The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1916-08-19
Tells Rail Heads Program Plan Is F air

He declared he would not be the court in this
matter-that the people of the country were the
judges and that when the naked truth in the situ-
alton" is laid before them the blame for any crisis
will be placed by the people and will not fall upon
him.
Railway executives this afternoon denied posi-
lively the president had at any time threatened
government ownership of railroads as a possible
result of their refusal to accept his proposal. He
declared they said, that he opposed to govern
rnent ownership of railroads and sincerely hoped
il never would be necessary in the United States.
He said however, they added, that in some
foreign countries situations such as are threatening
the railroad industry today had served as stepping
stones to government ownership and operation
when peace otherwise had been found impossible.
His statement on the strike follows:
81 have recommended the concession of an
eight-hour day-that is, the substitution of an
eght-hour day at present for the ten-hour day in all
the existing practices and agreements. made this
recommendation because believed the concession
right
"The eight-hour day now undoubtedly has the
sanction OF Judgment of society in its favor and
should be adopted as basis for wages, even where
the actual work to be done cannot be completed
within eight hours. Concerning the adjustment
which should be made in justice to the railroads n
the payment and privileges to which their men are
now entitled (if such adjustments are necessary,
there IS wide divergence or opinion.
'The railroads which have already adopted
the eighthour day do not to be at any serious
disadvantage in respect to their cost of operation,
compared with the railroads that have retained
ten-hour day. and calculations to the cost of the
change must, if made now, be made without re-
gard to any possible administration economies of
readjustments.
"Ony experience can make it certain rear
rangements would be fair and equitable, either on
behalf of the men or on behalf of the railroads.
That experience would be a definite guide to the
interstate commerce commission, for example, in
determining whether, as a consequence of the
change ii would be necessary and right to authorize
an increase of rates for the handling and carriage
of freight for passenger service is not affected).
a therefore proposed that the demand for
extra pay for overtime made by the men and the
contingent proposal of the railroad authorities be
postponed until facts shall have taken the place of
calculations and forecasts with regard to the effect
of change to the eght-hour day. that, in the
meantime, while experience was developing the
facts should seek, and if need be, obtain authority
from the congress to appoint small body of inl-
partial men TO observe and thoroly acquaint them
selves with the results with view to reporting to
congress at the earliest possible time the facts dis
closed by their inquiries, but without recommends
ton of any kind andthat it should then be entirely
open to either both parties to the present con-
troy ersy to give notice of a termination of the
present agreements with a view to inviting in
uuires into suggested readjustment of pay or
practice.