Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-08-23

Necessary to aid IN solving the dif1culty
Congress- Of course, will act"
The Houee chairman said however, that
the lack q quorum n Congress- IT tnis
time would prevent Immediate action, and
it was UNDERWOOD that the President sus-
xessed that the Joint subcommittee take MP
the problem. This suggestion will be laid
before the railroad presidents when they
again confer with the President, and II
It satisfies them Il naay form the basis for
; the acceptance Of the Presidents eight-hour
day proposal by. the roads
As he entered the White House Repre-
Sentative Adsmson said
II don't know when the dispute will be
settled. bit do know chat n II isn't settled
econ Congress- win take q hand and pass an
eeht-hour law"
Leaders on both sides of the House were
very guarded in discussing this question.
Tin my Judgment" said Majority Leader
Ixitchin. ut would be difficult TO put
compulsory arbitration law through this
Congress-"
Beyond this statement Representative
Kitchin would not go. He was, however
careful to make it plain that his remark
appied to the SiNty-fourth Congress and
not merely to the session now nearing its
end.
MANN's POSITION.
Minority Leader Mann said
II do not think it is possible by legisla-
tion % compel men to labor for certain
employers for whom they do not want 10
labor, nor TO compel employers to employ
certain men whom they do not want.
don't think that IL possible in this country
ut present"
While Congress, generally and Individual
~, has held sloof to give the President un-
hampered rein IN hs attempts TO bring the
representatives OF 100000 trainfnen and
225 railroads together. members have said
that, should Congress be asked to take
hand. the Interstate Commerce subcom-
mttee would be the organization before
which the matter first would be aired.
CONGRESSIONAL MOVE.
This committee has a large appropria- |
tion and unusually wide powers to in |
vestigate all public utilities in every phase. |
1t is empowered to investigate the subject |
OF public ownership. not only Of railroads, |
But OF telegraph, telephone, wireless. cable |
and express companies.
There is a chance, however that Senator |
Newlands and other congressional leaders |
may decide to press the bill he recently |
introduced directing the Interstate Com |
merce Commission to investigate and report |
as practical the minimum, maximum and |
average wage paid, with hours OF service, |
to each class OF railroad employe. With |
this report would be included, so far as |
they are comparable, the minimum, max |
imum and average pay. with hours of serv-.
ice paid in other Industries where similar |
risk and skill are involved, the relation of
wages to railway revenues "and any other |
matter. in this connection that the commits
sion may deem to be relevant"
NEwLANDs BILL
Senator Newlands introduced this reso-
lutlon June % shortly after the first meet
ing between the railroad heads and train
men representatives, which resulted un-
favofabiy and was followed by the strike
vote of the tralnmen.
Willis the President sought legislative
90, "a nj Continued
their conferences in an effort to complete
their answer to the Presidents settlement
plan.
The committee Of eight, named TO form
tlate the railroad statement OF the situa.
tion, labefed. at length with various mem
bers of the executives group. The com
mltteer made vigorous efforts TO consolidate
sentiment, but encountered opposition from
a powerful group, which insisted that roth-
ing should be conceded, and demanded ar.
bitration of the entire matter In dispute. |
RAILROADS, PROPOSALS.
They will insist upon:
Assurances that the collateral issues
IN the present dispute when settled by
arbitration before a Federal board or
commission later shall be finally settled,
and that the award of the proposed
board shall be accepted by both rail-
roads and men.
Assurances that the settlement plan
will safeguard the principle Of arbi-
tration in future disputes or that some
Federal board or commission be created
to handle all wage controversies.
Assurances that when the cost Of the
eight hour day has been demonstrated
they will be able to obtain from the In
terstate Commerce Commission in
creases in rates that will raise the
money TO meet the increased expendi-
tures
TRAINMEN CHAFING.
Strike talk broke out again among the
railroad brotherhood men today. Thomas
Donovan, the Boston-Albany chairman. pro-
posed at the morning session that the
brotherhood chairmsn return to their homes,
leaving the four heads here to arrange a
strike His effort. however, was crushed.
For time II appeared as though the
sentiment for quick action might not be
checked. There we're many speeches
Brotherhood heads. seeing the trend OF the
session, came to the fore and spoke against
such a draetlc force. Finally, through
parliamentary maneuvers. Donovan's plan
was killed without being made into formal
motion or coming to any vote
The strike threat was so strong that
Il was plainly indicated afterward the lead
ers might not be able to check the men
more than 4S hours longer. One brother
hood leader said they could be kept In
line that long, but that the lid might blow
on thereafter
The brotherhood leaders found that a
large portion Of the men-but not a ma
5ority-were disgruntled at the delay of
the railway executives in coming to a de-
clsion.