Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1916-11-30

but 1t postponed action upon the other
suggestions until an opportunity should
be offered for more deliberate con-
sideration Of them. The fourth rec
concentration I do not deem II neces-
sary to renew. The power OF the In
| terstate commerce commission to grant
m increase Of rates on the ground re-
ferred to il indisputably clear and a
recommendation by the congress with
regard to such matter might seem to
draw In question the scope Of the com
missions authority or It's inclination to
do justice when there Is no reason to
doubt either.
The other suggestions--the increase
| In the interstate commerce commits
sion's membership and In Its facilities
for performing Its manifold duties, the
provision for full public investigation
| and assessment of Industrial disputes
| and the grant to the executive Of the
power to control and operate the rail-
| ways when necessary In time OF war
or other like public necessity now
very earnestly renew.
The necessity for such legislation Is
| manifest and pressing. Those who have
| intrusted us with the responsibility
and duty OF serving and safeguarding
| them In such matters would find 1t
hard, believe, to excuse failure to
| act upon these grave matters or any
| unnecessary postponement OF action
| upon them.
Not only does the interstate COM
merce commission now find 1t practi-
cally impossible, with Its present mem
bershlp and organization, to perform
it's great functions promptly and thor
oughly, but 1t Is not unlikely that 1t
may presently be found advisable to
add to Its duties still others equally
heavy and exacting. It must first be
perfected as an administrative instru-
ment.
The country cannot and should MOI
consent to remain any longer exposed
to profound Industrial disturbances for
lack Of additional means of arbltra-
ton and Cancellation which the con-
gress can easily and promptly supply.
And all will agree that there must be
no doubt MS to the power of the execu-
tive to make immediate and uninter-
rupted use Of the railroads for the con-
centration of the military forces of the
nation wherever they are needed and
whenever they are needed.
This is a program Of regulation, pre-
vention and administrative efficiency
which argues Its own case In the mere
statement Of II. With regard to one
Of Its items, the increase In the eff
cheney Of the Interstate commerce COM
mission, the house of representatives
has already acted; its action needs
only the concurrence Of the senate.
Fer Control and Operation.
would hesitate to recommend, and
dare say the congress would hesitate
to act upon the suggestion should I
make 1t, that any man In any occupa-
ton should be obliged by law to con-
tinue In an employment which he de-
sired to leave. TO pass law which
forbade or prevented the individual
workman to leave his work before re-
NSbNhN tuV hpphoNuk III Swiftly III W.
Ing 50 would be to adopt a new prin-
ciple into our Jurisprudence which /
take IL for granted we are not prepared
to Introduce. But the proposal that
the operation Of the railways of the
country shall not be stopped or inter-
rupted by the concerted action of or
ganized bodies of men until public
investigation shall have been instituted
which shall make the whole question
ut issue plain for the Judgment of the
opinion OF the nation Is not to propose
any such principle. 1t Is based upon
the very different principle that the con-
certed action Of powerful bodies Of men
shall not be permitted to stop the In
dustrial processes of the nation at any
rate before the nation shall have had
an opportunity to acquaint itself with
the merits Of the case us between en-
rSoyee and employer, time to form Its
opinion upon an impartial statement
| Of the merits, and opportunity to con-
slider all practicable means Of concilia-
ton or arbitration.
l can see nothing In that proposit ton
Il
but the iustitiable safeguarding by So
ciety OF the necessary processes of
Its very life. There is nothing arbi-
trary or unjust In 1t unless 1t be arbi-
trarily and uniustly done. 1t can and
should be done with full and scrupu-
| lous regard for the interests and liber-
| ties Of all concerned us well as for the
permanent interests of society itself.
Other Legislation Urged.
Three matters of capital Importance
: await the action Of the senate which
have already been acted upon by the
house OF representatives: the bill
| which seeks to extend greater freedom
of combination to those engaged In pro-
noting the foreign commerce of the
| country than Is now thought by some
to be legal under the terms OF the laws
against monopoly: the bill amending
the present organic law Of Porto Rico
and the bill proposing a more thor.
| ough and systematic regulation of the
expenditure of money In elections. COM
monty called the Corrupt Practices Act.
| l need not labor my advice that these
Il