The sun., 1916-08-30

OF the union leaders the opinion prevails
here tonight that the public will force
them to postpone the effective date OF
the strike order until Congress has an
opportunity to act.
The deadlock that has prevailed for
the past two weeks has given way to a
condition more or less chaotic. BY elm
mating himself as mediator as a con-
seQuence Of his failure the President has
now assumed the role Of advocate for tho
public.
Congress, which was on the point of
bringing the long session to an end.
has reluctantly turned to the task he
has imposed. on IT. While In the House
there were indications Of revolt the Sem
ate already is making threats of delay
and demands for serious and deliberate
consideration Of the momentous problem
which Is generally held to transcend the
needs Of the present moment.
What Congress will do n how long
II will take to do II IL the dominating
question and upon tho answer hangs
the carrying out Of the strike threat.
Upon the form that the proposed eight
hour legislation will take will depend In
large measure the outcome Of the pend
ing controversy. The employees. By the
admission OF their chiefs. do not like IL
in principle. They desire freedom Of
action, freedom to work eight hours or
ten or twelve as may be to their advan-
tage.
President's Plan IL Not Clear.
The Presidents legislative advisers
themselves seemed uncertain tonight
how far this legislative day would go
or exactly what the President has in
mind.
II the President intends to max It a
Nat eight hour day with a penalty Tor
UunetinO tho man wartime tho trninmen
would not support him. Apparently II IL
his intention to make Il q basic eight
hour day merely for the purpose or
measuring wages. In other words under
the proposed legislation the men will get
what they have been striving for. ten
hours pay for an eight hour day. II the
President has his way.
At the same time railroad executives
point out that the Presidents eight hour
proposal. unless the compulsory investi-
cation bill is also passed, Will have little
effect upon the present controversy ex-
cept TO postpone its acuteness.
Congress will have no power to NIX
wages or to settle the question Of over
time pay. Therefore after the eight
hour day Is established by legislation
the entire question Of wages will recur
and the deadlock is likely to be just
where II Il now unless some commission
10 established for the investigation OF
such disputes.
Brotherhood Men Give Views.
That the Presidents proposal that
machinery be provided for public in
vestigations of wag controversies be-
fore strikes or lOckouts are declared Is
regarded with misgiving by the en-
ployees was indicated when the chiefs
Of the four brotherhoods issued a formal
statement opposing compulsory arbitra-
ton. They declared that the period
OF investigation Ia utilized by the em-
ployer to intrench himself IN his effort
10 defeat the demands of the men. no
matter how Just their cause may be-
To the other proposals contained in
the Presidents programme no important
objections were advanced BY either the
executives or tho employees. But In
addition to the differences between the
points of view of the two parties to the
controversy Is .he fear os d:sse.acn In
Congress to cast a doubt upon the sue
,essful outcome Of the new method OF
adjustment.
Hints were forthcoming from the
brotherhood officiak fp-nS1ht that q
decision must be reached AZ TO what Il
10 he lone by Saturday. Beyond that
tilie, they explained. II would be difficult
% stay the strike order for the follow.
ing Monday.
II Is generally doubted. however. that
the brotherhood chiefs will precipitate
another crisis by issuing their declara.
ION of war while Congress is WRESTLING
with the problem that has been thrus,
upon il.
Poblic to pay 1900 900 900 . Year
senator Francis q. Newlands, Demo.
'rat. chairman OF the Interstate Com.
T,nrNA lsaVn ~ agtn T a.. -
estimated that It will cost the railroad.
~ the country eventually $500. zoe. 90,
additional a year TO put INTO effec; al
eight hour day so as to Apply 10 all thei
employees.
IL Acknowledged that Prcsiden
Wilson'S legislative proposal FOR a,
eight hour day for the trainmen wi!
mean eventually the extension of ~
same working hours TO all other classe
nj employees, -Four hundred million dol
lars n year IS. therefore. the increasn
burden that President Wilson asks III
public OF the United States TO assum
IN settlement OF the present ControVers
between the railways and their EN-
yloyees.
The brOtherhoods expressed their un
a!terable opposition N President Wi
sons plan TO compel public investigatio
in a statement signed by leaders Care,
wa hchN NAia sVN "ll'Il "
"!Since the abolition OF slavery no NOR
effectual means has been devised for In
surfing the bondage az the workingma
Than the passage Of The compulsory il
vestigation acts OF the character Of III
Canadian industrial disputes act"
Both sides Prepare for Action.
Despite the new turn OF affairs bot
tho executives ana the brotherhood repre-
ssntatives prepared for action. Most {
me executives left Washington to-nigh
many OF them 10 hurry back TO the
costs In anticipation OF trouble. IT
Brotherhood chairrnen still rema!nin
also started for their homes, leaving II
direction OF their affairs In the hands
the four union presidents.
II the issue comes to Q strike the la
ter will maintain their headquarters
washington. The railroad executive
have turned the situation over to Il
standing committee OF railroad exec,
tives which has been in existence for
year or more.
Following the conference of the Pres
dent with tho four brotherhood chiefs
the White House last night. when the
refused to recall the strike order (,
September I. the events OF to-day can
in rapid succession.
The special committee OF ex-cutlv,
went to the White House for a confe
ence at IL A. NJ. Immediately afte
ward they returned TO their hotel ar
gave out IA statement Of their side Of Il