New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-31
Hold Hearing To-day
for Both Sides in
Railway War.
WORK is RUSHED
ON STRIKE BILLS
Trainmen Agree to Call
Off Walk-Out if House
Measures Pass.
rFrou, I. Star Correspondent os The Tribune J

From stsr Correspondent H Tho Inoune'I
Washington, Aug. 3O.-All records for
drafting and considering important
legislation were broken by the Senate
Interstate Commerce Committee to-day
in working on the measures expected
to solve the railway strike problem.
Senator after Senator on the floor
alternately pleaded with and threat
encd the brotherhoods, demanding they
postpone the strike called for Labor
Day until Congress had time TO con-
slider legislation along the lines sug-
gested yesterday by the President.
Tomorrow the Interstate Commerce
Committee plans the longest hearing
for one day in the history OF the Sen
ate-nine hours-and mostly for the
consideration Of whether Congress
should pass law Aatly fixing the
eight-hour day as the basis Of labor in
interstate commerce.
Three hours OF this time will be
given TO the brotherhoods, three to the
railroads, and three to tine rest OF the
country. The brotherhoods and rail
road officials were notified early to-day,
while the United States Chamber Of
Commerce was asked 70 send witnesses
70 testify for the shippers and other
interests which will be affected by the
increase in freight rates which may
grow out of the granting Of the eight
hour day, with its accompanying boost
in railroad wages. -..
Plan Government Operation.
The committee to-day discussed two
emergency proposals, 10 be rushed
through if it is impossible 10 force
the brotherhoods to call off the strike
set for next Monday. One OF these
would be to empower the President TO
take over the railroads and operate
them, beginning the day the strike
starts. This executive operation would
be for all purposes. II would virtually
mean government operation by the
drafting of the roads and the en-
ployes until there should be time for
Congress to determine the solution of
the labor problem in the transporta-
tion field.
The other plan discussed by the
committee was fat eight-hour day
law, providing the pay for the pres
ent ten-hour day should be the pay
for the new eight-hour day.
The first proposition would solve
the strike temporarily by the force Of
the government, leaving the real solu-
ton to be worked out later. The sec
ond would solve the question by fore
ing the railroads to accept what the
men have been contending fora 20
Ler cent increase in wages 70 all now
paid on the hourly basis.
Asks Postponement Of Strike.
The only formal request to the
brotherhoods to postpone the strike
beyond Labor Day was made in a
resolution introduced by Senator
Blair Lee, of Maryland. Democrat.
Mr.. Lees resolution asks that the
strike be put off one week, pending
the passage by Congress OF legislation
pertaining to the situation. The reso-
luton was not acted on by the Senate,
but was referred TO the Interstate
Commerce Committee.
Affairs were far from harmonious
when the committee met early to-day Tor
it's first consideration of the legislation
drafted by Senator Newlands, G. Car
roll Todd, assistant to the Attorney
General; Secretary of the Interior Lane
and Interstate Commerce Commissioner
Edgar f. Clark. Senator Cummins Re-
pubican) urged harings to give ship
Continued on page :. column