The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-08-23

Some of the men urged that they go home, leaving the brotherhood heads with authority to call a strike if the railroads do not accept the Presidents plan. The meeting ad- journed until 10 o'clock tomorrow morning.
 ''It is our belief" one of the com mitteemen said, f"that the railroads are playing for time with the Presi- dent just as they have done with us for many months. There is no req son why they should not have given the President an answer by this time. They are tiring us out all right and the men are getting disgusted with the whole situation. I think there are enough cool headed committeeman here to control the meetings a day or two longer but the discontent is spreading rapidly"
 Then, tired of the delay due to the railroad representatives prolonged discussion of President Wilson's plan, gave free expression to their opinions at today's meeting.
 The men felt that the railroads show a disposition to disregard their sacrifice of their demand for time and a half for overtime. Mes s
 A. B. Garretson advised them to be patient and assured them that decisive action was expected soon. Before the meeting the four brotherhood leaders decided not to issue a statement, ex- pected for publication this morning, until later in the day. MT. Garretson refused to comment on the. situation other than to say that cit is in the hands of the President-until he acts there is nothing for us to say or do"
 Other leaders did not hesitate to say, however, that plans have been prepared for instant action in case the railroad managers decline to ac- cept the Presidents proposal.
 Three of the railroad presidents to- day reported to the committee, which is trying to formulate an answer on behalf of the roads to President Wh- sons suggested plan for meeting de- mands of the brotherhood's, the sub stance of their conference with the President at the White House last night.
 It was understood that the purpose of that visit was to secure MT. Will son's specific ideas on how the rail- roads are to reimburse their treas- uries for the many millions addf- tional expenses which would arise out of acceding to the Presidents plan for an eight-hour wage basis. The at titude of Presidents on this subject was not disclosed, but the report was considered significant as showing in what direction the railroad heads are .- <I d. o%F rku fa clusion.
 Louis W. Hill, president of the Great Northern Railway and one of the strongest, opponents of the eight hour day. declared in statement given out today that many Western roads in particular would have scant earnings next year and that some would be forced into receivership by an eight-hour wage basis.
 This is a time when. instead of be- ing burdened with useless and uncall- ed-for expense, such as demanded by the brotherhoods. the railroads should receive every encouragement in order to meet the needs of the country" he said. Such an extra burden as is contemplated by these eight-hour de- mands would not only cut off all pos- sibility of dividends and extensions, but throw a number of Western rail- roads into receivership and cripple their usefulness to the territory they serve."
 President Wilson summoned Senator Newlands and Representative Adam son, chairmen of the Senate and House commerce committees, to the