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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 4, 1916)
2 THE BEE: OMAHA, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER ' 4, 1916, PRESIDENT SIGNS 8-HOUR BILL Returns From Long: Branch, Makes Measure Law and Eastern on Trip. ONE MANAGER IS DEAD rnn4 tim Ttm Om.) nffiriali aav the enactment will mean not more than an annual increase of $20,000,000. In congress and among the railroad officials there has exist ed doubt as to constitutionality of the law, but what steps, if any, may be taken to test this has not Deen indicated. Quick Action Follows. Quick action by the brotherhood ' heads followed the action in the sen. - ate. No doubt existed in their minds that President Wilson would sign the hill as soon as it was handed to him. The measure embraces virtually all of tbe president's original proposals to the employes and the railroad heads, although it is only a part of the legislative program ne took to congress last Tuesday, when his nego tiations had tailed. - Issuance of the orders of cancella tion followed a meeting of the four , brotherhood heads and thirteen re . main in g members of their commit tee . of 640. Some opposition to acting i r ... t . . . . 11.. i ueiore inc president actually nau affixed his signature was evidenced in the meeting, but in the end the seventeen voted unanimously to call off the strike immediately. All the code messages had been prepared in advance and as quickly as the de cision was announced, clerks rushed to the telegraph offices with arm' loads of the messages. No Two Are Alike. No two of the more than 600 die- patches were alike. One of them read: "It is reported that a big fire is raging in Toronto." Another said: "There is danger of 'your house burn ing down tomorrow." Even the brotherhood heads did not know what all the messages contained, the com- , position of them having been left to , clerks. , t The original plan to wait until the president had signed the bill before . calling off the strike was abandoned in order to facilitate transmission of the messases. It was thouaht if the order were not sent out until tomor row many small telegraph offices probably would be closed; and the 10,000 or more local chairmen, all of whom in turn are to receive mes sages from the 640 general chairmen, misht not be advised. The argument also was advanced that newspaper publicity tomorrow morning throughout the country would be of great assistance In get ting tne wora to me employes wno would be affected by the strike. To See Wilson Sign BUI. The four brotherhood heads were invited tonmht to be present tomor row morning when President Wilson signs the bill. The president will use four pens in affixing his signature and each of the labor leaders will be given ne of them as a : souvenir. Although members of congress l.t.liJ .. whn tlil.tr taalr lull done, the relief was not ao much a demonstration of satisfaction over the legislation enacted as over the immediate results' it eccomplished. It not only stooped the strike, but served to stay the soaring prices of , food and necessaries of lite which had been going rapidly upward for several days. They also were jubilant that at last the way looked clear for ad journment of congress, but many members of both houses were con vinced that with the reassembling in December, the question would come up again and that permanent legisla tion to be asked by the president along the line of compulsory arbitra tion would be pressed. In the mean time the joint sub-committee recent ly created by congress will get to work on problems of railroad legisla tion and prepare , recommendations to be made as soon as possible in the session to come. Bay Congress Coerced. Republican senators and a few of 'the democrat in debate on the bill , declared unhesitatingly that congress was being coerced, dictated to, driven under the gun to the passage of the eight-hour bill without any provisions eta permanent character. Senator Borah asserted that the railroad train men would not dare to order the strike if congress should abandon the bill and adopt a resolution merely to provide for a thorough consideration of the whole subject. . Senator Underwood declared the strike would be as dead on 'Monday morning if his amendment should be added to the eight-hour bill a it would be' without. Senator New lands insisted that congress did not dare to do what President Wilson had dared to do and enact legislation that would serve to stand as a per manent barrier against such threat-' ened industrial disaster. Other senators, chiefly progressive republicans, among them Cummins, Kenyon and Norris, -said that that labor was getting a bad bargain, "a brassy gold brick," "a humbug," and that they were conceding to congress the right, to legislate on the question of wages, a concession which in their opinion the 600,000 trainmen of the organizations affected would not ap prove if it should be put to them for a vote. - But champions of the Adamson bill said in reply that to amend the .bill would mean that the strike would not be stopped. They recalled to the senate the declarations of the broth erhood leaders that nothing would serve to stay the strike except the passage of the bill giving them the eight-hour day end the proposed in vestigation. Senator Reed, taking up cudgels for the brotherhoods, ; asserted that a quorum of the house was not in Washington; that it therefore would be impossible - to pass the bill if. amended in any particular in time to prevent the strike Monday, and con gress would be blamed lor the dis aster if it were not stayed in accord ance with the plan designed by house leaders. - ' . :. e ' This Argument Wins. This line of argument iron the day and not only prevented the adoption of the Underwood amendment, but ; also served to defeat en amendment by Senator-Newlands to make inter- , ference with , the operation of rail road trains a misdemeanor punishable by fine and imprisonment, and an Senate on 8-Hout Bill For tlu BIN I). rxraoera ta 1 1. Aehuret Lea. Tenn. nanicneaa z.e. Md. Beckham Lewie Bryan Martin Chamberlain Myere Chilton . Nfwlanda Culbaraon Overman Fletcher Phelan . Hitchcock Pittman Htiffhea Pomerene Hustlni- Ranadell Johnson. 8.D. Reed Kern Roblneon Lane BauUbury neoiDiieue--I. I Follette Asnunt in Bill (S. Renublleans II Borah Oallinter Bradr ' ' Oronna. , . Brandefee Jonea Claon KanviM Colt McCumbar Cummins McLean . Curtla Nelaon DIMInsham Norrtl uu rout Oliver Democrat t. Clarke. Ark. Hardwlck. Shepherd Shields Slmmona Bmlth, Arts. Bmllh, Md. Bmlth, B.C. Bwanaon Taii-art Thomas Thompson Underwood Vardamaa Walah Williams Penreaa Sherman Bmlth, Mich. Bmoot merlin Wadaworth Warren Weeks amendment bv Senator I a Fntltt wnicn wouia make certain that the new law should not be construed to repeal or modify the railroad hour. of service law, which prohibits rail road men from working continuously mui c man sixteen nours. The maioritv of the iratinn A. mitted that thev were afrairl tn rhme the dotting of an "i" or the crossing of a "t in the house bill for fear it "mm serve to forestall what all de sired, a prevention of th atrik. The senate galleries were crowded iu capacity wnen tne vote was taken, Ends Stirring Week. The falling of the gavet on the pafesage of the bill in the senate tonight marked the end oft dramatic and precedent-breakinar lr in gress. "When President Wilson, fail- L "rm ne railroads and brotherhoods to an agreement, turned to congress for relief, he men tin. announced trios to the ranirnl m in sult leaders about appearing before congress in person, to lay the situ ation before it Hurried arrangements for the ceremony were made and the prcsiaent addressed a joint session on Tuesday suarffratine' Ij-a-ialetltn ...uik Included the provisions of the bill to provide means of preventing future difficulties and for handling military trams In the event of a strike. Committees of both houses went to WOrk at Once and the nrrairUnt n.;4 daily visits to the capitol to see, as he put it, "that things are kept moving." They were kept moving rapidly, but not aiiogeiner to tne liking ol the ptcaiucni, in tne nouse, wnicn, on rn day, passed ontv the eiirht-hnur hill providing for the investigation The senate interstate commerce commit tee first drafted tentative hills ing tne president s whole program, but eventually abandoned all of it and suDsmutea me nouse measure. Fight Against Odds.' The bill was oassed In the ni louowini determined enorta uv sen ator Newlands- chairman of the in terstate commerce committee: Sen. ator Underwood of Alabama, and sev. erai other senators to amend it. The democratic senators mentioned in sisted that con Kress should nrovide. as President Wilson had urged, some measure to prevent such a crisis ever arising again. They declared congress was snowing tne wmte leather, that u was airain to go turiner ' man merely to prevent the ' threatened catastrophe of the moment. They proposed mat tne interstate com merce commission should be given authority in the future to fix wages and hours of service of railroad em ployes, thus forever taking the ques tion of labor disputes out of the strike danger zone. They fought vainly to the last against pverwheim- ing odds. The negotiations in which the agencies of the federal government were used to avert the strike began nearly a month ago, when it became apparent that the railroads and the thainmen could not agree among themselves, and the United States Board of Mediation and Conciliation undertook to adjust the dif ferences. , Several days of medi ation by members of the ' board ended without a solution of the problem and the situation narrowed down to a point where the railroads were willing to arbitrate some of the men's demands, but the employes 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 organisations, as veil as the conference committee of railway managers, which were handling the Questions in issue, came here the next ay. 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 640 representatives of the trainmen's or ganisations, who were in New York awaiting the outcome of the negotia tions, 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 ot the eight-hour day by the railroads, with pay at present rates for ten hours' work and that, other ques tions, 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 m freight rates. i . Little Progress for Days. This proposal was accepted by the, employes, but the railroad executives, holding out for arbitration, took it under advisement and the negotia tions made but little progress for several days. In the meantime, the president summoned to Washington about forty ,more executive heads of railroada, and when the matter reached its final, stages, there were more than sixty in Washington. The railroad executives considered the president's plan of settlement for a week and then notified him they could not consider endorsement of the eight-hour day with ten hours' pay. They offered a counter sug gestion that a question of wages such as they considered this to be, should be arbitrated and that pending a de cision by an arbitration board, the railroads would keep a fund uader supervision of the Interstate Com merce commission, to' pay the in creased wage cost if the decision went against them and the eight-hour day was approved. , j , The men would not agree to this and sent out their strike call. Then the president put the case-in the hand of congress. RAILROAD CHIEFS FEELINOEUEYED Ripley of Santa Fe, However, Is Sorry Question Not Come to a Test. LAW WILL BE ATTACKED Chicago,' Sept. 3. From Chicago tonight went .telegrams to every di vision point on western railroads in forming both railway officials and trainmen that the strike is off. general attitude of relief was ex pressed by minor railway officials President E. P. Ripley of the Atchi son, Topeka and Santa Fe railway said, however, that he was aorry the question had not come to a critical test. "I am sorrv it has been called off, Mr Ripley said. "The Adamson bill doesn't become effective until Janu ary 1. Between now and then we can decide what to do." --, , Law Will Be Tested. Mr. Ripley was asked if his rail road planned an immediate test of tne law. I can t say just when we will do anything," he replied, "but the law surely will be tested. Charles H. Markham, president of the Illinois Central, said tonight he expects a conference of attorneys for an or tne Dig railroads win be called soon to discuss action on the Adam son bill. This conference probably will de termine our course ot action, he said. Action ts Planned. . f, ' New York, Sept. 3. Action to lift freight embargoes imposed when the nation-wide railway controversy as sumed a threatening aspect was ex pected to be taken within a few hours by the New York Central, Delaware Lackawanna Be Western, l.ehisrh Va fey and other lines with general of fices in this city, it was announced to night by railroad officials, after they nad received word that the strike or der had been cancelled by the brother, hoods' officials in Washington. Planes Exchange ; Radio Messages For the First Time San Diego, Cat.,' Sept. J. What is declared to be an important advance in the field of radio telegraphy was accomplished here today when a wire, less message was sent from one aero plane in flight to another. Captain C. C. Culver, attached to the United States signal corps tram ing school at North Island as aero. nautical radio expert, in an armv ma chine piloted by Lieutenant Herbert uargue received the message which was transmitted a distance of several miles by Lieutenant W. A- Robertson, who was in another machine guided by, A. U. brnith. ahe message, which read "National aviation field sets new world record, was received dis tinctly by Captain Culver. : ' According to Captain Culver, this is the first time on record in this coun try and perhaps in the world that a wireless message has been received by one aeroplane from another. ' Manr rwpw Beat Bjaew. ' A alnraiah liver causae an awful 1st ot mlaerr to keep It active nee Dr. Xtr.l'a New Ufa Pills. Only tie. All druiilaU. Adv. Women at Camp Find Marching Hard Work Lake Geneva. Wie.. Sent. J. The women of the Second National Serv ice School encampment found march ing hard work yesterday. It took the soidierettes , one nour to timsn a three-mile hike. Several of them, in cluding Mrs. Edward F. Swift. Mrs. Tracy Drake, and Mrs. Henry Hunt ington, Chicago society women, drop ped out ot me ranks to rest. GOOD WORK E0B SICK WOMEN The Woman. Medicine Has Preyed Its Worth. When Lydle E. Pinkham's remedial were first totroduoad, their curative powers were doubted and had to be proved. But ins prooi came, ana grad ually the use of them spread over the whole country. Now that hundreds of thousands of women hava ex pert need, the most beneficial effects from the use of thee medicines, their value ha be come generally recognised, and Lydia E. Pinkham's Vegetable Compound is the standard medicine for women. , ' The following letter le only one of the thousands on file In the Pinkhsm office, at Lynn, Mass., proving; that Lydia E. Pinkham's Vegetable Com pound la sa article of peat merit as shown by tbe results It protract -Anamosa, Iowe. - " When I began tak ing Lydia E. Pinkham's Vegetable Com pound I suffered with a displacement, and my system was in general run down condition. I would have the head ache for a week and my back would ache so bad when 1 would bend down I could hardly straighten up. My sister was sick In bed for two months and doctored, but did not get any relief. She saw an advertisement of your md- dne and tried It and got better. She- told me what It had done for her, and when I had taken only two bottles of Lydia E. Pinkham's Vegetable Com pound my head began to feel better. I -continued its rue and now I don't hava any of those troubles." Mrs. L. J. H ann an, k.f.D. 1, Anamosa, Iowa, Absolutely Removes ndigestion. Onepackajrs FOR THE INFORMATION OF THE PUBLIC: The Railroads 9 statement of their post' tionon the threatened strike, as presented to the President of the United States A strike on all the railroads of the country has been called by the Train Brotherhoods for 7 o'clock Monday morning, September 4. This strike was ordered from Washington while the President of the' United States was making every effort to avert the disaster. The Final Railroad Proposd , ' The final proposal made by the railroads for a peaceful settlement of the con troversy, but which was rejected by the brotherhoods, was as follows: (a) The railroads will, effective September i, 1916, keep the time of all men represented in this movement, . upon an S hourbssjs and by separate account, monthly, with each man, maintain a record of the difference between the money actually earned by him on the present basis and the amount that would have been earned upon an 8 hour basis overtime on each basis, , to be computed pro rata. The amounts so shown will be subject to the decision of the Commission, provided for in Paragraph (c) of this memorandum and payable in money, as may be directed by said Commission in its findings and decision. .";. (b) The Interstate Commerce Commission to supervise the keeping of these accounts and report the increased cost of the 8 hour basis, after such period of actual experience as their Judgment approves or the President may fix, not, however, less than three months. ' - t " (c) In view of the far-reaching consequences of the declaration made by the President, accepting the t hour day, not only upon the railroads and ths classes of labor involved directly in this controversy, but te the public and upon all industry, it seems plain that before the existing conditions are changed, the whole subject in ao far as it affect the railroada and their employee, should be investigated and determined by a Commission to be appointed by the President, of . such standing as to compel attention and respect to . its findings. The judgment of such a Commission would be a helpful basis for adjustments with labor and such legislation as intelligent public opinion, sa 1 informed, might demand. Statement of Executives to the President In submitting this proposal to the President, the fifty railroad executives called to Washington and representing all the great arteries of traffic, made this statement to him of their convictions: i The demands in this controversy have not been presented, in our judgment, for the purpose of fixing a definite daily period of labor, nor a reduction in the existing hours of labor or change in methods of opera tion, bat for the real purpose of accomplishing an increase in wages of approximately One Hundred Million Dollars per annum, or 3 5 per cent, for the men in railroad freight train and yard service represented oy tne laoor organisations in tnis matter.: . ' '.''.; . j After careful examination of the facts and patient and continuous consultation with the Conference Committee of Managers, and among ourselves,' we hava reached a clear understanding of the magnitude of the questions, and of the serious consequences to the railroads and to the public, involved in the decision efthem. '.Y V'-'"'-"' :;. s - Trustees for the Public As trustees for the public served by our lines and for the great mass of the less powerful employees (not ' less than So per cent, of the whole number) interested in the railroad wage fund as trustees also for the millions of people that have invested their savings and capital in the bonds and stock of these properties, and who through the saving banks, trust companies . and insurance companies, are vitally interested to the extent of millions of dollars, in the integrity and . solvency of the railroads of the country, we cannot in conscience surrender without a hearing-, the principle involved, nor undertake to transfer the enormous cost that will result to the transportation of the commerce of the country. ... " '. " . The eight-hour day without punitive overtime in vol res an annual increase, approximately, in the . aggregate of Sixty Millions of Dollars, and an increase of mora than to per cent, in the pay of the men, already the most highly paid in the transportation service. , The ultimate cost to the railroads of an admission ' in this manner of the principle under contention cannot now be estimated; - the' effect upon the em- ciency of . the transportation of the country now already under severe test under the tide of business new moving, and at a time when more, instead of less, effort is required for the public welfare, would be harmful beyond calculation. x The widespread effect upon the industries of ths country as a whole is beyond measure or appraise , ment at this time, and we agree with the insistent and widespread public concern over the gravity of the situation and the consequences of a surrender by the ' railroads In this emergency 1 1 ! , ' ' . ; In like manner we are deeply impressed with'the sense of our responsibility to maintain and keep open the arteries of transportation, which carry the life blood of the commerce of the country, and of the consequences that will flow from even temporary interruption of service over the railroads, but the issues presented have been raised above and beyond the social and monetary questions involved, and the responsibility for the consequences that may arise will rest upon those that provoke it. - Public Investigation Urged The questions involved are in our respectful judg ' ment, eminently suitable for the calm investigation and decision by the public through the agency tf fair arbitration, and cannot be disposed of, to the public -satisfaction, in any other manner. - v . The decision of a Commission or Board of Arbi tration, having the public confidence, will be accepted by the public, and the social and financial rearrange- menta made necessary thereby will be undertaken by the public, but in no less deliberate nor orderly - manner - 1 The railroads of the country cannot under present conditions assume this enormous increase in their expenses. If imposed upon them, it would Involve many in early financial embarrassment and bank ruptcy and imperil the power ef all to maintain their credit and die integrity of their secitritiea. : Tbe immediate increase in cost, followed by other increases that would be inevitable, would substan- tially appropriate the present purchasing power of .' the railroads and disable them from expanding and improving their facilities and equipment, to keep abreast of the demands of the country for efficient transportation service. ' . ' In good faith we have worked continuously and earnestly in a sincere effort to solve the problem in justice to all the parties at interest. These efforts were still in progress when the issuance of the strike order showed them to be unavailing. Problem Threatens Democracy Itself The strike, if it comes, will be forced upon the country by the best paid class of laborers in the world, at a time when the country has the greatest need for transportation efficiency. l ' .. The problem presented is not that alone of the railroad or business world, but involving democracy itself, and sharply presents the question whether any group of citizens should be allowed to possess the power to imperil the life of the country by conspiring to block the arteries of commerce. HALR HOLDEN, ' Ckioa, Barliajtoa 4 Qaiaay Rtilroad. W. W. ATTBRBURY, . Psaurlvaaii Rsilrotd. ' ( ' FAIRFAX HARRISON, ' SMtkara Railway, R. S. LOVBTT, Uaioa Paoii Systwa j S. P. RIPLEY, AtafaisM, Tepaka Scat f Irstsa. A. H. SMITH. 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