New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-02
Strike Fear in House
Wins for 8-HOur Bill
Only Two Democrats and Fifty-nine Republicans Vote
Against Wilson's Measure When 1t comes
Up for Final Passage

the shopmen, the trackmen and other
men who are engaged in their different
work. are Just as much engaged IN the
real operation of interstate trains as
are the engineers and the conductors,
hut the language of the bill would
limit its application 10 those actually
unon the trains. Now, if these people
want 10 tote fair, if they really want 10
benefit the lsboring people of the eoun-
try, they will not stop with increasing
the salaries Of the highest paid work
men in the railway service.
"The engineers and the conductors
get more pay than do the shopmen, the
trackmen, the little station agents and
these other people whom have named
in that amendment, and their work 10
lust as necessary for the operation of
the trains as is the work of the engi-
neers and the conductors. | want 70
saw that, as far as ! am concerned
and | freely say II, because ! do not
want to take advantage of anybody
am opposed to the legislation; but II
you intend to legislate, then, for Gods
sake, legslate fairly, and give all these
people the advantage.
Questions Moral Right.
az am in favor of an eight-hour day
fot all labor, all kinds of labor But
this is not an eight-hour day PROPOSE
ton. II is simply proposition to
have Congress exert its power to raise
the wages of certain classes of people
in this country. | question our con-
stitutional right to do it and | have
no doubt whatever as to the fact that
we have no moral right to DO it. am
IN favor of arbitrating all Of these diff
fculties.
~ am absolutely opposed to the
legislation because II is wrong. am
further opposed TO IL being acquired IN
this manner. IL is the act OF the high
wayman. IL is exactly in accordance
with his methods and as one member
Of this House | will forfeit my seat
tc day and hope / may never occupy It
again before with my convictions on
this subject | will stultify myself BY
swallowing this kind of stuff"
There is no pretence that this bill
establishes an eight-hour day" said
Mr.. Mann. "The only purpose Of this
bill is to have Congress write into law
and into the contract already made
that for the purpose OF compensation
eight hours shall be a days labor.
There is no intention on the part OF
either the railroad managers or the
railroad employees to shorten the hours
of labor from those now used.
Would Vote so Per Cent.
"The men who are voting to-day to
increase these trainmen's wages by 20
per cent would vote just as readily 10
increase them to 80 per cent or 10 100
rer cent If that were what the brother
hoods were demanding.
"The President interposed his good
Offices in this controversy. lie failed 70
obtain a satisfactory solution OF the
problem. The President came to Con-
gress with certain suggestions, turning
the problem over to il. | believe | would
have voted for the Presidents pro-
gramme if proposed in a bill before
the House. Although it was not sat
sfactory solution to me, although II
proposed to impose burdens on the pub
lie in the future, il at least made
pretense of an effort TO prevent similar
situations in the future.
But the President, as he always has,
wabbled and wayered when he had
real question before him. Bold as he
was in asserting his views before Con-
gress a day or two ago, he now backs
water, as shown from his then pro-
gramme, and now urges Congress 20
pass a bill which leaves out most Of
the essential things which he then
proposed.
ii doubt whether Congress, with
doubtful constitutional power TO change
or alter contracts, or to determine the
rate of pay on transportation lines,
without knowledge and without inves-
tigation, should impose a burden upon
the whole people Of the land"
Gillette Blames President.
"The blame for this rests primarily
on the President" said Representative
Gillette, of Massachusetts.
zone hour of Grover Cleveland or
Theodore Roosevelt would have settled
it, We needed a President Of courage
and resolution, who would listen to the
voice of justice rather than of eX-
pediency, whose eye would look 20 per-
manent results and not 90 the coming
election. Now this House blndly and
obediently follows the Presidents will.
You allow yourselves to be held up by
momentary fear and make no provision
for future eXigencies, but simply grant
what is demanded at the moment.
Such action is the surest invitation 10
future hold-ups. believe this Is pre-
emincntly case for arbitration, and !
am not willing under threats TO sane
tion a settlement whose justice the
House is not allowed time to inyesti-
gate"
81 agree with Mr.. Gompers in one
statement he made yesterday" said
Representative Bennett, Of New York.
ole said there are some things worse
than strikes. There are, and one Of
those things is the destruction Of the
American system Of government
1--WE are not .averting a strike and
possibly we are not postponing il, but
we are cutting the ground out from