Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-12-05

BY the adoption Of the eight.hour day
and which have not been onset By ad-
mlnhtratirn Establishments and ccon-
omlea. should the facts disclosed Justify
the increase
fiMh An amendment Of the existing
Federal statute which provides for the
mediation, cancellation and arbitration
81 sueh controversies ~ the present by
addina 70 u a provision that, In ease The
methods ~ accomm odhtion now nro-
vided Tor should fail, n full public In
vsstlEation ~ the merits Of every such
dispute shall be instltnied and com
pirted before n strike or lockout may
lawfully be attempted.
And. slxth. tho Judgement In the
hands Of the Executive of the power.
IN case of military necraalty. 10 take
control OF such portions and such rolls
lnR stock OF tho railways Of the coun-
try az may bo required for military
use ana 10 operate them for military
purposeR. with authority 20 dran into
the military service Or tho United
StatoH such train crews and admin
iattativc officials aH the circumstances
require Tor their anfe and efficient use.
The second aud third Of these recon.
Hcndhtious the Ggngrcaa Immediately
acted on II established the eight hour
day nB the legal basis VI work and
wages In train service and n authorized
tho appointment OF commission 10
observe and report upon the practical
results decmnE these the measures
most Immediately needed but IL poHt-
pOned ahtiDn upon tho other auaghR-
tlona until an opportunity should be-
uWorcd for moro deliberate Congidern-
tiUn ~ them Tho fourth rccOmmenda-
ton ! do not deem u nrccHHary 20 re-
now. The power of the Interstate
ina D..
crease of rates on the ground referred
Z" lu lndigpullbly clear. and rccOu-
mondntlon by tho CongreqH with re-
gard to such "A mnttur might seem 10
draw In question the scope OF the COM
missions authority or ia inclination
10 do Justice when there iB no reason to
doubt either
RAILWAY OPERATION
The other aurgsstluns. tho Increase
In tho Interstate Commerce Commits
HiOn's membership and In It's facilities
Tor performing It's manifold duties
tho provision for full public investIga-
tlon and assessment Of Industrial dis
putcH. and tho grant 20 the Executive
of the power 70 control and operate
tho rallwayH whom necessary IN timo
Of war or other like public ncccsslty--
! now very earnestly renew.
Tho necessity for such legislation is
manifest ana pressing Those who
have entrusted us with the rcBponsI-
bility and duty Of serving and safe
guarding them In such matters would
find 1t hard I believe. to excuse q
failure 10 act upon these grave matters
or any unnecessary pUatpunompnt Of
action upon thCm.
Not only does the Intcrgtatc Com
morce Commission now fnd II practi-
N1sH IV#aa. Ia.
borshlD and organization 10 perform ita
great functions promptly and thorough
~ but II ls not unlikely that Il may
presently 10 found advisable to add 10
Its duties still others equally heavy and
eHaetlng. II must first be perfected ns
an administering instrument.
Tho country cannot and should not
consent To romaln any longer exported
to profound Industrial disturbances for
lack Of additional means Of arbitration
and Cancellation which the Congress
can casiIy aud promptly supply And
all VIII agree that there must ba no
doubt as to the power OF tho Executive
TO make immediate and unlntcrruptcd
use OF the railroads for the concentrn-
tion of the military forces of the nation
they are needed and whenever
they are needed
This is program Of regulation. pre-
N'HNlpl anu administrative cflClenCy
which argues ts own case In the mere
statement Of Il with regard TO one OF
Us items. the Increase In the efficiency
pf tho Interstate Commerce Commls-
sion, tho House of Representatives has
already acted; It's action needs only
The concurrence OF the Senate
COMPULSORY ARBITRATION
I would hcatatc to recommend, and
dare say the Congress would hesitate
o act upon the suggestion should
mako II, that any man in any occu-
,atlon should be obliged by law to con-
lnuo In an employment which he de-
ilreH tO leave, To pass a law which
'orbadc or prevented tho individual
workman to leave his work before