Evening star., 1916-08-17

the Seaboard Air Line; w. II. Truee-
dale, president of the Delaware. Lacka-
wanna and Western: L. r. Loree. pres.
ident of the Delaware and Hudson; E
j. Pearson, vice president OF the New
York, New Haven and Hartford; George
w. Stevens. president OF the Cheee-
peake and Ohio: r. s. Lovett, chair
man Of the Union Pacific: Julius Krutt-
,schnitt, chairman Of the Southern
Pacific: +. d. Underwood, president OF
the Erie, and J. II. Hustins OF the
Boston and Maine.
In Close Touch.
These railway presidents have already
been holding conferences in New York
and received reports each day by tele-
phone direct from the conference room OF
the managers here They are in as close
touch with the situation as though they
had been personally sitting in the White
House conferences.
The Presidents action in eummoning
the railroad presidents IL another indica-
t,on Of his determination to place the
responsibility for any overt act .hreat-
ening the disruption of business directly
where il belongs, and let the 100000 600
people Of the United States know just
who assumed responsibility for the strike
If IL should come.
Previous to the conference of the full
committee Of $40 representatives OF the
railroad brotherhoods at the White House
this afternoon. they held a meeting IN
the Bijou Theater. Peter E. kilduH,
chairman of the national eight-hour
movement on the part of the four big
.brotherhoods. presided.
While the brotherhood officials are
holding to their promise to the Presi-
dent that no statement would be made
until It was made to him and given out
by him at the White House, it became
known in a general way that the atti-
tude of the employees is favorable to ac-
.cepting what terms the President tells
them he believes are just.
Proposition Under Consideration.
On excellent authority it was stated
that the proposition being considered is
substantially this:
An eight-hour day with pro rata over
time for limited period-probably six
Notwithstanding which a commission,
named by the President, will consider
and investigate all contingent condi-
tions.
. The President, when the conference
with the employees opened. had before
him. from Judge William L. Chambers,
commissioner of mediation and arbitra-
tion, whom he had seen at ii o'clock,
tabulated comparative statement show
ing how the eight-hour day has worked
on the roads where il has been put In
force, showing the actual cost to the
railroads, their earnings, etc. This re-
port also contained similar statement
regarding the nearest competitors of
the eight-hour roads who are still en-
forcing ten-hour day, showing there
by the actual cost in practical service
of the change.
Thinks Settlement Still Possible.
of ha
Of mediation and conciliation held a
brief conference with the brotherhood
heads this morning before going to
the White House. Further than to say
he had one question on which he want
ed q definite answer and that he got it.
the conferees would not discuss the
nature of his visit
II should not like to say that the sit
uation still is hopeful" A. b. Garrett
son. spokesman for the employees. said,
after Judge Chambers had left. Hope
use. 1 would say. though. that l deem
a settlement still is possible"
Some Of the leaders of the men were
planning to meet the demand for the
insisting to the President that seventy
five more lines for which the railroad
managers contend they have no author
ity to speak shall be included in the ne
gotiattons.
Question Of Ownership.
In that way an old dispute between
the managers and the brotherhood off,
cials would be opened. and probably re-
suit In an inquiry. into the ownership
and control Of the seventy-hve roads In
question. Investigation will prove, the
employees representative insist, that the
ayers are acting, control the majority
OF the smaller lines
Immediate acceptance of the Presi-
dents plan appeared improbable. as
the railroads insist on arbitration.
Representatives of the railroads were
prepared to maintain that the entire
principle of arbitration Is at stake.
They also point out that when they
applied recently to the interstate COM
merce commission for per cent
freight rate increase, the commission
jntimated that when railroads grant
higher wages without arbitration. they
might not present that as reasons for
higher tariffs
The President completed his plan for
presentation to the big committee
during conference yesterday with
House statistics complied by experts
showing the probable cost to the rail-
roads of the granting of a basic eight
hour day. Immediately afterward
JuuSe Sh6ulDeES IalheQ Dtleuy WIN C00
managers committee. He did not con-
fer with the employee representatives.
The conference between the President
and Judge Chambers was the only
formal meeting yesterday.
Discussion of the creation Of fed
eral commission to investigate the
railroad situation centered largely
around the contention of railroad Of
hcials that such a commission would be
able to get at all the facts and be able
to prevent recurrence of the present
. crisis. The President has taken up
with both sides suggestions as to the
best way to make up a commission
which would be satisfactory.
Firm for Eight Hours.
Bretherhood ondais. Who have been
Soufszrtns with the President. It was de-
oaarsA would Be willing to negotiate an
issoss to the controversy except the guar
antssd saxht-hour day. With II assured
chsm bsyoua All doubt. II was said, they
v0u16 be inonned to aoospt any fair
peoDoafdon for settling cola tsral fssuea
Dvon the propoAl Of pro rata nay for
0v1rtfne. which would mean an increase
ef ffom - to % per cent to employees.
Wofkfng extra hours. was said to appeai
10 them On AL hands II was reiterated
thef 6e original proposal Of time and
. ha6 for overtime As merely included
- tAe snauaoyes' demands for the purpose
s1 enforctng an eight hour day Agreement
sAo1ld one be entered Into.
\ d 0afrseDon and W. g Stone. heads
tAe oonduetof1 and en<ineers' broth