Daily Kennebec journal., 1916-08-25
Statement Issued

A statement issued by the railroad
executives tonight summed it up thus:
"At the invitation of President Will
son, Messrs. Hale, Holden, Judge r.
S. Loxett and Daniel Willard went to
the White House at noon and held d
short conference with the President.
"A conference of railroad executives
was held at 3 o'clock and new phase
of the situation Of some importance
was laid before the conference by the
special committee.
After considerable discussion with
out definite action an adjournment
was taken until II o'clock tomorrow
morning In the meantime the special
committee of the presidents will con-
tinue it's labors."
| Assurances Asked
The special committees plan draft
ed after a weeks consideration would
| provide for granting an eight-hour
basic" day to the trainmen, but with
assurance that the administration
would make every effort to secure a
freight rate increase to recompense
the road and further assurance that
Congress would be asked to enact leg-
islation to ensure settlement Of future
disputes through an investigating
commission.
The entire plan has not been laid
before all the executives and mar
ayers, but it's points have been dis
cussed at the various conferences. It
developed after tonights meeting that
objection had been raised to the
freight rate increase feature on at
least two grounds. Some argued that
there can be no assurance of rate
increase because no one could say
what the Interstate Commerce Com
mission might do, and that some OF
the most importan: shippers OF the
country already have made 1t plain
that they are not In sympathy with
any move which may mean rate IN
crease 1t was pointed out also that
although President Wilson had ex-
pressed his belief that such rate in
crease should be granted if the eight
hour day is given the employees, no crs
can tell how the next election is COM
ing out and that there can by no pos
sibility be an increase before next
March or probably later
Attention was called, too, to the fact
that the commission hitherto has held
that it cannot consider wage standards IN
dealing with proposed rate increases, al
though legislation by Congress might re-
move that difficulty.
The principal arguments against the
idea Of a permanent commission Tor the
prevention or settlement Of strikes were
that it would almost certainly be fought
by labor In Congress, and that while
President Wilson might be entirely Will
ing now to back such legislation, he
might not be in a position to do so when
It was proposed Representatives Of the
brotherhoods who heard Of this phase OF
the plan today were plainly against 1t.
Counter Suggestion
A counter suggestion was heard among
the presidents that strike questions should
be left to the Interstate Commerce Com
mission with power to investigate and
make a public report of their findings
with strike held in allegiance pending
the investigation.
The special committees plan has been
tentatively accepted by the committee OF
eight and it was the subject Of today's s
conference at the White House. Its sub
stance was communicated to the labor
representatives through Judge William
L. Chambers Of the board Of mediation
and conciliation.
The railroad presidents are understood
not to be insistent on the commission
idea for the settlement Of future disputes
and the main dimculty has been the
working out Of operating plans Under an
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