AMERICAN TRANSPORT CRISIS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2867, 4 September 1916, Page 8

AMERICAN TRANSPORT CRISIS

EIGHT-HOUR BILL IN U.S. SENATE OPINION OF RAILWAY DIRECTORS Australian-Jfew Zealand Cable Association. New Yo?!',j September 1 A -Bill cqmpelling the railways to grant the moil nil eight-hour day with the present ten-hour pay has been introduced. in the Senate. The leaders expect its immediate acceptance, simultaneously with similar action by the House of Representatives. The railway directors declare that the measure is of a confiscatory nature, and that Congress lias jio power to enforce a wages scale upon private corporations. An appeal will be taken to the Supremo Court to test the constitutionality of the Bill.

Tito action of Congress is considered an important victory for organised labour. For tlio first time Congress has accepted the dictation of the Trades Unions concerning the regulations of wages.

The' public is suspending judgment ■until it is ascertained whether the increases in wages will come from the public pockets. President Wilson announces with relief that the crisis has passed.

BILL THROUGH THE LOWER HOUSE. New York, September 1. The House of Representatives passed tlio.Bill granting an eight-hour day to railwaymen by 239 votes to oG.

THE WORRIES OF AN AMBASSADOR

AMERICAN MINISTER SLANDERED IN GERMANY. Tlio Berlin newspapers recently reproduced an interview with tho American Ambassador, Mr. Gerard, given to tho representative at Berlin of the "Ncues Wiener Journal." Mr. Gerard is reported to have said:— "I am unable to express a positive judgment about the situation, .for the reason that since I have not been in America lor three years I am'unable to judge public opinion with approximate certainty. lam also insufficiently informed as to the views of the President and tho Secretary of State,i because communication'- between Berlin and Washington has been difficult. I hope, however, that peace .between Germany and the United States will he maintained. At tho same time I beg you to state that in this, crisis and in all the preceding crises 1 have attached tho utmost value to clearing away misunderstandings between Germany and America. I havo done in every instance all that I could to avoid a conflict between the Government to which I am accredited and my own Government. I wish for no war between Gormany and America.' 1 havo never wished it and I shall never wish it. I affirm that the accusation that I am an enemy of Germany is absolutely false. I have never done' anything which could justify the reproach that I hated German ways or the German people. "Publicly and privately people have said without a shadow of proof that I incited my Government to war, and that tho German Government could meet my Government as much as it liked, but war could not be averted because I wished it. They say I own a munition factory in America, and I am thus interested in tho war. They have even had the audacity to write to tie Grown Princess that my wife had put on her dog the orders con-' ferred oil her by the Kaiser, and li'ad takon this dog to walk in tlnter den Linden, together with other scurrilities of tho samo kind. lam extremely revolted by these lying stories. Such calumnies do not make for friendship. Conscious of my absolutely peaceful •work in Berlin, I feci deeply wounded by these incessant accusations. I know th'o opinion that I am an enemy of the Germans is disseminated without a shadow of foundation in wide circles iu Borliu, and indeed among sober and reasonable people, as well as among those who aro filled with hatred. i appeal to the leading personalities of tho German Imperial Government, who know that, at all times, 1 have done, and that J do, everything to maintain peace between Germany and America, and who know that all these affronts and insults to which I am exposed rest on falsehoods.

"Naturally 1 cannot communicate anything about tlio proceedings', at' Headquarters. Etiquette would even forbid my saying whether I prayed the Kaiser for-an audience or wlietW tho Kaiser invited me. I must, observe thai; my political importanco is extraordinarily over-estimated. I am aetuaiiy only the servant of ni.v Government. I receive instructions and have to" carry out these instructions an<[ to report , as to their execution, but at the same time I do not play a decisive part."