The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-01-31
PRESIDENT WILSON MAY HAVE TOFORCE RAIL LEGISLATION Indications Are That Pro- gramme Desired Will
 Take Effort to Pass
SENATE COMMITTEE
 OPPOSED TO PLANS
Recommendations Do Not Include Antistrike Feature Nor Under woods Suggestion as to
 Wage Fixing
Rx HuGH w. RoRERTs


 Washington, January 30.--tspect<x3St At this hour 1t is indicated thatSo ident Wilson, to secure the % t of his antistrike IegfslatioA Q fave to resort to the same forcef tactics employed by him in driving through the so-calIed eight-hour law.
 The committee has reported a tenta- tive antistrike bill to the Senate It does not contain a provision, recom- mended by the President, which would require all would-be strikers to remain at work until the dispute is investigated by constituted authority. Neither does it contain the Underwood recommenda- ton. The Alabama senator, as may be recalled, favored and still favors a plan under which the interstate commerce commission would have the right to fix wages and hours of work
 With the compromise effected. it is known that the President is dissat tis- fled To what extent he will go in an effort to secure the enactment of that which he proposed, is unknown. He has announced, however, that he holds that as result of his reelection. the party was pledged to put into law an anti strike clause of vigorous potentiality.
 UNDERWOOD POSITION
 Just why the committee defeated the rendered amendment of Senator Under wood is not made plain. The senator stated that he reserved the right to offer it again on the floor
 "I believe" he said, that if the inter state commerce commission is given the right to fix wages and hours of labor as it now has the right to fix railroad rates-the public will be protected from industrial strikes. do not believe it right or constitutional-though in this latter idea I may be wrong-to force a man or body of men to labor for an hour or minute when they do not de- side to do so.''
 In that expression is found the reason why Senator Underwood opposed in com 1Iittee the recommendation of President Wilson. Had that recommendation been reported, or if it is eventually enacted into a law, a new standing board will oS VI ca lCd loi tiiS Pol POoC Ol lAquitlIle, into the cause of disputes between em- ployer and employe. During the inquiry, those who would strike would be com pelled by law to continue their labor. CLAUSE IS STRICKEN When that recommendation incorpor- ated as section of the bill, was be- fore the committee for discussion, Sena- tor Underwood moved that it be stricken. He was supported by two other demo- crats, Senators Smith of South Carolina, and Thompson of Kansas, and the en- tire republican membership of the com n1ittee. The section was stricken. The committee hastily adjourned, and administration leaders devised plans for the renewal of the fight Several days later, the recommendation of the Presi- dent was again proposed in committee. Again it was defeated.
 It is understood administration lead CTS, acting directly under the instruc- tions of the President. will attempt to secure the enactment of the antistrike law in fight on the floor. It is antici- pated that that fight would be as in- teresting as the fight in September for the eight -hOlIr law