Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-09-02
HOLD SENATE WILL CONCUR
I'M RAIL PEACE
CONTINUED From Page one.l

soon as the proposed investigating
committee has made it's report.
Senator Stirling of South Dakota de-
clared he would not submit TO con-
gress being "dragooned." The pending
legislation he characterized as the
price of perf1dious peace"
Senator Owen favored the pending
bill because IL would avert the strike
and afford congress an opportunity to
consider railroad problems In the
| broader aspect.
Senator Newlands offered an amend
ment to make it a misdemeanor for any
person to interfere with the opera
ton of trains, punishable by fine not
to exceed 800 or Imprisonment not
to exceed six months, or both. This,
he said, followed exactly the existing
law relating to interference with
transportation of the mails.
Reed Defends Congress.
Senator Reed denied congress was
showing cowardice in passing the
measure. He said the bill was de-
signed to meet an emergency; that
1.-THE brotherhood leaders were not at
tempting to force congress to legis-
late, and that there we're many sena-
tors opposing the bill who would not
dare vote against it unless they felt
sure it would have enough votes to
pass without theirs.
II find myself in the position where
cannot support the BILL" said Sena-
tor Kenyon of Iowa. 81 think the
Underwood amendment would destroy
union labor, and l do not believe 1t
SHOULD be destroyed. 1 am opposed to
this bill because it is humbug The
men will find themselves after nine
months where they were before, with
a strike on their hands. Furthermore,
am opposed to the bill because con-
gress is abdicating its rights to rea-
lsonable judgment and mediation"
When the house convened demo-
cratic leaders had arranged a pro-
gram to insure final disposition of
the eight-hour bill by tonight if the
senate acts.
Just as soon as the house bill, una
mended, becomes a law" A. B. Garrett
son. spokesman for the brotherhood,
reiterated today, the strike order will
be recalled"
viii Wait for Signing.
At a meeting of the 13 brotherhood
officials in Washington today it was
formally decided that cancellation of
the strike order should not be sent
out until President Wilson actually
has signed the eight hour bill.
Another meeting of the officials will
be held tonight after the senate has
acted on the house bill. At that time
There is a possibility that the order
might be changed.
Heads of the four brotherhoods had
code messages to local union officials
ready, revoking the order sent broad
cast early this week for a strike start
ing at 700 a. m. Monday. II the bill
is passed, it is believed they will not
wait until it is signed by President
Wilson, who was at Long Branch, N.
j., to receive formal notification of his
nomination.
The senate convened early today
latter a prolonged session last night,
which ended in an arrangement to
vote at this evening or before. De-
bate continued over the amendment
proposed by Senator Underwood TO
give the interstate commerce commits
sion authority to determine wages of
interstate railroad employees. Its op-
Iponents urged that its adoption might
render the bill unsatisfactory to the
brotherhoods and that consequently
the strike order would be allowed to
stand. They contended also that ii
was unnecessary as an emergency
measure
The Adamson bill provides that be-
ginning Jan. /, 1917, the standard
work day for employees on steam rail-
roads more than 100 miles long en-
gagged in interstate commerce, shall
be eight hours; that a presidential
commission of three shall investigate
conditions under the eight hour basis
for a period of between six and nine
months; that daily wages shall not be
reduced below the present amount for
a longer day during the investiga
ton, and overtime pay shall be pro
rata.
The bill was passed in the house by
a vote Of 239 to 90
Mr.. Lansing will go to Long Branch
today to attend the Wilson notifica-
ton ceremonies but will return for the
meeting of the two commissions on
Monday. The meeting will be only for
purposes of organization. The COM
missioners will continue their deliber-
atoms at a New England coast resort.
Shop Men "Want In" Too.
Representatives of $4,000 shop men
of western roads who are also demand
ing an eight hour day, telegraphed to
President Wilson last night asking
that he use his influence to broaden
the scope of the bill. They ask that
it be made to include all persons en-
gagged in the building, repairing, main
tanning and inspection departments of
railroads.
Democratic leaders of both houses
said today that congress could not be
held in session after settlement of the
railroad crisis longer than necessary
to dispose of the revenue and general
deficiency appropriation bills. An
exodus of members is expected to be
on before the end of next week.
Traffic Stands Still.
New York, Sept. Abnormal traf-
fic and commerce conditions due to
fear of a railroad strike stood sta
tionary here today pending develop
ments at Washington. Only slight
notifications have been made in en-
bargoes now in force. Food prices,
after their sensational jump on Thurs
day and Friday showed more stabil-
ity. The district attorney announced
that he stood ready to investigate COM