Evening star., 1916-08-27

9
was said no plan Of accomplishing
THAT end was agreed upon.
No arrangements were made for the
President to address Congress, but II
the deadlock. continues 1t was thought
not unlikely that he might do so early
this week.
Summons Kern and New1ands.
The President went to the Presidents
room at the Capitol and summoned
democratic Leader Kern and Chairman
Newlands of the Senate commerce com
mfttee, who has charge in the Senate
of legislation affecting interstate rail-
roads
% Chairman Newlands had previously
submitted to President Wilson a writ
ten report of suggestions for leeisla-
tfon affecting the railroad situation
asked for early in the week by the
President Senator Newlands refused
to discuss the report, but it was un-
+ derstood that he held out little hope
for legislation at this session of Con-
gress under present conditions.
Presidents Announcement.
The only announcement of the Presi-
dents visit came from the President
himself. who said to inquirers after
his conference:
Il came here on certain matters of
legislation. That is all l can say now.
Then. after making this announcement.
President Wilson returned to the White
House without comforting with any one
else and without making any further eX-
planation of his visit.
Senator NIy-i;.rg stated pOSjtiyelN that
no joint session of Congress had been ar
ia anged.
Form of Proposed Action.
The legislative proposal discussed by
the President with Senators Newlands
and Kern. as nearly as could be learned.
is to attach TO the pending bin to increase
the membership of the interstate com
rnerce commission some expression by
Congress that the railways should have
increases In revenues to reimburse them
for losses through wage increases. III IS
thought this also would carry provision
for some sort of machinery for arhitration
of disputes in the future, possibly along
the plan of the Canadian commission
which will prevent strike votes before the
federal arbitration machinery has been
invoked
After President Wilson'S conference
with Senators NewIands and Kern,
Senator Nevlands discussed the sirna-
tion with Senators Robinson, Sauls-
bury. Lewis and other democratic
members and Senator Cummins. republi-
can member OF the commercial COM
mittee.
To Think Over Situation.
Senators were reticent. but the whole
situation is said to have been laid
before the democratic senators just as
it stands. for them to think it over
and, If possible. to find some means of
satisfying the demands of the roads.
Senator Newlands said he had not
called meeting of the commerce
1t would meet. 1t was regarded as
probable. however, that a meeting
might be held tomorrow.
Informal conferences of democratic
members probably will be held during
the next few days to deliberate on the
proposal. At any rate no immediate
congressional action is anticipated and
no one in authority would state wheth-
er the railroad crisis would operate
to prevent adjournment of Congress
next week.
Speaking of the situation categorical
1y. Senator Newlands said Congress had
power to direct the interstate commerce
commission to increase rates or to
lower them.
Might Order Increased Rates.
The suggestion reported to have been
made that Congress might pass the
pending bill to increase the member
ship Of the interstate commerce COM
mission from seven to nine and attach
an amendment expressing the sense of
Congress that the railroads should
have an increase in freight rates IL they
accept an efght-hour workday, prac-
tically would amount to directing the
commission to grant an increase.
Whether such action would satisfy the
railroads, Senator Newlands said he had
no idea.
"As a matter Of fact the law now
specifically states.- said Senator New
lands, that in fixing railroad rates the
Interstate commerce commission must
take into consideration all operating
expenses. and an increase in wages at
tendant upon shortening of the rail-
road work day would amount to an in
crease in operating expense"
Among the railway executives il was
said that that any plan for legislation
suggested by the President would have
TO be considered, but that the inclina-
tion OF the railway heads was to stand
Holidly on their demand for arbitration
of the present dispute.
Executives Finish Statement.
While the President was at the Capt.
tol the railway executives practically
finished the statement in reply to his
plan for averting the strike They
hold to the position that the ap-
plicability Of the eight-hour day to
railroad service can be determined only
by investigation. and reiterate their
contention that the controversy can be
settled only by arbitration.
Executives present at the conference
: said the proposal as finally decided on
represented no change in the roads DO
, sition, which previously had been out
. lined as holding out insistentIy for
. arbitration, and rejecting the sugges-
ton that the eight-hour day be put
: into effect pending investigation Rep
: resentatives of the unions have indi-
Gated that should the roads maintain
that stand, they could see no prospect
of settlement
Use Three Arguments.
Three things are cited by the exec
utives to back up 1heir position:
The first IS that many of the big
shippers of the country have declared
themselves opposed to an Abandonment