The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-02-22
Roosevelt Will Send Special
Message to Congress Deal
ing With the Situation From
Railroad Standpoint.
WILL SHOW RAILROADS
ARE RESPONSIBLE.
Aim to Stop the Reports Is
sued by Them That He Is
Responsible for Contem-
plated Wage Reduction.

New York, Feb. CA Washington
special says:
condition of the unemployed, it is stat
ed, will be the two main features of Il
message the president is about to send
to congress.
1t is understood that the labor ques-
ton will be treated from the stand
point of the railway employees especial
ly, as nearly all the information the
president has relates to that class of
labor and the dangers which threaten
it in the near future. He has been in
consultation with such eminent author
tiles in railroad situation and labor
economies as James Speyer. of New
York, and President Mellen of the New
York. New Haven and Hartford rail
road. 1t has been the uniform Gus
tom for the president, before sending
messages on special subjects, to consult
with some of his closest friends.
Twas Anticipated.
The president anticipated to some
extent his interest in the railway en-
ployes' situation by his recent letter to
the interstate commerce commission.
He showed in that letter that he in
tended to make a direct issue with
railroads that purposed to reduce wag-
es or dispense with the services of men
and compel. them to justify their ac-
ton. He will not meekly accept the
allegation that it is tae hostile attitude
of the administration toward capital
that makes such reductions necessary.
1t is expected, therefore, that the mes
sage will be an answer to such criti-
cisms, and that the President will have
ample reports from Labor Commission
er Neall and Chairman Knapp. of the
interstate commerce commission, TO
sustain whatever recommendations or
statements he will make in the docu-
ment.
Another question, that of the in
creasing number of the unemployed,
the president has already discussed
with experts. In order to treat the
subject fully the president has asked
for statistics and other data aside from
the generalized statements that have
ployed.
The Railroad Side.
The railroad situation, however, is
the branch OF the subject in which the
president is credited with being most
interested. The railroads, or at least
some of them. have intimated that it
is because of administration policies
that they will be obliged to reduce the
wages of their employees. He does not
know how many railroads will reduce
wages, but he had anticipated any pos
sible situation by his letter to the in
terstate commerce commission. While
it is not clear how the president can
meet the situation by legislation, if the
facts warrant it, he purposes to throw
the whole burden for the reduction in
wages and dismissals from employ
ment upon the railroads themselves by
proving that the business of the cor
porations is in such shape as to make
retrenchment necessary.
Incidentally, if the railroads carry
out their plans of reducing wages and
dispensing with the services of many
employees the number of the unemploy-
ed will be increased, and this is the
connection which it is said the presi-
dent will make in his message be-
tween the two features he purposes to
discuss.