The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-09-01
LAW TO AVERT
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put on the carriers by the eight-hour
day bill in considering requests for
advanced freight rates.
Efforts still were being made to in
duce the brotherhoods to call off the
strike order but they were standing
firm not to do SO unless the eight
hour bill becomes law before Satur-
day midnight. They felt something
might arise to defer the measure and
that they must guard against it by
having the strike order stand Broth
erhood leaders declared after a con-
ference with Newlands and others at
the capitol that the eight-hour bill was
certain of passing.
The text of that provision is as fol-
| lows:
Text of the New Law.
That the interstate commerce com
mission shall have the power to fix
the hours of labor and prescribe just
and reasonable wages for all employees
wages and the hours of labor provided
for in this act shall remain fixed for
service and pay until changed by the
decision of the interstate commerce
commission, which, within a period of
not less than six nor more than twelve
months from the passage of this act,
snail determine what are just and rea-
sonable wages and what shall be the
hours of labor for employees of the
RAILROADS above mentioned
The interstate commerce commits
sion shall have the power from time
to time to change the hours of labor
ana the rate of wages for all en-
ployes of the railroads, either in whole
or IN part, prescribed by it on it's own
initiative, on the petition of the en-
ployes the managers of the railroads
or the public"
| The DoSsfhiI{tx, for a Ls+.h $1,000. i
to be in this added provision, which is
being studied by the brotherhood
| leaders,
The committee eliminated the pro
posal that on the report of the eight
| hour day commission the interstate
commerce commission shall consider
an increase of freight rates to meet
| such additional expenditures by the
| railroads affected as may have been
rendered necessary by the adoption of
the eight-hour day."
Drop Measures Unions Oppose.
Neither of the two pending bills
contains the Canadian commission
plan, which the labor leaders oppose.
and neither contains the government
operation provision. President VIII
son is willing to let those features
wait until after enough legislation to
\ avert the strike has been enacted
Senate Republicans decided TODAY
10 frame bill of their own and offer
| II as substitute for the adnainistrs-
tlon plan. A committee was appointed
| 70 oraft 1T. No serious opposition to
| the administration plan was exDecfed
however. The time for passage of the
! blIls is SO short that a filibuster might
| seriously interfere with the program.
Democratic leaders, however. do not
expect one and were confident the
program woAlld go thru in time. Pres
| ident Wilson told members of his ah-
/ frar hot IL
| every prospect that the legislation
would be PASSED by both houses of
congress before tomorrow night.
Up Under Special Rule.
washington. Sept Measures
which will result in resembling of or
GERS Tor railway strike next Mon
day may be passed by the house and
senate under special rule TODAY. and
within twenty-four hours may be on
their way to receive President Will
son signature. Both houses had I'M
| der consideration virtually identical
bills establishing an eight hour day
Tor trainmen in interstate railway
commerce and providing for creation
OF commission to study the effect,
ana PRESIDENT Wilson was on hand to
| press Tor their immediate passage
Congress Under Full Steam.
With few rough bits of track
ahead and some steep grades-con-
gress leaders today began the final
task of putting thru legislation that
all Washington believes will avert the
railroad strike which threatens para
lyzation of the nations railways
! These leaders were confident they
had the steam to push thru both
houses at least that section of the
presidents proposal that railroad
brotherhood chiefs say will constitute
satisfactory settlement" and permit
sending code messages c. ling off the
strike of 100000 train employees set
for Monday morning.
Il Republican members of both houses
privately conceded the eight-hour
measure seems bound to be enacted
into law by Saturday night at the lat
est. Here is the method by which the
president and his party congressional
leaders expected to put thru what Ia
Dor leaders and progressive senators
and Republicans already are termine
the greatest step toward a universal
eight-hour working day in the coun-
try's history
Plan of Procedure
Immediately the senate met, Chair
man Newlands was to introduce the
bill framed at a midnight meeting OF
the interstate commerce. committef
and urge its passage at once. BS
agreement this measure has the right
of way. Continuous senate sessions
will be held until it is voted on.
Democratic senate leaders an
nounced today they will make no eff
fort to stop debate, even tho attempts
are made to play politics with the sit.
uetion, unless there is evidence of a
real filibuster developing against the
eight-hour measure.
The president, due at the capito,
when the senate opened, was to re-
main until he is assured the legisla.
tive wheels are running steadily.
In the house, almost simultaneously
with the introduction of the eight hour
Adamson of that body's interstate
commerce committee, was to intro
duce a measure almost Identical with
the senate's bill. With power to limit