless they felt sure it would have
enough votes to pass without theirs.
Evening star., 1916-09-03
Declares Situation Humiliating.

Senator Brandegee asserted that the
situation was humiliating and disgrace
that the Senate should be forced to aban-
don its bill for the hastily considered
House measure. after it had devoted two
days to debating the subject carefully.
Senator Gallinger submitted telegram
from a New Hampshire bartenders' union.
protesting against any legislation which
would impose involuntary servitude. The
senator opposed the pending bill, and de-
clared that the propaganda of the rail-
road brotherhoods had been condemned
by all commercial bodies of the country
and by nearly every newspaper" SEN
ator Gallinser regretted that the con-
troversy was before Congress. stating that
if the demand of the 900 highly paid
railroad workers is yielded to. other poorly
paid railroad workers viii be justified In
appealing to Congress for relief
Evening star., 1916-09-03
BILL IS PASSED ON SCHEDULE
TIME BY VOTE OF 43 TO %

severer Indictment could be drawn
against their character and intelli-
gence.
IT Congress cannot proceed to con-
sioer ehis deliberately and with all facts
at hand, then it is truly yielding to die
,auon and direction of the men who
ieau this railroad movement. If that
~ the situation, then Congress has
history.
II we are met with the demand
thae we cannot postpone action beyond
.onisht, then, indeed, the spirit Of the
fathers has departed and the halo that
mas covered over this body for years
Will soon be dissolved
Right to Fix Wages.
II warn union labor that the amend
give the interstate commerce commits
sion authority to fix wages is the in
evitable logic of the position we will
occupy when we pass this bill. When
they accept this bill soon to be passed
the union men will have conceded the
right of Congress or other government
al tribunal to fix wages
Another objection to this bin is that
in granting this eight-hour day. Con-
gress grants it only to 90 per cent of
the men who operate these railroads.
ana IN GONG such a thlnS congress Is
exercising neither judgment nor pa
triotism. I venture to say, too, that
if the proposition before us now con-
ceding the right of Congress to fix
wages should be submitted to the 400.-
600 railroad men to be affected they
would vote 1t down by majority of
20 or so per cent
Il cannot get the consent of my
conscience and my judgment to vote
for this bill" said Senator Jones. This
act is compulsory and arbitrary set
tlement of this dispute. If we can
settle this controversy by compelling
employers to pay higher wages, we
can settle another controversy by fore
ing the >employes to accept lower
wages
Evening star., 1916-09-03
Would Be Indictment"

viii you tell me-" he continued.
that the men who hold the respect of
their neighbors. who each day are in
trusted with property worth millions
and with the lives of their fellows
would not accept the word Of the execu-
tive and Congress that they were en-
tering into an investigation of this
subject and attempting to solve the
problem, and that those men would not
have postponed this calamity? No
Evening star., 1916-09-03
Signed Within Few Minutes.

In the houses the measure was
signed within a few minutes after the
final vote in the Senate. and 1T vas
sent at once to the White House. where
President Wilson will sign il at i:So
O'Clock this morning after his return
from Shadow Lawn.
Officials of the brot heFho|dS VINO
witnessed the final passage of the bill
had announced following = conference
at the Ca apitol that cancellation OF the
strike would not be ordered unit! the
bill had been signed by the President
and actually had beCorvt lH"- Bat
later they conferred Ch."c"d their
minds and f9ehed ''~ 'o'- r-"SsegrS
signaling to the waiting trainneu OF
the country tnrodAn sn,l. .Il-i the
message that a satisfactory settlement
had been secured.
Evening star., 1916-09-03
Provisions Of Mes lie.

The bill that stopped the strike pro-
vides that after January !. 1917, eight
hours shall be regarded as a basis of
reckoning for a days pay OF men engaged
in the operation OF railread trains in in
terstate commerce texcepting roads less
than 100 miles long and electric iinesl.
that they shall receive pro rata pay for
work in excess Of eight hours. and that
their rate of compensation shall not be
changed pending an investigation for
from six to nine months OF the effect of
the eight-hour day upon the railroads by
a commission to he appointed by the
President.
Evening star., 1916-09-03
"would Not Garry Out Order"

The senator said he had his own views
of the ability of the four brotherhood
chiefs to call off the strike ordered for
tomorrow morning, but he was certain
that the great body Of trainmen
throughout the country would never
carry the order out If they were assured
that the President of the United States
and Congress had taken up the ques-
tions at issue and were seriously in
vestigating them with a view to legis
lation.
an indictment of the men operating the
trains Of the country by saying that
they would not terminate the strike as
soon as they were assured by the ex-
ecutive and Congress that il was enter
ing in good faith upon an investigation
of this tremendous question"
Evening star., 1916-09-03
AWAIT INVESTIGATION
OF THE ADAMS0N LAW
Western Railway Managers Say
They Will Make No Precipitate
Court Test.

CHICAGO, September managers of
western railroads announced tonight
they would take no precipitate court
action against the Adamson law, but
would wait until the measure had been
thoroughly investigated.
President f. P. Ripley of the Atchi-
son. Topeka and Santa Fe railway
said. however, that he was sorry the
question had not gone to a critical test
Il am sorry the strike has been
called off," Mr.. Ripley said. THE
Adamson bill does not become effective
until January !. Between now and
then we can decide what to do. But the
law surely will be tested.
Evening star., 1916-09-03

poke OF empOy
Irepe Of M
hour
in
he 3
to the Rio Grand 8
the ent
mi
he
a
pactyo
Railway I'm whose
and35 Of WHOM In
uyinben
Evening star., 1916-09-03
Substituted House Measure.

The Senate interstate commerce com
mittee FIRST drafted tentative bills cover
ing the Presidents whole program, but
eventually abandoned all of II to sub
stitute the House measure
The bin was passed In the Senate fol-
lowing determined efforts by Senator
Newlands. chairman OF the interstate
commerce committee: Senator Under
wood Of Alabama and several other
senators to amend it. The democratic
senators mentioned insisted that Con-
gress should provide as President VIII
son had urged some measure to prevent
such a crisis ever arising again. They
declared Congress was showing the
white feather. that II was afraid TO go
farther than merely to prevent the
threatened catastrophe of the moment
They proposed that the interstate com
merce commission should be given an
thority in future to fx wages and hours
OF service Of railroad employees, thus
forever taking the question of labor dis
putes out of the strike danger zone,
They fought yainly to the last against
overwhelming odds.
Evening star., 1916-09-03

Tho House eight-hour-day bill pre-
venting the railroad strike OF 4oo.ooo
men tomorrow morning was passed py
the Senate last evening withln
scheduled time-6 pm.-without ameno-
ment. The vote was 43 to 2s.
President Pro Tenn. Clarke OF the
Senate and Speaker Clark of the House
signed the bill a few minutes a1ter
o'clock last night, and 1t was sent TO
the White House, where officials said
it would be held until the Presidents
return this morning from Long Branch.
He is expected to sign it as soon as he
arrives.
Senators Hardwick of Georgia and
Clarke of Arkansas were the only
democrats to vote against the bill, and
Senator La Toilette was the only re-
publican to vote for it.
Vote on the Measure.
Senators who voted for the bill were:
Observation-Disclosures Bankhead, Beck
ham, Bryan, Chamberlain. Chiffon, Gull
berson. Fletcher, Hitchcock, Hughes,
Husting. Johnson. South Dakota;
Kern. Lane, Lea, Tennessee; Lee,
Maryland: Lewis. Martin. Myers, New
lands, Overman. Phelan. Pittman.
Pomerene, Ransdell, Reed, Robinson.
salisbury, Sheppard. Shields. Simmons,
Smith, Arizona; Smith, Maryland;
Smith, South Carolina; Swanson, Tag
CART, Thomas, Thompson. Underwood,
Eardaman, Walsh and Wfliiams-42.
RepubIicans-La Fol1ettc-1
Senator's who voted against the bill:
Republicans-Borah, Brady Brande-
gee. Clapp. Colt. Cummins, Curtis, Dill
lingham, du Pont, Gallinger, Gronna
Jones. Kenyon, McCumber, Mclean. Mel
son, Norris. oliver. Penrose, sherman
Smith tMichi gam. Smoot. Sterling,
Wadsworth. Warren and Weeks-26.
Democrats - Clarke (ArkanSaS) and
Hardwick (Gcorgia)-2.
Evening star., 1916-09-03
Held Out for Arbitration.

This proposal was accepted by the
employees, but the railroad executives.
holding out for arbitration, took it
under advisement and the negotiations
made but little progress for several
days. In the meantime the President
summoned to Washington about forty
more executive heads of railroads. and
when the matter reached its final
stages there We're more than sixty
in Washington.
The railroad executives considered the
Presidents plan CT settlement for a
week and then notified him they could
not consider Endorsement of the eight
hour day with ten hours pay. They
offered counter suggestion that a
question of wages such as they con-
sidered this to be should be arbi-
rfated, and that pending decision
by an arbitration board the railroads
would keep a fund. under supervision
Of the interstate commerce commits
sion, to pay the increased wage cost If
the decision went against them and
he eight hour day was approved.
The men would not agree to this and
sent cut their strike call. Then the
PRESIDENT put the case in the hands
of Congress.
Evening star., 1916-09-03
All Called to Washington.

The four brotherhood chiefs and the
twenty-four chairmen of the principal
local organizations. as well as the con-
ference committee of railway managers
which were handling the questions in
issue, came here the next day. They
were unable to agree on a basis of set
tlement and after several discussions
at the White House the summons was
sent out for the $40 representatives OF
the trainmen's organizations, who were
in New York awaiting the outcome OF
the negotiations, and the presidents of
some of the leading railroads to come to
Washington.
More than twenty railroad executives
answered the call, and at his first meet
ing with them President Wilson sug-
gested as basis of settlement the ac-
ceptance of the principle of the eight
hour day by the railroads with pay at
present rates-or for ten hours work
and that other questions such as over
time be left to an investigating COM
mission. He put forward also the idea
that the railroads might be recon-
peused for the additional financial bur-
den by an increase in freight rates.
Evening star., 1916-09-03

the 100000 trainmen Of the organize
tions affected. would not approve II II
should be put to them for vote.
Negotiations for a Month
The negotiations in which the
agencies of the federal government
were used to avert the strike began
nearly a month ago. when 1t became
apparent that the railroads anu tne
trainmen could not agree among tne".
selves and the United States D9ara l o.
mediation and conciliation
to adjust the differences
Several days of mediation px n,e
bers of the board ended IN a;+ua
solution of the problem, ana Inc rhere
alton narrowed down to poinr rh;+rate
the railroads were willing 10 aTolefae a,
some Of the mems demands. but the the
employees were not. Then zen 9ame saday the te
both sides to come to washington Tor
conferences with the President.
Evening star., 1916-09-03
Reject La Toilette Proposal.

An amendment by Senator La Toilette
to provide that nothing in the proposed
laws should be construed to modify the
law limiting continuous labor on rail-
roads to sixteen hours was rejected A
to 26.
The Senate also rejected Senator New
lands amendment to make Interference
with operation of trains misdemeanor
by fine and imprisonment.
Senator Thomas withdrew similar
The vote on the Newlands'
amendment was "A to 50.
While the measure was under discus
sion Senator Weeks said the brother
hood men had put Congress in the posi-
ton of stand and deliver" He said he
believed that majority of the train
men do not want a strike and that if it
was called 1t would last but few days.
IF Congress accedes to this demand,
he added st is an end, temporarily at
least, of representative government"
Evening star., 1916-09-03
Conflicting Claims.f

Railroad officials have declared that
the action of Congress will cost them
ss0.000.000 year in increased wages to
the trainmen. Brotherhood officials say
the enactment will mean not more than
an annual increase of Se0.00O.o0o.
In Congress and among the railroad
officials there has existed doubt as TO
the constitutionalty of the law, but
what steps. if any may he taken to test
this has not been Indicated
Evening star., 1916-09-03
Claim Congress Was coerced.

Republican senator's and few OF the
democrats declared unhesitatingly that
Congress was being coerced. dictated to-
driven under the gun to the passage of
the eight-hour bill without any provision
Of permanent character.
Other senator's. chiefly progressive
republicans. among them Cummins,
Kenyon and Norris. said that labor
was getting a bad bargain. "a brassy
gold brick" ''humbug' and that they
were conceding to Congress the right
to legislate on the question of wages,
Evening star., 1916-09-03
Efforts to Avoid Amendment.

As any amendment to the House bill
in the Senate would throw all the ne
gotiations in the indefinite stage, ad-
ministration leaders used every effort
as the debate in the Senate progressed
to insure passage of the House bill in
its original form.
When time for consideration of
amendments arrived Senator Lewis of
Illinois submitted u Senate resolution
calculated to deal with future dis
putes, declaring it to be the sense of
the Senate that any other disputes
arising between railroad employers and
employees pending the proposed nves-
tigation should be submitted to the
interstate commerce commission for
invest cation. the commission to make
a public report of what it concludes
to be just and reasonable. The reso-
luton was offered as a separate meas
ure to be taken up after disposition of
amendments to the bill.
Evening star., 1916-09-03
Close of Dramatic Period.

The falling of the gavel on the pas
sage of the bill in the Senate last night
marked the end of a dramatic and pre-
cedent-breaking week in Congress-
When Pesident Wilson. failing to bring
the railroads and brotherhoods to an
agreement. turned to Congress for re-
lief he made unannounced trips to the
Capitol To consult leaders about appear
Ing before Congress in person to Jay
the situation before il. Hurried arrange
ments for the ceremony were made, and
the President addressed a joint session
TUESDAY, suggesting Legislation which
included the provisions of the bill, but
went much farther to provide means Of
preventing future difficulties and for
handling military trains in the event
of strike.
Committees of 5oth houses went to
work at once and the President paid
daily visits to the Capitol to see, as he
put it. that things are kept NOV
ing. They we're kept moving rapidly,
but not altogether to the liking OF the
President, in the House, which on FRI
day passed only the etght-hour bill,
providing for the investigation.
Evening star., 1916-09-03
Senator Underwood's Amendment.

Senator Underwood's amendment Civ
ing the interstate commerce commits
sion authority to fix railway wages
and hours in the future was first laid
before the Senate. Senator Underwood
said that the bill without his amend
ment was a price of peace without any
attempt permanently TO solve the great
question confronting the country. and
that as the agent of the American peo-
pie Congress could not afford to take
that stand.
Senator Newlands also urged adopt
ion of the amendment. expressing con-
fidence that the brotherhoods would
abide by it and call off the strike.
The Underwood amendment was re-
jected. the vote being II to 81. Sen
amendment were:
Democrats-Bankhead Bryan, Clarke,
Arkansas; Hardwick, Lee, Maryland: :
Newlands, Salisbury. Smith Maryland !;
publicans-Gallinger Norris and
Warren-3.
Senators who voted against the Tn
derwood amendment were:
Dcmocrats-Ashurst- Beckham, Cham
beriain. Chiffon. Culberson, Fletcher.
Hitchcock. Hughes, Husting, johnson.
South Dakota; Kern, Lane. Lea, Ten
nessee; Lewis. Martin. Myers Overman,
Phelan, Pittman, omerene Ransdell
Reed, Robinson, Shields, Simmons
Smith, Arizona; Smith. South Carolina: /:
Swanson. Taggart, Thompson, Var
daman and W aish--33
Republicans-Brady, Brandegee, Ro-
rah, Clapp, Colt, Cummins. Curtis, Dill
lingham. du Pont, Gronna. Jones, Ken
yon. La Toilette. McCumber, Mclean,
Nelson, Oliver, Penrose. Sherman,
Smith, Michgan; Snoot, Sterling,
Wadsworth and Weeks-24
Evening star., 1916-09-03
Predicts Further Legislation.

Senator Owen contended the contro-
versy was not the only railroad problem
confronting the country and insisted
that Congress would have to undertake
further legislation. He favored the
pending bill. because it would avert the
strike and afford Congress an oppor-
tunity to consider the railroad problems
in the broader aspect.
'If this Congress will now pass
resolution declaring that we favor pro-
ceeding at this session until compre-
hensiye settlement of this railroad con-
troversy is reached the threatened
strike viii be as dead on Monday morn
ing as it will be if the pending objec-
tionable bill is passed"
This was the concluding declaration
of Senator Rorah of Idaho. who said he
doubted If the price about to be paid
would "cure the patient" He said he
would not eulogiZe union labor; that he
had several experiences with it. but
that he realized it's value in the prog
ress of the world. II respect organized
labor" he continued. but am not
afraid of it."
Evening star., 1916-09-03
Telegrams Announce Strike OFF.

kilograms were sent to all division
points on western railroads informing
both railway officials and trainmen that
there would be no strike. Orders were
also issued for canceling all embargoes
by these roads that had not already
done so.
Hale Holden. president of the Chi
cago. Burlington and Quincy railway,
was Of the opinion the roads should
wait for the governments investiga-
tion, provided by the bill, before taking
any action against it"
Mr. Holden declared the present leg
islation by Congress direct result of
previous bills which had made labor
exempt from the Sherman antitrust
act.
No Present Estimate Of Public Loss.
That the railroads had expended
thousands Of dollars in preparing for
the strike. and the loss to the public
cannot be estimated at this time, was
a further assertion made by Presi-
dent Holden. Shippers and travellers
have suffered great inconvenience and
monetary loss" said he.
Evening star., 1916-09-03
Satisfaction Over Results.

Although members of Congress
breathed easier when their task was
done, the relief was not SO much a
demonstration of satisfaction over the
legislation enacted as over the imme
diate results it accomplished.
1t not only stopped the strike. but
served to stay the soaring prices of
food and necessaries of life, which had
been going rapidly upward for several
days.
They also were jubilant that at last
the way looked clear for adjournment
of Congress, but many members of
both Houses were convinced that with
the reassembling in December the
question would come up again and that
permanent legislation suggested by the
President, along the line of compulsory
arbitration. would be pressed.
In the meantime the joint subcom-
Inittee recently created by Congress
will get to work on problems OF rail
road legislation and prepare recon-
mendations to be made as soon as pos
sible in the session to come.