Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 202, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 August 1916 — RAILWAYS YIELD TO DEMAND FOR EIGHT HOURS [ARTICLE]

RAILWAYS YIELD TO DEMAND FOR EIGHT HOURS

Ready for Commission Inquiry if Arbitration Law Is Assured.— Deliver Reply Today. Washington, August 22.—President Wilson and the leaders of the railroad executives at a white house conference tonight laid the foundation for an agreement which it is believed will result in a settlement of the wage controversy between the carriers and their employes. As a result of the conference a general strike of the 400,000 train operating employes of the 225 railroads of the country is now regarded as extremely remote possibility. The railroad chiefs, having decided at a late afternoon session to make terms with the president as the champion of the unions, are ready to yield the establishment of the eight hour day with the understanding that the carriers shall be granted an advance of freight rates sufficient to offset the increase of wages granted the employes. The executives also are ready to accept the president’s plan for commission investigation of overtime compensation with the understanding that legislation be enacted to promote the settlement of future disputes by arbitration instead of force.

The president encouraged the officials to believe that his powerful influence will be exerted to satisfy the carriers in both of these particulars. The proposition now is t 6 work out a definite understanding of the agreement. Immediately after the carriers reached their decision to make the best terms possible with the president, Hale Holden, president of the Burlington: R. S. Lovett, chairman of the Union Pacific, and Daniel Williard, president of the Baltimore and Ohio, requested a conference with Mr. Wilson. The audience was granted and the three officials went to the white house at 8:30 o’clock, remaining in conference with the president for more than an hour. The executives first sounded Mr. Wilson concerning his ideas of the manner in which they are to find the revenue, which they estimate at $50,000,000 annually, to meet the increased wages involved in the change to the eight hour day with pi;o rata pay for overtime.