Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-08-16

into effect for six months for a trial
ana allowing pro rata pay for over
tlme, as has been suggested, but they
SAID such system would have decided
sa,uNantages over the one under which
they now are working.
Under that plan a man earning 81
In ten hours would make the same
amount in eight hours, and overtime
would start at so cents an hour in
stead of 40. Thus at the end of ten
hours he would have earned $5 in
stead of 81 as he now earns and be
getting u pay for overtime.
Wilson decided to-day to postpone
further conferences with the represen-
tatiVes of the railroads and employees
on the threatened railroad strike un-
Til tomorrow when he will receive the
general committee of $40 workmcn
in the east room of the White House.
In the meantime the committee Of
managers here and the general COM
mittee o. the employees will meet to
discuss tentative plans now before
them
In the meantime the President,
through Judge William L. Chambers,
of the Federal Board of Mediation and
Conciliation, will Keep in close touch
with the representatives of both sides.
No engagement has been made <or
the managers committee. but it lis
probable that the President will see
them some time tomorrow.
> Wants Eight-hour Day
The plan on which the President is
working is to put into effect the eight
hour day and have a federal commission
investigate collateral issues. Details of
the plan have not been worked out but
1t was said to be possible to-day that If
the railroads conceded an eight.hour
day the employees will be urged to
give up their demand for time and a
half over time.
The proposed commission investiga-
ton would not have power to enforce
Gny decision but would investigate all
OF the questions involved in the con-
troNersy and make recomm
The halt in the negotiations has
been caused primarily by the fact that
the brotherhood leaders who have
been meeting with the President, have
no plenary powers and have to refer
all important questions back to their
general committee in New Work.
Will Meet $40 Committeeman
President Wilson decided time
would be saved and better results
achieved if the $40 members of the
general committee were brought to
Washington and met him directly.
general meeting at the White House
Thursday.
The committee OF managers re-
NAMED in session almost continuously
to-day discussing the conferences with
the President and the tentative sug-
gastiors outlined. 1t was stated that
the negotiations are now in such form
that definite decisions may be made
by both sides before the end of the
week.
Administration officials would not
predict the outcome of the negotia-
tions to-day because everything de-
pends on the decisions of the mana
gers and the employees. 1t was stated
that for the present the situation was
at deadlock but hope for a peace
full settlement had not been aban-
doned.
Crucial Stage Tomorrow
Definite assurance that the threat
ener general railway strike would be
averted was not apparent this morn
ing, but 1t was reported that President
Wilson had obtained from the man
ayers a qualified concession of the
eight-hour day principle on which
further negotiations might be con-
Quoted. 1t was the third day of the
conferences and indications were that
the crucial stage would not be