The commonwealth., 1916-08-18
R. R. PRESIDENTS
ARE SUMMONED
TOWHlTE HOUSE


and, having found the managers com
mittee adamant to his proposal that
they accept the eight hour day, he ap-
sealed to the railroad presidents and
asked them to come to the White Hous.
for a conference.
There is every indication that if the
railroad presidents sustain their mana
gers President Wilson will appeal fin
ally to the financial powers which
control the roads, for it is his purpose
to deal with the ultimate authority
before he gives up his effort.
The President S plan, which is ex-
pected to be formally accepted by the
employees committee at a meeting to
ing proposes:
An eight hour day as the basis for
computing wages.
Regular pay at the eight hour day
rate for over time.
To refer to all collateral issues to
small commission, to be created by
Congress on which the employees, the
railroads and the public would be re-
presented.
Acceptance of the proposal by the en-
ployes was forecast by expressions of
their leaders after they left the Pres
ident's S conference. One of them de-
elared: "The men would be fools not
to accept it,
The attitude Of the railroad presi-
dents is not clear. They began ar
irving tonight; all are expected to be
here tomorrow. No one can say what
will be the effect of an appeal such as a
President of the United States, speak
ing in the name of the welfare of ma
tion, can make. But from such in
formation as can be gathered it ap-
pears that the railroad presidents, if
the managers committee understands
them, are unalterahly opposed to con-
ceding the eight hour day or anything
else out Of hand, but are quite ready
to arhitrate anything and everything
in almost any form of arbitration up
on which the employees and the COM
Hllllte may agree.
The railroad presidents, it is under
stood, justify their stand upon the
broad ground Of maintaining the prin-
ciple of arbitration, which, if sacri-
feed in this instance, they intend to
tell the President will be destroyed as
factor in the settlement of indus
trial disputes.
If the railroad presidents persist in
that view and are supported by the
financial powers, only the future can
tell the outcome.
With the growing seriousness of the
situation, Congress began paying more
real attention to the crisis today, and
there were many indications Of inter
vention to prevent nationwide tie
up.
The general expectation is that the
railroad officials. after seeing the Pres
ident tomorrow, will ask that they be
given several days, perhaps weel
or more, to consider their course. L
was emphasized by those of the Off
Gals who arrived tonight, however
that all of these plans were tentative
A score who came to New York on
special train went into session soo1
after their arrival with the managers
committee, and it was said that on
of the possibilities under consideratlo
was the preparation of a statement
be given out before their visit to tn
President, putting their position befor
the country.
While the railroad presidents woul
not make any predictions until the
familiarize themselves with the sltui
ton here. there was more than one II
dication that it would take stron
appeal to induce them to reverse I'll
attitude that has been taken by the
rcnresentatives on the managers con
mittee. Asked whether the manager
would be backed up by their decision
President Daniel E. Willard OF TT
Baltimore & Ohio, said:
Il assume they will be-
Two plans are being considered Il
the makeup of the proposed comm
sion in case the President S plan is a
cepted. The first provides for the
pontmcnt of all three members, II Tn
should be the size of the commisslo
bv the President, and the other I
selection of one of the members
him. and of the other two by the ia
road employers and employees, respe'
lively. The plan as presented py
President to the employees was couch
in general terms and did not go In
details.
It is proposed that the commlssl
be given power to summon witness
and examine books in order to arr
at the true cost of the proposed pl
TO the railroads.. Suggestions ma
been made that the commission
made permanent
The conference between the r
don't and the general committee OF
rloves lasted about an hour. AFTER