Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-09-01


ton of the legislation.
Repubs Have Own Bill.
Senate republicans decided today to
frame a bill of their own and offer it
as substitute for the administration
plan. A committee was appointed to
draft it. No serious opposition to the
administration was expected, how
ever Senator La Toilette, quitting the
political campaign, suddenly returned
TO the capital today TO take hand in
the legislation. He said he could not
tell what his attitude towards the
pending bills would be until he had in
vestigated them.
After Commute session the COM
mittee OF six senate republicans auth
orized 10 draft substitute legislation
was informed that the majority plan is
TO rush through the bills it has framed
at once and 10 stay in session all
night, if necessary to pass them. The
republicans adjourned without action
of any kind. There were indications
that the plan TO draft substitute bills
probably would be abandoned.
Representative Sterling of Illinois,
republican, declared that the bill did
not shorten the work day and only in
creased wages. He gave notice he
would propose an amendment to the
/
while investigation was pending.
What Did GarretsOn Say!
a. B. Garretson, spokesman for the
railroad brotherhoods, held a brief
conference with President Wilson to-
day When he left the White house he
refused absolutely to say why he had
called The president kept the cabi-
net waiting while he talked with Mr..
Garretson.
White house officials said Mr.. Gar
retson had called TO give the presi-
dent some information" MIR. Gar
retson refused to say whether he dis
cussed the calling off of the strike.
There was every indication, however,
that the administration expected the
strike TO be called off before Sunday
morning.
Roads May Test Law.
Chicago, Sept. While railroad
fficials of the country generally
agreed today that passage by congress
of the proposed eight hour bill would
avert the strike set by the four broth
erhOods of trainmen for next Monday,
many were of the opinion that the
railroads would decline to accept the
law without contest in the United
States supreme court.
! The plan today as the result Of
conferences last night among pTesi-
dents OF number Of the leading
roads. was that no claim of unconsti-
tutionality will be interposed, but
should the measure be enacted ii will
be studied by the railroad lawyers
and if they deem it advisable they will
make a test case in the courts.
/ Employment agencies today were
/ busy hiring men for the railroad COM
| panies and advertisements appeared
! in newspapers in many cities, solicit
/ ing applications for experienced engi-
neers, conductors, brakemen, firemen
and switchmen.
The embargo on freight announced
yesterday by every trunk line in the
country was not materially changed
today, with the exception of the AtCh-
ison, Topeka and Santa Fe, which
modified the embargo on perishable
freight
! Food prices in this city, with a few
exceptions, have not been materially
affected as a result Of the threatened
tieup of the transportation facilities
of the country. Potatoes sold on the
market today at 1925, The highest
price in many years and poultry was
was up 2 cents a pound.
Reads Disregard RumOrS.
/ Chicago, Sept. 1.-The railroads
statement from the meeting of rail
heads here says IN part:
The arrangements of the railways
are disregarding reports from Wash
ington regarding the possibility of the
strike being prevented and are pro-
ceeding exactly as they would if they
were certain it was going to occur on
} scheduled time, Sept. 4.
THE railways are proceeding in this
manner for the protection of the pub
/ lie Is we'll as for their own and the
public for its own protection should
proceed in exactly the same manner
until the order for a strike has been
formally revoked.
For about eight months the rail-
way arrangements have been warning
the government and the people OF the
United States that the danger Of
nationwide strike was real and ser
iOus. On the other hand, soothing as
surances have throughout this time
been given by officers of the United
States government and even by
spokesman Of the labor brOtherhOods
The leaders Of the railway broth
eThoods are playing desperate game,
and as they say now that they will not
recall their strike order until they
wiring from congress the legislation
they demand, for ANYBODY to act on
the assumption that there will be no
strike would be foolish
The orders which the arrangements
Of the railways have issued, placing
cmEargOes on the shipment of most
Kinds of freight and directing that
other kinds of freight shall be &C
cepted subject TO delay, are rapidly
going into effect, and shippers, con-
signees and the public are beginning
to feel the results of the strike with
cut it having actually occurred"
The statement then says that IL the
strike occurs il will be much better /
for goods 10 be left in the hands OF
their owners than for them 10 be in !
the hands Of the railways.
IL is TO be hoped that travellers as |
well as shippers will act on the warn |
ing of the railways and not start upon |
journeys which cannot be finished be !