The Oskaloosa herald., 1916-09-07
PRESIDENT SIGNS
E|GHT-HOUR BILL
Wilson Makes Measure a Law
While on Train.
RAIL STRIKE CALLED OFF
Brotherhood Officials Send Out Code
Messages Telling Men Not to Quit '
on Monday-Senate Vote
Was 43 10 %.

IUltiONu Ulll DttslltIt u law a. - "''f = ~
terday morning President Wilson
signed 1t at the breakfast table on the
train which brought him here from
Shadow Lawn, \. j., where he was for
mally notified of his nomination.
That there may be no question of
the measures legality the president
will sign it again upon his return here
Tuesday.
The signing was without ceremony
and took place instantly on the arrival
of the train for which Executive Clerk
Forster and messenger were wait
ing with the official copy of the bill.
Mrs. Wilson and Secretary Tumulty
were present. and as soon as the eX-
eeutive signature was affixed Tumuity
sent the news To the railroad brother
hood officials, who were waiting at a
hotel
Wilson Goes to kentucky.
An hour after his arrival President
Wilson took another train 10 HodSens-
vile, Ky, the birthplace of Lincoln,
where he viii accept on behalf of the
nation the cabin in Which The elnanci-
pator was born.
The president showed high satisfac-
ton in performing the final act which
made law of the act that had pre-
vented q nationwide railroad strike.
The brotherhood officials had rushed
out code messages calling off the walk
out, set for seven O'Clock Monday
morning, just after the senate passed
the bill Saturday night and after they
had been assured that the president
would sign the measure on his arrival
here.
The new law establishes an eight
hour day effective January next on
all railroads subject to the jurisdiction
of the interstate commerce commits
sion; provides that the existing wages
for ten hours labor shall be paid for
the new eight-hour day; and creates Il
SompISsien. to Investigate the cost of
the aa% plan to Die. railroads
1lla commission Is TO complete it's
work by October /, 1917, and pending
its investigation all overtime is to be
paid if0r by the railroads at a pre- rata
rateYI9Ed9 ageF -l8ndr
"climax of Happy Day"
When President Wilson was told
that the eight-hOur bill was ready for
his signature he said:
.. 1T is the climax of very happy
day"
The union leaders are satisfied with
the victory obtained. The railroad eX-
ecutives are disgruntled and charge
they have not had fair play.
The house bill, which will be Known
as the AdamsOn eight-hOur law. was
passed by the senate Il few minutes
after six O'Clock Saturday evening. 1t
was not changed IN any particular.
The vote was 43 TO IS.
The Underwood amendment empow-
ering the interstate commerce COM
mission to fix wages and the hours of
latter was killed by n vote Of 81 to IA
This action followed day of debate,
much Of which was, conducted under
circumstances singuuarIy dramatic 1t
concluded two weeks of suspense dur
ing which the nation had been con-
frOnted with strike order set to be-
come operative on the great railroads
on September 4.
Rail Strike Dead as Lazarus"
4. b. GarretsOn, the spokesman of
the railroad brotherhood chairmen,
made this statement:
n InN ri G.. 81.
call of the strike. While the president
has not signed the bill, we know what
he will do. and we did not want 10
take any chances on being able to de-
liver the recall order on Sunday.
with our recall order the strike is
as dead as Lazarus. If the railroads
should succeed in having the eight
hour measure just adOpted) declared
unconstitutional, We would proceed to
reconsideration of the entire case.
We shall keep our faith with the presi-
dent, with congress and with the pub
lie.
"The world may rest assured that
there will never be strike on the vote
which we counted "a few weeks ago"
Asked for the text of the recall order,
Mr. Garretson said:
.'There are $40 texts. A different
message went TO each one of the $40
district chairmen of the four brother
hoods. Each one of those in turn will
send out orders to his local chiefs. Ii
Is an endless chain scheme and we
x..onfad fo reach thar, oil e,,,.o