New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-24

Grant Similarly II might haPPVh N""'
nc President would appoint two more
reactionarv members 20 complete the
enlarged commission and thus perhaps
,,oke i, more probable that the roads
would get the increase they might ask
for.
Roads Delay Discussed.
President Wilson and Chairmen
Newlands and Adamson discussed the
reluctance Of the roads TO accept the
wuso, plan unit. they feel certain
Of being reeompcnsed. II was pointed
ont that no definite promises along inns
line could be made. inasmueh as the
Interstate Commerce Commission is
judicial body whose duty Il IS 20 con
slider whether a petition for an IN
crease is justified and what increase,
SbaU ne ADEQUATE. The President told
tbc chairmen that IL was his intention
70 have his proposed examining COM
mission determine these two questions
for the guidance of the Interstate Com-
meree Commission. r
Mr.. Holden, X s. Lovett, chairman oil
the Union Pacific, and Daniel Willard,
president Of the Baltimore Il ONO, hao
impressed these matters upon the
President az last nights conference IN
the White House. They presented 70
him additional estimates of the cost
that his scheme means TO the roaus;
They asked for details Of his proposal
effecting the commission that VIII eN-
anime the whole subject.
s,1I thava q he told
Senator Newlands and Representative
Adamson, that the object OF his COM
mission was 20 get facts. not conJect-
ures; 10 find out whether the cost
would be S27 600. 900, as the unions say,
or 500. 100000 as the roads say. and
therefore that he wanted the eight
hour plan tried.
Accuracy of Estimates.
On this point Elisha Lee, chairman
Of the conference committee OF man
ayers, said:
There seems to be some question OF
the accuracy Of the estimate made by
the railways Of what it would cost to
grant the demands Of the train en-
ploycs. and / make this statement to
clarity the public mind on this phase
of the matter. There has been no
change in our original estimate that TO
grant the demands would add 100000
GOO year TO operating expenses. On
the contrary subsequent Investigations
have confirmed the substantial accu-
Yacy of that estimate.
"The estimate Of the managers was
reached by a careful study OF the
actual running time of trains and the
hours made during given periods OF
time. Confusion may have arisen from
the fact that VIC have estimated that
81 would cost more than S50,000,00O
wear 10 make the concessions which
President Wilson has proposed that we
make. The difference between the
estimates is due. of course, TO the fact
that the President has proposed that
we Immediately grant only part of the
demands and that consideration Of the
rest of them be postponed
The enlargement OF the Interstate
Commerce Commission TO nine mem
bers would expedite the hearing Of any
petition by the roads for increased
rates, providing they decide to &C
cept the Wilson plan. IL would divide
the commission into three groups, so
that one group could consider in the
future what the whole commission de-
cides now President Wilson believes
that this step will give the roads some
assurance Of q speedy determination
OF their case after his commission, 20
be appointed under his proposed set
Element plan, has studied the matter
and made its report.
Roads TO Stand Together.
The subcommittee Of eight railroad
presidents who are shaping the policy
Of the roads toward the Presidents
Dlan took measures to-day 70 Ouell any
possible instruction within the rail-
roads camp. Owing TO the wide diver
cence of opinion among the executives,
it was thought yesterday that some Of
the roads might decide TO act indiyid-
ually.
This possibility was quashed. It was
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