Omaha daily bee., 1916-09-01
WILSON RENEWS
EFFORT TO DELAY .
RAILWAY ACTION
President May Appeal Direct
to Members of Unions to
Wait Until Congress
Can Act.
MAKES TRIP TO CAPITOL
House Leaders Announce That
Eight Hour Measure Will
Be Passed Friday.
MAILS MUST BE MOVED

Washington, Aug. 3l.-Congress
put all other affairs aside today and
devoted itself to enacting President
Wilson's legislative program to avert
the railroad strike.
But the president, overlooking no
possible means to prevent the threat
ened public calamity, did not depend
on congress alone and continued un-
ceasingly his efforts to get the BROTH
erhood heads to postpone their strike
order.
Just before noon the president went
to the capitol and, comforting with
the leaders, urged them on to the
need OF speed to get the bills through
the legislative machinery of house
and senate before Saturday night.
Then, returning TO the White
House, he called the four brother
hood heads before him for another
appeal to delay their strike, while
congress, by law. provides what the
railroads have refused,
May Appeal to Rank and File.
Although the brotherhood leaders
reiterated that only favorable set.
tlement" could delay the strike, and
that they were powerless TO postpone
Il noa IS tba,, ,d,,;ttad 4. hnf.n,.J
the rank and file of the men, in view
of the efforts being made in con-
gross, would vote to delay if there
was time for them to express their
wishes.
Back OF it all President Wilson
was holding another card--a direct
appeal to the rank and file OF the rail-
road men to realize that congress is
about to give them what they ask and
to stay to their posts.
The president was still determined
today to do this, if necessary, but
was hopeful that it would not be.
House Agrees on Bill.
While the senate interstate COM
merce committee was hearing the rail
road heads and the brotherhood lead
ers the house managers got into ac-
tion and agreed on a bill, introduced
by Representative Adamson, and ap-
proved by President Wilson, provid-
ing the eight-hour day, pro rata pay
for overtime and commission to in
ycstigate the new conditions. They
planned to rush it through while the
senate was working. 1t did not in
clude the compulsory investigation
features of the presidents program,
but there were indications that he
would be satisfied with enough to
prevent the men from striking and
take up the remainder later.
Meanwhile employers and men had
public hearing on the presidents
Legislative program before the senate
interstate commerce committee. The
men opposed the compulsory lnves-
tigation feature and the employers
the eight-hour day.
After the conference between the
president and the brotherhood lead
ers it is said at the White House that
the employees "had given no assur-
ances Of any kind"
Senate Leaders Accept Bill.
Later formal announcement was
made that the president and the SEN
ate and the house leaders had agreed
on the Adamson bill as conn amise
bill. 1t makes violation of its provi-
sions misdemeanor, punishable by
from $l00 to $1,000 fine, or not cx-
ceeding one year imprisonment, or
both. The labor leaders insisted on
having penalty attached A special
rule will bring the bill up for direct
action by the house. 1t would make
the eight-hour day effective Decem-
Der !. ....-