Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-08-28
Virtually Certain That Break
Will Follow Confer
cnces To-Day.
PLANS FOR JOINT SESSION
OF CONGRESS DISCUSSED
President Makes Unprecedented
Visit to Senate Office Build
ing to Confer With Kern.
BRoTHERHooD MEMBERS LEAVE
Dcfcgafo Powers to Effect Settlement
or Call Men Out 20 Committee
Of Twenty.Eour.

WASHINGTON August 27.-Tcnta
i've plans for n joint session or tho
Senate and House TO hear prosid.r.
Wilson ask for legislation TO prcyent
the threatened nationwide railroad
strlf. were discussed by the President
with senator Kern, the Democratic
leader tonight. whom it seemed virtu-
ally certain that a break between tho
railroads and their employees must fol-
low final conferences at the White
House tomorrow.
Possibilities OF legislation were talked
over by the President and Senator
Ncwlands. chairman Of tho Interstate
commerce Committee, and Secretary
Lane during tho day, and tonight tho
president made a trip TO the Senate
oflcc building 10 find Senator Kern at
tending a meeting OF tho Finance Com
mi.tee
Since last night the belief that ncgo-
tlations between tho railroad repre-
scntatives and representatives Of the
men would end without AN agreement
being reached has been growing.
This feeling was strengthened to-day
when the members OF the brothcrho ood
committee OF $50, tired OF their long
! wait. departed for home, after dele
eating their power to effect a settle
+ ment or call strike, to q committee of
,wcntyfour. instructed under no cir
cumstanccs to agree to arbitration OF
the demand for AN cight-hour day ut
tho present rate OF pay for ten hours.
whether the plans considered by
presidcnt Wilson and his advisers at
the Capitol will be carried out depends
i w.. =
understood that il all efforts fail TO
bring the employers and their men to-
scthcr the President will go before
Congress and ask that IL deal with the
. situation. even IL that nccessitates In
definitely prolonginE tho present scs-
ao".
STRIKE: WILL. RE CALLED
UNLESS RAILROADS RECEDE
Unless the railroad heads rccede from
ne demand for arbitration of tho
/ eisht-hour day proposal. one brother
hood official said tonight n strike af-
rccting about 100000 mon will be called
within tho next ter days.
\ REPRESENTATIVES, OF both tho railways
and the brothcrhoods will coufcr with
lie President tomorrow. Tho cSccn-
tivcs of tho lines will present the plan
TO which they agreed finally yesterday.
It's outstanding feature IL demand for
arbitration OF wages under the eight
hour day or arv day. When they havc
departed the brotherhood heads act
Ing under instructions received from
the com mittec of 60 to-day. Will go 10
the White House and apprise President
Wilson that they cannot accept ar
hitration OF this feature OF their de-
mands. and that In general they stand
on his proposal. made week ago.
to concedo the cight-hour principle
and arbitrate tho other issnes.
4 What will follow no ono attempts to
forecast accurately There was a rc-
port tonight however. that tho Prcsi-
dent might ask tho men to postpone
action for a period in order that he
might seek legislation which would
force and provide for settlement
without tying M tho country's trans>
portation systems. Secretary Lanc
and Senator Newlands worked until late
tonight framing bills for presentation
to Congress.
The measure given most serious con-
siderat1on was one drawn along tho
lines OF the Canadian act which pro-
vides for investigation of industrial
disputes by a commission for ono year,
ana prevents StrlReS or lOckOntS DUR
Ing the period OF investigation.
SEVERAL OTHER +:ASURES
UNDER CONSIDERATION
Other legislation under consideration
Included tho following measures:
An eight-hour-day law for railroad
employees.
y bill increasing the membership of
the Interstate Commerce Commission
from seven to nine members. with au-
thority to divide into groups
resolution stating it to he the
sense Of Congress that IL the rail
roads grant basic cight-hour day
they should he entitled to increased
revenues compensatory with the in
creased operating expenses.
y bill already pending, directing the
Interstate Commerce Commission to
ascertain minimum. maximum and
average wages paid, with hours of ser
vice. to every class OF railway en-
ployec Compare them with wages of
industries in which similar skill and
risii arc Involved. to determine the
relation of railroad wages (" railroad
revenues, and urge both sides tn the
present dispute to defer action pend
ing tho investigation.
AZ to-day's conferences considera-
ton was also given to the problem
ot keeping the railroads In operation
In the event OF strike. and nuw far
Congress should go in eXtendine I'od-
oral authority over tn" railroads.
Several Of the railroad presidents and
. ,oanasers left Washington late Last
Knight for their homes or for resorts
L 2Ccntinued on Second PageJ