Evening star., 1916-08-17
MANAGERS AGAINST
AN E|GHT-HOUR DAY
Seeing This, President Decides
to Go Over Them and Call
Railroad Heads.
Mr.. WILSON BELIEVES
COMMISSION FEASIBLE
Railway Managers Think Course Of
Chief Executive Has Given Sc
we're Blow to Arbitration.


The general Interpretation placed to-
day upon President Wilson's action in
telegraphing for the presidents of the
great American railroads to come to
Washington for conference with him
was that he had information that the
railroad managers now here represent
ing the roads were by no means agree
able to his proposition that an eight
hour workday be granted the brother
hoods. and that they were prepared.
even in the face Of the tremendous in
fluence of the President, to make solid
objection.
lt is significant that the telegram
of the President to the railroad presi-
dents. who are expected to arrive in
Washington tomorrow, was sent short
ly after the President received a MEM
randum from the representatives of
the railroads here. pointing out that an
eight-hour day would mean an increase
0o0, 900 a year. which would be abso-
lutely disastrous to the roads in their
present financial status.
If the railroads grant an eight-hour
day without change in wages. 1t was
clearly pointed out, the men will re-
ceive for eight hours work what they
now get for ten hours work 1t was
claimed that this is really all the BROTH
erhoods have wanted, and that they
sacrifice little or nothing in tempora-
rily giving up their demands for time
and half for overtime.
Decides to Go Higher.
Finding that the attitude of the rail-
road managers would be one of firm
sition, without modification that would
prevent heavy increase in their wage
schedules, the President decided to go
over their heads and send for the ex-
ecutive heads of all the large roads and
put the matter squarely up to them. He
understands that the committee of man.
ayers here has plenary powers to han
die the situation for the roads, but he
is evidently of the opinion that the
presidents of the roads may view the
matter somewhat differently.
The President is said to feel that If
his proposition of appointing a federal
commission to inquire whether an
eight-hour day is feasible for the roads
should be accepted by all sides it
would shortly be determined whether
the roads were able to make the al
legged Increase in wages.
Reply Of the Railroads.
The railroad reply to that is that
such a commission could not determine
inside of six months. probably inside
a year. how the eight-hour plan is
working. and that even II the commits
disastrously hurt by the scheme, the
brotherhoods would never consent to a
return to the present basis Of ten
hours day.
The railroad managers have strongly
pointed out to the President that when
application was made by the railroads
to the interstate commerce commission
for the right to increase their freight
rates and the roads told the commits
sion that their pay rolls had been heav-
in wages to the employees the commits
sion took the position that If the roads
had been hurt by this increase they
should have submitted the matter to
arbitration
People Will Have to Pay.
II compelled to ask again for an in
crease Of freight and other rates to
meet the fresh demands Of the en-
ployes. the railroads want to be in
position to assert that they asked for
arbitration and were denied their re-
quest. In the same connection. they
make II absolutely clear that II the
brotherhoods get 00,000.000 a year
more in wages the people will have
to pay this Increase or the railroads
will 20 into the hands of receivers.
The attitude Of the railroad man
ayers IL that the President has given q
severe blow to arbitration Of industrial
disputes by acqutescing in the plea OF
the brotherhoods for the elimination OF
arbitration. The commission the Presi-
dent proposes would not be an arbitra.
tion tribunal, II IL declared. 1t would
have no authority to enforce its YER
dict. Its judgment would be merely
one Of information for the public, which
would in the end have to determine
what should be done with such disputes
in the future.
See Injection Of Politics.
The railroads also lay great stress
upon tho fact that unless this dispute is
arbitr.ted labor organizations will
scoff in the future at arbitration, and
vhsnsvsr . crisis arises between labor
and employers the labor people will go
STRAIGHT to the White House, indirectly
Injecting politics into every future in
dustrial struggle. Relying upon their
political strength. they will seek to put
the President Of the United States in
position Of forcing employers to grant
their demands or taking the conse-
ouences political II he should favor the
employers. They hold out that this is
menaoing position for employers to be
\ in and that now 10 the time to force ar
bitration and a fair settlement of all
great Industrial differences.
RAILROAD HEADS ON WAY.