Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-08-31

The committee authorized Senators
Pomerene of Ohio and Smith OF South
Carolina TO confer with the president.
Senators Pomerene and Smith, after
talking with the president half an
hour, returned to the hearing.
THE president wants sction; that's
all we can say" said Senator Pom
creme.
After the senator's departure Major
ity Leader Kitchin, representative
Adamson and Postmaster General
Burleson went into conference with
the president.
II have just been keeping in touch
with things to see that they keep NOV
ing and they are moving" said Presi-
dent Wilson, as he left the conference
with congressional leaders. The pres
ident's face beamed with a broad
smile.
The president received assurances
that action would be taken tomorrow
by the house on a measure which will
include the eight-hour day. commits
sion of investigation. an increase in
the membership of the interstate COM
merce commission and a provision for
military operation of the railroads.
While assurances given on the at
titude OF the senate were not so def
mite. the president was told that
prospects were bright for action on at
least part of the program.
Chairman Adamson of the inter
state commerce committee said:
I'VE will pass the eight-hour bill,
introduced today In the house, tomor-
row. That will include the provision
for an investigation OF the effect of
the eight-hour day on the railroads.
That, we believe, will prevent the
strike"
Following the conference the presi-
dent returned to the White house.
Postpone Strike Is Duty.
The president expects that the ac-
ton OF the railroads in issuing en-
barge orders against perishable freight
thus affecting food, will have some eff
feet in quickening action by congress.
Statements of brotherhood leaders
that il the eight hour law is passed ny
Saturday night the strike order will be
rescinded, led the president to redouble
his efforts to have the measure rushed.
Beside that the president takes the
position that it is the patriotic duty of
the brotherhood leaders to rescind of
postpone the strike order in view of
his recommendations to congress.
While President Wilson will con-
tinue to insist on his entire program,
there were indications today that the
attention of administration leaders in
congress first will be concentrated on
the eight hour day bill and on the bill
to create a commission to investigate
the situation. Those two measures in
clude the basis of the plan of settle
ment proposed by the president to both
sides and accepted by the employees.
He takes the position that if these bills
are passed the men will have no JUS
LITIGATION for striking.
Postmaster General Burleson con-
ferred with President Wilson this
morning and said afterward that he
will insist that mails be carried on
every train moved if a strike comes.
If the employees offer to run trains to
carry mails, he added, he will insist
that the railroad arrangements fur
nish the equipment.
Should the presidents appeal to the
brotherhood heads to rescind the strike
order fail, he is prepared to issue a
public statement calling upon all mem
bers of the brotherhoods to join in
ordering it's recall. He would say the
railroad employees have no right to
imperil the industries of the nation
under such conditions, when the thing
they demand is about to be provided by
law.
House leaders decided not to wait
for the senate to act, as they first
planned, and agreed on bill designed
to carry out the presidents recon-
mendations for an eight hour day and
a commission investigation. 1t has
some notifications from the senate
drafts. 1t was introduced by Repre-
sentative Adamson of Georgia, chair
man of the interstate commerce COM
i IL L Il g
Clark and democratic Leader Kitchin.
Unless the senate acts promptly on
the two propositions-the only ones In
the presidents program favored by
house leaders at this time-a special
rule will be invoked to rush the Adam
son bill through the house and over
to the senate by Saturday at the latest.
Postmaster General Burleson also
conferred with chairman Adamson or
movement of the mails. They discussed
the old law of 1852 which allowed the
president to operate railroads in ca sc
of public necessity.
Attend Senate Hearing.
Railroad officials and representa-
tives of the trainmen's brotherhoods
appeared in force today at the senate
interstate commerce committees hear
ings on President Wilson's legislative
program 10 prevent the IHIedIeHeu
railroad strike.
Elisha Lee, chairman of the man
ayers committee. headed the delega-
ton of railway officials, which includ-
ed President Underwood of the Erie,
President willard of the Baltimore and
Ohio, Samuel Rea, president of the
Pennsylvania; Fairfax Harrison, presi-
dent of the Southern, and r. S. Lovett,
chairman of the board of the Union Pa
cific.
Representing the men were A. B.
Garretson, W. G. Lee, w. s. Stone and
w. s. Carter, the four brotherhood
heads. Officials of the American Fed
Grafton of labor, headed by President
Gompers, Assistant Attorney General
Todd and e. E Clark of the interstate
commerce commission also were pres
ent.
At the outset of the hearing Senator
Newlands, chairman of the committee,
announced it's purpose and said none
of the uroDoSod legislation included