The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1916-08-31
With Strike Set for Next Mon
day Railways Place Embargo
on Perishable Shipments
KENNEWICK is FORTUNATE
President Wilson Making Last Appeal
to Congress to Prevent I'm
pending Disaster

ing railway strike was brought fore
IDLY home to the people of Kennewick
yesterday morning when the three
railroads operating out of here placed
an embargo on all perishable ship
ments and livestock which cannot
reach their destinations by Saturday,
September 2. No sooner had the en-
barge been announced than all local
fruit dealers and shipping agencies
began to notify their customers and
members that they could receive no
more fruit except small lots for local
express shipment.
Fortunately at present the order
does not hit this section as there is
no large quantity of perishable fruit
ready for market. Pears, with the
exception of few isolated lots, have
all been shipped, the early grapes,
peaches and apples are practically
all cleaned up. The bulk of the prune
crop has been harvested. The Elberta
peaches are just beginning to ripen
but the crop is so light this year that
there will be no more than enough
to supply the local trade.
The embargo has brought all apple
picking and packing to standstill
but apples can be kept for some time
without damage.
The latest developments in the
strike negotiations are set forth in
the following news dispatch:
President Wilson, laying the rail-
way strike situation before congress
today, with recommendation for leg
islation, advanced the crisis to stage
where the next developments depend
upon two points. They are:
Whether the legislation he proposes
can be passed.
If enacted, will it be effective to pre-
vent strike already called for a.
m. September a?
Efforts to Avert Strike
The brotherhoods, announcing their
intention to fight certain portions of
the presidents program, are at log
gerheads over whether its enactment
would prevent the strike.
The railway presidents favorable to
President Wilson's plan in the main
think it would make it difficult for the
strike to begin.
Meanwhile, altho negotiations be-
tween the employers and men were
broken off today by the rejection of
the railway presidents latest propos-
al for arbitration, President Wilson
is continuing his efforts to bring the
two sides together for some form of
agreement. Efforts which might be de-
scribed as almost superhuman are be-
ing exerted to that end tonight.
When the brotherhood leaders this
morning rejected the latest proposal of
the railroads and definitely set the
strike for Labor Day without further
notice, President Wilson decided to lay
the whole situation before congress.
Before a joint session of house and
senate and with solemn recital of
the distress the strike would bring
to the country, the president proposed
plan of legislation.
The president suggested immediate
provision for the enlargement and ad-
ministrative reorganization of the in
terstate commerce commission; the
establishment of an eight-hour day as
the legal basis alike Of work and of
wages in the employment of railway
employees in interstate transporta-
ton; the authorization of the appoint
ment by the president of small body
of men to observe the actual results, in
experience, of the adoption of the
eight-hour day in railway transporta-
tion; explicit approval by congress Of
consideration by the interstate COM
merce commission Of an increase in
freight rates; an amendment Of the
existing federal statute which pro-
vides for mediation, Cancellation and
arbitration; the lodgment in the hands
Of the executive of the power, in case
of military necessity, to take control
Of such portions and such rolling
stock of the railways of the country
as may be required for military use.