Omaha daily bee., 1916-09-04

Du Pont Oliver
Democrats--3.
Clarke. Ark. Hardwick.
amendment by Senator La Toilette
which would make certain that TIE
new law should not be construed to
repeal or modify the railroad hours
OF service law, which prohibits rail-
road men from working continuously
more than sixteen hours.
The majority Of the senator's ad-
mitted that they were afraid to change
the dotting Of an Il" or the crossing
OF 7" in the house bill for fear It
might serve to forestall what all de-
sired, a prevention OF the strike.
The senate galleries were crowded
to capacity when the vote was taken.
Ends Stirring Week.
The falling Of the gavel on the
passage Of the bill in the senate
tonight marked the end Of dramatic
and prccedent-breaking week in con-
gress. When President Wilson, fail
ing to bring the railroads and
brotherhoods to an agreement, turned
TO congress for relief, he made un-
announced trips to the capitol to con-
suit leaders about appearing before
congress IN person, to lay the stu
alton before It. Hurried arrangements
TOR the ceremony were made and the
president addressed joint session on
tuesday suggesting legislation which
included the provisions OF the bill TO
provide means OF preventing future
difficulties and for handling military
trains In the event OF strike.
Committees OF both houses went TO
work at once and the president paid
daily visits to the capitol to see, as he
put i, that things are kept moving"
They were kept moving rapidly, but
not altogether to the liking Of the
president in the house, which, on Fri
day, passed only the eight-hour bill,
providing for the investigation. The
senate interstate commerce commit
tee first drafted tentative bills cover
ing the presidents whole program.
but eventually abandoned all OF It and
substituted the house measure.
Fight Against Odds.
The bill was passed in the senate.
following determined efforts by Sem
ator Newlands' chairman OF the in
tcrstate commerce committee; SEN
ator Underwood OF Alabama, and sew
eral other senators to amend it. The
democratic senator's mentioned in
sisted that congress should provide,
as President Wilson had urged, some
measure to prevent such a crisis ever
arising again. They declared congress
was showing the white feather, that
II was afraid to go further than
merely to prevent the fthycatened
catastrophe Of the moment. They
proposed that the Interstate Com
mcrce commission should be given
authority In the future to fix wages
and hours Of service OF railroad en-
ployes. thus forever taking the ques-
ton OF labor disputes out OF the
strike danger zone. They fought |
vainly to the last against overwhelm-
ing odds.
The negotiations in which the
agencies Of the federal government
were used to avert the strike began
nearly month ago, when Il became
apparent that the railroads and the
thainmen could not agree among
themselves. and the United States
Board OF Mediation and Cancellation
undertook to adjust the diff |
ferences, Several days Of mcdi-
alton by members Of the board |
ended without solution OF the
problem and the situation narrowed
down TO point where the railroads
we're willing to arbitrate some OF the |
mems demands, but the employees
were not. Then came the invitation, |
three weeks ago, to both sides to |
come to Washington for conferences
with the president.
Come to Capital.
The four brotherhood chiefs and
the twenty-four chairmen Of the prin-
cipal local organizations, as swell as
the conference committee OF railway
managers, which were handling the |
questions in issue, came here the next |
day. They were unable to agree on a
basis OF settlement and after several
discussions at the White House the
summons was sent out for the $40
Of the trainmen's or
CARNATIONS, who were In New York
awaiting the outcome Of the negotia-
tons, and the presidents of some
leading railroads, to come to WASH
ington.
More than twenty railroad execu-
tives answered the call and at his
first meeting with them President
Wilson suggested as a basis Of settle
ment, the acceptance OF the principle
OF the eight-hour day by ths railroads,
with pay at present rates--for ten
hours work--and that other ques-
tons, such as overtime pay, be left
to an investigating commission. He
put forward also the idea that the
railroads might be recompensed for
the additional financial burden by an
increase IN freight rates.
Little Progress for Days.
This proposal was accepted by tho
employees, but the railroad executives,
holding out for arbitration, took il
under Amusement and the negotia-
tons made but little progress for
several days, In the meantime. the
president summoned to Washington
about forty more executive heads OF
railroads, and when the matter
reached its final stages, there were
more than sixty in Washington.
The railroad executives considered
the presidents plan OF settlement for
a week and then notified him they
could not consider endorsement OF
the cight-hour day with ten hours
pay. They offered counter sug-
gestion that question Of wages such
as they considered this to be, should
he arbitrated and that pending de- 1