Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1916-08-18
WILSON SUBMITS
RAIL PEACE PLAN
$40 Representatives of Men
Meet President Today.
WILL SEE MANAGERS ALSO
Eioht-Hour Day With Regular Pay for
Overtime and Arbitration of
Other Issues Are Terms
to Be Offered.

-
the threatened nationwide railway
strike will be reached here today when
definite proposals of compromise must
be passed upon by both the railway
managers and the men. Until then
the administration will mark time"
and unless either the representatives
of the roads or the big four brother
hoods request further conferences none
will be held.
President Wilson completed q defin-
lite plan for settlement of the threat
ened railroad strike which he will
submit today to the general commit
tee of the $40 representatives of the
employees and to the managers COM
mittee. The plan invoices the accept
ance of basic eight-hour day, with
regular pay for overtime and an In
vestigation by a commission of other
issues.
The president regards the plan he
has prepared, after conferences with
both sides, as fair one which can
be accepted. He has fortified himself
with figures regarding the cost of an
eight-hour day to the railroads In or
der to enter fully into a discussion
with both sides. Should either side
reject the proposal it is understood
the president will turn to public opin-
ion to force settlement.
The only word from the White
House was the following statement
authorized by the president:
''There has been no break. Both sides
are honestly discussing a way out"
Later in the day Elisha Lee, repre-
senting the Pennsylvania railroad,
said:
I'VE have not reached any definite
conclusion. We are still working on
the problem"
Coincident with the calling of the
brotherhood chairman to Washington
the president thought it might also be
necessary to meet the railroad presi-
dents In the same manner. Judge
Chambers was told by the managers,
however, that this would not be neces-
sary, as the managers had full powers
to act. Judge Chambers took this mes
sage to the White House.
The situation is near a deadlock. De-
spite this fact the general feeling is
that way out is certain to be found.
Calls Plan one-Slded.
1t was learned, however, that the sit
uation is as follows:
AT Tuesdays conference the presi-
dent was told by the managers that up
to date they had been called upon to
make all concessions and had failed
to receive any in return. They de-
clared that they could not agree to a
one-sided plan.
Previously the Representatives of the
brotherhoods had told the president
that they could not recede from their
decision to insist that the question of
overtime pay was not a factor to the
present negotiations. At the same
time they told the president that he
union representatives now here were
not empowered to settle anything:
that any plan of agreement must be
passed upon by the entire committee
of GOA chairmen.
The president Immediately demand
ed the entire committee be called TO
Washington at once. He was told that
II would be impossible for all to get
here until Thursday. 1t was agreed
then that the president would meet
the men on Thursday but In the mean
time the decision was reached for an
other conference with the mana gers
Chairmen Go to Washington.
New York, Aug. 17.-Fonowing the
meeting of the general committee Of
railroad employees 604 chairmen. rem
resenting the entire delegation from
the big FOUR left for Washington at
three O'Clock yesterday afternoon to
confer with President Wilson.
w. ). Carter, president of the Broth
erhood of Enginemen and Firemen
presided at the meeting which was
called to decide whether or not Pres,.
dent Wilson's plan of settlement should
be accepted and whether the chairmen
should so to Washington for a confer
ence.
President Wilson's compromise pro-
posals were laid before the chairmen.
They were said to provide:
1. That the railroads grant an eight
hour day;
2. That the workers give up their
demand for time and one-haIf for over
time.
These conditions, it was said, were
not to be permanent, but We're to be
effective until further negotiations
could be carried on or until further
steps could be taken by the govern
ment