Norwich bulletin., 1916-08-16
Railroad Situation
 Less Threatening
GROUND WORK FOR FURTHER NEGOTIATIONS HAS BEEN LAID
CONFER AGAIN TODAY.
Settlement May be Reached by Rail- roads Granting Eight Hour Day, Leaving Collateral Issues to be Set tied by Commission

Washington, Aug 15.-President President Wilson's efforts to bring the railroad managers and the brother hood leaders together in some form threatens a nationwide railroad strike, has after two days of confer ences, progressed only to the point where ground work for further ne- gotiations has been laid.
 Hope of arbitration of all issues waned today, but the situation was brightened by the possibility of a set clement being reached by the rail- roads concerned in the principle of the eight hour day and both sides settling collateral issues by some form of ne- gOtiation not yet determined
 1 General Committee Going to Washing tons
 After communicating with President | Wilson tonight the employees sub committee sent word to New York for 1 the $40 members of the general com 1 mittee to come to Washington in or der to facilitate associations. They l are expected here Thursday, and prob l ably will see the president Friday. 1 The managers committee will confer with him again tomorrow.
 Two official statements issued at the ] White House during the day merely stated that the discussions still were 1 in progress and that no report could 1 be made on results.
 i No Hope for Arbitration. 1 When it became clear that arbitra- ] tiOn of the entire problem probably 1 never would be agreed to, but that the | railroads might concede the principle | of the eight hour day and dispose of 1 other issues by some form of negotia- i tiOn, the president devoted his ener- 1 gieS, to help both sides on how negO- l tiations could be carried on. Inquiry l by an Investigating committee was l md 1on Io7,+ +-IJ 1 his willingness to appoint such a 1 commission himself
 It was understood that the employees | representatives offered no suggestions on this future situation. The railroads l were reported to have been ready to ! concede to the principle of the eight hour day on condition that all colIat- eral issues be thoroughly investigated by the interstate commerce commits sion or some other body.
 The White House conferences will be continued tomorrow, but it was not Edenied crisis would be reached for Thursday. In the meantime the man agers and employees will communicate with the interests they represent. Sub committee Without Power.
 The decision to send to New York 1 for the general committee of the rail- road employees was received because 1 the subcommittee here is without | power to come to decision without the men in New York. At first it was sug- gested that the sub committee here go to New York. but the president thought it would be better to have the general committee come here. He ! wanted an opportunity to explain to all the members any signs which may be made by the managers committee. | Although the president has not at ! tempted to bring the sides together, 1 he is endeayOTing to have the case in hand before making a final effort to settle the problem. Neither have the ] representatives of either side finally turned down any suggestion except ! arbitration and they have several un- der discussion which will be taken up
 again with the president.
 Pronounced Pessinism Among Off,
 ciais.
 For a time today there was a pro- nounced pessimism among administra- ton officials because of the complete failure of efforts to bring about an agreement on any form of arbitration. Suggestion of investigation by a com mittee was then brought forward and its reception aroused new hope that a satisfactory solution might be found. President Wilson devoted most of his day to conferences with the man l ageTs and the employees, seeing both sides separately as on Monday, and
 to meeting with Judge William l.. ! Chambers of the federal board of me
 diation and conciliation.
 Managers for the railroads cOntin- ued meetings at their hotel for dis
 CussiOn of the situation. Representa- tiVes of the employees however, held no conferences, save for informal conversations in the lobby of their hO- tel, mentioning that they would have
 nothing to discuss until some com plete statement of the railroads at
 titude is forthcoming.