Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-08-31
Measure to Avert Strike
introduced in House With
Backing of Party Leaders

House leaders took strike matters in
their own hands today and introduced
a bill designed to carry out President
Wilson's recommendations as to an
eight-hour day and a commission inves-
tigation, with substantial modification
Of the provisions of the tentative drafts
pending in the Senate.
This bill, introduced at the outset of
today's session of the House by Repre-
sentative Adamson of Georgia, chair
man of the interstate and foreign corn
merce committee. had the backing of
Speaker Clark and Democratic Leader
Kitchfn.
Unless the Senate acts Immediately
to put these two propositions. the only
ones in the Presidents program favored
by the House leaders at this time, into
effect in time to head off the threat
ened strike. a special rule will be in
voked to rush the Adamson bill through
the House and over to the Senate by
Saturday at the latest.
my BILL" said Chairman Adamson. as
he introduced it, has the backing Of
Kitchin. II the Senate does not adopt
il in the same form. it will be put
through the House with the aid Of q
special rule. There will be no delay
on this side"
Following is the text of the Adamson
bill:
First, beginning November /, 1916.
eight hours shall be deemed the meas
ure or standard of days work at the
existing wage for a ten-hour day. for
the purpose of reckoning the COM
pensation for services of all employees
who are now or may hereafter be EN-
ployed by any common carrier by rail-
road subject to the provisions of the
act of February 4. 1887. entitled An
| act to regulate commerce., as mended,
/ and who are now or may hereafter be
| actually engaged in any capacity in
train operation, or in the service of
transportation of persons or property
on railroads, from any state terri
| tory of the United States or the Dis
trict of Columbia to any other state
| or territory Of the United States or
| the District OF Columbia, or from one
place In territory to another place in
the same territory. nor from any place
in the United States to an adjacent for
| eign country. or from any place in the
United States through a foreign coun-
try to any other place in the United
| States
| In case Of accident or misfortune or
| in any emergency, in cases where
| existing divisions may require more
| than eight hours to make the run oper-
| ating at a safe and reasonable rate of
| speed, and in all cases where without
| fault Of the employees more than eight
| hours are required to make run or
| change crews. employees may work the
| overtime necessary to complete the run
! and be paid at the rate of time and
| one-half time for the overtime worked.
| But no carrier shall lengthen amy
| existing division which can be run in
| eight hours. SO as to require more time
| than eight hours. but when new divi-
| sions are created or old divisions re-
| organized care shall be had to make
them conform in length to the eight
| hour day.
| Second The President shall appoint
a commission of three, one of which
shall be recommended by the carriers
and one by their employees. the four
brotherhoods. The commission shall
observe the administrative and financial
effects of the institution Of the eight
hour workday as above defined. and all
facts, circumsta noes, contracts and con-
dftions affecting relations between the
carriers and their employees during a
period of not less than three months
nor more than six months. in the dis
erection of the commission, and within
thirty days thereafter shall report its
findings of fact to the President and
Congress without any recommends ton
for leRiSlati