The daily banner., 1916-08-25
DIFFER over
RATE RAISE
Railroads Want Guarantee They
viii be Granted.
SETTLEMENT IS HALTED
Brotherhood Leaders Oppose Plan to
Have Congress Create Commission
to Arbitrate Labor Disputes.

Washington, Aug. 25.-Object1ons
which developed at meeting OF rail-
road presidents and managers tC
points in the tentative plan evolved
by the committee of eight presidents
considering ways to avoll the threat
ened general strike, resulted in fur
ther postponement of final action.
A statement issued by the railroad
executives summed it up this way:
"At the invitation of President VIII
son, Messrs Hale Holden, Judge R. S.
Iovett and Daniel Willard went to
the White House at noon and held
short conference with the President.
"A conference of the railroad execu'
tiyes was held at three o'clock and
new phase of the situation OF some
Importance was laid before the con
ference by the special committee.
after considerable discussion with
out definite action, an adjournment
was taken. In the meantime the spe
cial committee of presidents will con
tinue its labors."
The special committees plan draft
ed after a weeks consideration, would
provide for granting an eighth { I'll
"basic" day to the t:ainmen, but with
assurances that every effort would be
made by the administration to secure
a freight rate increase to recompense
the roads, and further assurance thai
congress would be asked to enact leg.
islation to insure settlement of future
labor disputes through an investigat
ing commission.
The entire plan has not been laid
before all the executives and mana
gers, but it's points have been discuss
ed at various conferences. 1t devel
oped after the meeting that objection
had been raised to the freight rate
increase feature on at least two
grounds.
1t was argued by some that there
can be no assurance OF rate increase
because no one couli say what the
interstate commerce commission might
portant shippers of the country al
ready have made it plain that they
are not in sympathy with any move
which may mean a rate increase.
1t was pointed out also that although
President Wilson has expressed his
belief that such a rate increase should
be granted If the eight-hour day Is
given the employees, no one can tel
how the next election is coming out
and that there can by no possibility
be an increase before next March OF
probably later.
Attention was called, too, to the facl
that the commission hitherto has hele
that it cannot consider wage standards
In dealing with proposed rate increas
es, although legislation by congress
might remove that difficulty.
The principal arguments against the
Idea of a permanent commission fol
the preventionsar settlement of strikes
were that it would almost certainly be
fought by labor in congress, and thai
while President Wilson might be en-
tirely willing now to such Legislation
he might not be in a position to dc
SO when it was proposed. Represen
tatives of the brotherhoods who heard
Of this phase of the plan were plainly
against it. A counter suggestion was
heard among the presidents that strike
questions should be left to the inter
state commerce commission with pow
er to investigate and make a public
report of their findings with a strike
held in allegiance pending the investi
ratinn