New Britain herald., 1916-08-22
Every Utterance Dis
 plays Opposition but Concessions May Be
 Offered on 8 Hr. Day

Washington, Aug. 22.-The answer ( of more than sixty railroad presi- dents, including those of western roads newly arrived to President Wilson S proposed plan for averting the threat ened strike was being formulated to- day. Every utterance of the railway heads displayed opposition to the presidents suggestion, but 1t was con- sidered possible that a counter pro- posal acceptable to the employees would be made as the basis for further ne- gotiations.
 A committee had in charge the framing of reply and it appeared doubtful that it could be finished to- day. The employees committee of GAO continued to mark time, and cons1d- cred issuing statement refuting charges of the railway heads that the presidents settlement plan would pro- wide virtually 25 per cent. wage in crease, rather than an actual eight hour work day.
 A statement issued by the railroad executives said 1t was impossible to believe public opinion would favor giving up the principle of arbitration and the granting Of $50,000,000 in creased wages to one-seventh of all :, union brotherhoods, without a hear ing before a public tribunal
 Petitions bearing signatures of 80,- 900 employees not members of the brotherhoods protesting against a strike were on file at the White House today.
 As the railroad executives were not ready for another conference this morning President Wilson called the cabinet to dispose of business which has accumulated while he has been considering the strike problem.
 Preparing Their Answer.
 At 10 o'clock this morning the men went into a meeting which was att tended by the leaders of all four broth erhoods. No special purpose was at tached to it and the leaders said it was just to keep the men together. A statement in reply to the arguments of the railroad executives on the ques- 1 ton of arbitration was being pre- 1 pared by the leaders and probably will 1 be issued for publication tonorFSw:- The brotherhood officials described the l situation as unchanged. The railroad. 1 executives made formal announce ! ment that consideration of the situa- l ton has been turned over to con-
  had been reached. The following were announced as members of the committee which will work on Presl- dent wilson's proposal and make re- port to the assembled executives:
 Hale Holden, Burlington; w. w. At terbury, Pennsylvania; Fairfax Harr1- son, Southern; Robert S. Lovett, Union Pacific; E. P. Ripley Santa Fe,; A: H. Smith, New York Central; Frank Trumbull, Chesapeake and Ohio; Dan iel Willard, Baltimore and Ohio.
 While the subcommittee was work ing the executives got into touch with their boards of directors It was un- derstood that a reply might be ready for President Wilson tonight or to- morrow morning. In administration circles 1t was said there was hope for a. settlement The exact nature of the proposal to be submitted to President Wilson was not revealed, but 1t was believed 1t concerned the concession of the eight hour day.
 One suggestion understood to be un- der consideration was the submission of the collateral issues to the inter- state commerce commission or a pro- vision for making permanent the com- mission of investi gation suggested by President Wilson.
 The brotherhood meeting did noth- Ing and adjourned until 8 o'clock this afternoon.
 An invitation from Vice President Marshall to all of the representatives to visit the senate today was accepted.
 The cabinet went over the situation fully and confidence was expressed by members that in the end the railroads would accept the Presidents plan.
 Cabinet members agreed that it was not feasible to hurry the railroad ex- ecutives into a decision, as they had many things to consider.
 The counter proposal is expected to be the next step.