Evening star., 1916-09-01


after O'Clock this morning to see that
up strike legislation. The President
explained his presence at the Capitol by
saying:
IT am just keeping the threads to-
gether."
Majority Leader Kern was the first
member of the Senate found He went
Immediately to the Presidents office to
confer with Mr.. Wilson. Senator Tag
CART, the next member found, said he
thought the needed legislation could be
passed by the Senate some time tonight.
An Hour at Capitol.
President Wilson spent almost an
hour comforting with democratic men,
bers and then returned to the White
House.
He left the Capitol after his confer
ence with Senator Kern, upon learning
from Senator Newlands that the Senate
efght-hour bill would not be ready for
introduction before noon.
Definite abandonment of the plan to
attach railroad strike legislation to
the pending bill to enlarge the inter-
state commerce commission was agreed
to by the interstate commerce commit
tee when ii met this morning to per-
feet an eight-hour bill and decide on
the scope of railroad legislation to be
presented at this time.
This necessitated the drafting of an
entirely new bill.
When the Senate convened at 10
o'clock it was almost Immediately re-
cessed until / pm. to allow the inter-
state commerce committee time to con-
tinue its work and to permit the re-
publican members to confer on the
proposed railroad legislation.
Senator Simmons of North Carolina
offered the recess motion. He ex-
planned that the interstate commerce
committee had been unable to complete
drafting the eight-hour bill, and would
not have it completed before 1 o'clock.
Republicans to Confer.
The republican members had agreed
to hold conference on the railroad
situation at 10 o'clock. Senator Sim
mons said. 1t was desired that they be
given opportunity to meet while the
Senate was in recess. By / o'clock. the
senator said, he believed the railroad
legislation would be completed and the
Senate then would give 1t considera-
tfon.
Majority Leader Kern said. after the
Presidents visit that the democrats
would concentrate on the eight-hour
bill and put over the rest of the rail-
road legislation until next week Pend
ing the decision Of the republican CON
ference, democratic leaders did not
know how this program will be re-
garded in the Senate. Many of them
felt there would be little disposition to
h1ibuster against the eight-hour bill
in view Of the present situation.
The Senate committee determined
that there was too much opposition to
the enlargement bill to risk attach
fnE tn he f.1n
When 1t met. following President Will
sons early morning conference with
Senator Newlands, the committee had
voted only to report an eight-hour bill
with provision for creation of an eight
hour day commission to investigate its
effect on railroad revenues, but the
scope Of the commissions activities had
not been decided.
Attitude of Committee.
AZ the matter stood this morning, the
committee had agreed that the commits
sion should Consider an increase in
freight rates to meet such additional
expenditures by the railroads affected
as may have been rendered necessary
by the adoption of the eight-hour day
and which have not been offset by a,l-
ministrative readjustments and econo-
mics. should the parts disclosed Justify
the increase"
Some members were seriously in
c1ined to the conviction that such def
mite direction regarding the rate cues
oon would provoke opposition In the
Senate from progressive republicans
particularly. which would make quick
passage of the bill impossible.
Senator Newlands said the COMMITTEES
also was considering including tn.
radical provision Of empowering the in.
fefstate commerce commission to FIX the
schedule Of wages upon railroads
I'VE will have to do this some tim.
and might as well do II now" he said
The Nevada senator also was wtllins
to urge the committee to include in thu
sight-hour bill several features of ths
proposed amendment to the arbitra,ior
act. which would prevent future strike,
pending investigation. There seemed
20 be little prospect that the comrnitteI
would agree to this. because of the GER
tainty that IT would provoke Opposition
The President. It was said. had be-.
como convinced that the only thing tina,
could be done at once was the passa 2,
OF the efght-hour bill, and had urged
that the Senate bill adhere as closeIy a,
possible to the Adamson bill in tn.
House.
Norris for Eight-Hour Law.
Senator Norris. the first to leave the
republican conference. said the tim,
had been devoted largely to expIana.
tions Of the deliberations of the inter.
state commerce committee by Senator
Cumrnins and Brandesee. who are mem.
bers.
Personally. Senator Norris said h.
favors passage of the eight-hour BIZ
with a provision that the interstaf.
| commerce commission have power h
regulate wages of all employees on In
terstate carriers from presidents down
as well rate increases.
He said he saw no reason why the
commission should not consider the
added burden put on the carriers by the
eight-hour-day bill. in considering re.
quests for advanced freight rates.
Enactment of the proposed eight -houl
Legislation by tomorrow night was pre-.
dicted by Senator Kern. the democratic
leader. He said he was confident the
trouble would be sufficiently composed
by that time to avert the strike nxe6
Tor Monday.
As proof Of his belief, the senate,
said he would leave Washington to,
morrow evening for Princeton. Ind. Il
deliver . Labor day address there Mon.
DO you think I would b soins.- h
asked. III there was danger Of {
senator La Folletts. quitting the 20
-