Omaha daily bee., 1916-08-24
RAIL employees
CHAFE At DELAY
IN NEGOTIATIONS
General Committee Discusses
Going Home and Leav-
ing Issue in Hands of
Four Chiefs.
RAIL HEADS COUNT COST
Three Presidents Leave State
ments With Wilson Regard
ing Expense of Proposal,
BANKERS AGAINST PLAN

Washington, Aug. 25.-The railroad
employees committee showed such
marked signs. of unrest today at the
delay in the negotiations between
President Wilson and the railway
executives that the leaders of the men
were alarmed and openly expressed
fears of their ability to hold them
much longer.
An employees meeting this morning
was thrown into an uproar by speech
es of a minority which demanded inl-
mediate action unless the roads ac-s
cept the presidents plan, but the lead
ers succeeded in adjourning it before
any vote could be taken on any of the
various proposals. They said after
ward that while the pressure for im-
mediate action came from minority.
it was strong, but they believed the
majority would be willing to give the
president little more time.
Men Favor Adjournment.
Some OF the men urged that most OF
them 60 home, leaving the brother
hood heads with authority to call
strike IL the railroads do not accept
the presidents plan.
The meeting adjourned until 70
o'clock tomorrow morning. Free
quently shouts and applause were
heard block away from the hall.
1T is our belief" one of the CONF
mitteemen said, that the railroads
are playing for time with the presi-
dent just as they have done with us
for many months. They are tiring us
out all right ard the men are getting
disgusted,"
President Sees Congressman.
| While the railroad executives con-
tinue deliberations on what form OF
counter proposals they shall make to
President Wilson's plan, tie president
conferred with Senator Newlands and
Representative Adamson, chairman
OF the Interstate Commerce commit
tees in congress, about the bill to in-
crease the membership of the Inter-
state Commerce commission by two,
| Possibility Of passing an eight
hour day law for railroads was dis
cussed among several congressional
leaders, but no definite program was
evolved and it was understood nc ac-
ton would be taken unless the presi-
dents efforts failed.
Rail Heads Count Cost.
The three presidents who were at
the White House last night left with
President Wilson a comprehensive
statement OF the estimated cost OF
extending an eight-hour day to all
railroad employees and employees in
industrial concerns throughout the
country, with the request that the
president examine them carefully.
The railroad presidents take the posi-
tion that extension OF the eight-hour
day to railroad trainmen means that
1t must be extended to all other rail-
road workers and to many OF those
in industrial pursuits.
Before the meeting OF all the ex-
ecutives with the committee of eight
today it became apparent that there
would be some difficulty In getting
all the presidents to agree to any
counter proposals which involve an
eight-hour day with tn hours pay.
eight-hour day with ten hours pay
in the roads are concerned, one presi.
dent. of big eastern road said to.
day that instead Of urging the presi.
4 dents to accede to. the White House
demands, bankers were for the most
part using their influence to support
the executives in their insistenc,
upon arbitration.
Financiers for Arbitration.
1t was understood today the rail
road executives had decided to act a.
a unit in handling the present situa
tion.
The program OF the railroad ex
8 ecutives as understood today was Il
deal first with the principle of ar
: btration and afterward with til,
eight-hour day.
In administration circles today i
was declared that both the presiden
and the railroad executives seemed t
; be on the way to an agreement.
lineman EIeCtr0Cuted