The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1916-08-24
Wilson and Rail Heads Meet at IL 80
o'clock; Agreement May Be
Reached. =,
JUDGE CHAMBERS MEETS
WITH BROTHERHOODS
Rail Men Attempting to Find a
Solution to Eght-Hour Day
Requested.
(By United Press)

Washington, Aug. 24.-The rail
ways are yielding to President Will
son on an eight-hour day. But the
rail presidents are struggling des-
perately in the attempt to find an
eight-hour day that is not what the
employees demanded.
It is reported that the presidents
are willing to grant: First, the
eight-hour day with pay at the pres
ent rates, and second, overtime on the
present rates or arbitration of the
overtime question. They won't con-
cede an eight-hour day for the same
wage of the present ten-hour day.
Judge in Conference.
Judge Chambers Of the Federal
Board of Mediation and oCncilia ton
conferred with President Wilson this
morning. Later he conferred with
the brotherhood men. The purposes
of his conferences are not known.
President Wilson and the railway
presidents met again at 1890 O'Clock
this noon, following Chambers return
from a conference with the brother
hood men.
1t is believed that some satisfactory
action will be reached this afternoon.
Hold Conference.
In another effort to aid the presi-
dents of the country's railroads to
find some way in which to accept an
eight-hour day for their trainnaen
and evert the threatened strike,
President Wilson last, NIGHT confer ted
for an hour with Presidents Hale Hol-
der of the Burlington, Daniel Viii
lard of the Baltimore &Ohio and R.
5. Lovett of the Union Pacific.
Neither White House officials nor
the presidents would discuss the con-
ference. It was said on authority,
however, that the three executives
went to the White House to receive
an answer to the suggestion they
made to Mr.. Wilson and that he give
them more specific information as to
how the railroads may get the addi-
tional revenue necessary to take care
Of the greater pay rolls that will come
with the eight-hour day.
May Accept Plan.
It became evident today that
most of the railroad executives have
come to believe that there can be
only one way of preventing a strike
and that is by accepting the eight
hour plan. The chief effort in their
own conferences was to find some
scheme by which an eight-hour day
may be put in operation on all the
railroads at the least added expense.
Many suggestions along this line have
been made by the president, but not
cne of them has proved feasible when
submitted to the acid test of operat-
ing officials.
Hill Makes Statement.
Louis w. Hill, president of the
Great Northern railway, and one OF
the strongest opponents of the eight.
hour day, declared in a statement
given out that many western roads
in particular would have scant earn
ings next year and that many would
be forced into receivership by an
eight-hour wage basis.
''This is a time when, instead of be-
ing burdened with useless and un-
called for expenses, such as are de-
manded by the brotherhoods the rail
roads should receive every encour,
agement in order to meet the needs OF
| the country" he said. *'Such an ex-
ira burden as is contemplated by this
eight-hour demand would not only
cut off all possibility of dividends
and extensions, but throw number
Of western roads into receiverships