Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-09-01
MEASUREPROPOSED
TOHEAD OFF GREAT
RAIL MEMS STRIKE

Washington, Sept. 1.-Representa-
tive Adansonfs bill, which was refer
red to the committee on interstate
and foreign commerce and ordered to
be printed, reads as follows:
A BILL
To establish the eight-hour standard
workday in the interstate transporta
ton and for other purposes:
Be it enacted by the senate and
house of representative of the United
States of America in congress assem-
bled:
Section THAT beginning Dec. l,
1916, eight hours shall, in contracts for
labor and service. be deemed a days
work and the measure of standard of
days work for the purpose Of reckon
ing the compensation for services of
all employees who are now or may here
after be employees of any common car
rier by railroad, which is subject to the
provisions of the act of Feb. l, 1887, en-
titled IAN act to regulate commerce."
as amended, and who are now or may
hereafter be actually engaged in any
capacity in the operation of trains used
for the transportation of persons or
property on railroads from any state or
territory of the United States or the
District of Columbia, or from one place
in a territory to another place in the
same territory, or from any place in
the United States to an adjacent for
eign country, or from any place in the
United States through foreign coun-
try to any other place in the United
States.
Section 2.-That the president shall
appoint a commission of three which
shall observe the operation and effects
of the institution of the eight-hOur
standard workday, as above defined,
and the facts and conditions affecting
the relations between such common
carriers and employees during a period
of not less than six months nor more
than nine months, in the discretion of
the commission, and within 80 days
thereafter such commission shall re-
port its findings to the president and
congress; that each member of the
commission created under the provis-
ions of this act shall receive such COM
pensation as may be fixed by the presi-
dent. The sum Of $25 900, or SO much
thereof as may be necessary, be and
hereby is appropriated out of any
money in the United States treasury
not otherwise appropriated to be i'm
mediately available and to continue
available until the close of the fiscal
year ending June 80. 1917, for the nee
essary and proper expenses incurred
in connection with the work OF such
commission, including salaries per
diem, travelling expenses of members
and employees, and rent, furniture,
office fixtures and supplies, books, sal
aries and other necessary expenses, the
same TO be approved by the chairman
of said commission and audited by the
proper accounting officers of the treas
ury.
Section 3.-That pending the report
Of the commission herein provided for
and for a period Of 80 days thereafter
the compensation of railway employees
be subject to this act for a standard
eight-hour workday shall not be re-
duced below the present standard days
wage, and for all necessary time in
excess of eight hours such employees
shall be paid at a rate not less than the
pro rata rate for such standard eight
hour workday.
Section 4.-That any person violat-
ing any provision of this act shall be
GULLY OF a misdemeanor and upon con
yfctfon shall be fined not less than 500
and not more than 81 900. or impris-
oned not to exceed one year, or both,