The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-12-05
Says That Explicit Direction
Is Not Necessary for In
terstate Commerce Com
mission to Grant Increase
of Rates to Railroads to
Meet the Greater Cost of
Labor

Washington, ID. e., Dec 5.-freslueh1
Wilson's address at the opening OF the
session of Congress to-day was wholly
devoted to domestic subjects, principally
the problem of railway legislation. In
the hall of the House with senator's and
representatives assembled in joint ses-
sion. President Wilson in accordance with
the custom he began at the opening OF
his term, read his address from the
clerks desk.
The president not only renewed his
recommendation for legislation to pre-
vent nationwide railway strike or lock-
out before there has been opportunity
for investigation, but defended it against
the attack of organized labor as nothing
arbitrary or unjust and the "justifiable
safeguarding by society of the necessary
processes of its very life"
Aside from recommendations for the
passage of the Porto Rico government
bill, the corrupt practices bill and the
Webb bill to legalize American collective
selling agencies abroad, the presidents
address was devoted wholly to the rail
road situation. The only feature which
had not been forecast was the elimina-
ton of the proposal that Congress give
explicit approval to consideration by the
interstate commerce commission OF an IN
crease in freight rates to meet additional
expenditures by the railroads caused by
the operation of the Adamson law.
To-day the president took the position
that "the power of the interstate COM
merce commission to grant an increase
of rates on the ground referred to is in
disputably clear and recommendation
by the Congress with regard to such
matter might seem to draw in question
the scope uf the commissions authority
or its inclination TO do Justice when there
is no reason to doubt either"
The other recommendation on the rail
road situation made in a special message
during the last session, which were not
pla into law, were renewed to-day. They
include:
Immediate provision for the enlarge
ment and administrative reorganization
of the interstate commerce commission
along the lines embodied in the bill re-
Gently passed by the House of Represen-
tatives and now awaiting action by the
Senate; in order that the commission
nav be enabled to deal with the many
great and various duties now devolving
upon it with promptness and thorough
ness which are, with its present constitu-
tion and means of action, practically i'm
possible.
"An amendment of the existing federal
statute which provides for the mediation,
conciliation and arbitration of such con-
troversies as the present by adding to it
a provision that, in case the methods of
4 for
fail, a full public investigation of the
merits of every such dispute shall be in
stituted and completed before strike
or lockout may lawfully be attempted.
"The lodgment in the hands of the ex
ecutve of the power, in case of military
necessity, to take control of such por-
tions of such rolling stock OF the rail
ways of the country as may be required
for military use and to operate them for
military purposes, with authority to
draft into the military service of the
United States such train crews and ad-
ministrative officials as the circumstances
may require for their safe and efficient
use"
The renewed recommendation for com
pusory investigation of labor disputes
on railways before strikes or lockouts are
allowed. which has aroused the opposi-
tion of the railroad brotherhoods, and of
the American Federation of Labor, was
defended in the presidents message. He
declared he would hesitate to recommend
a law which would force individual work
men to continue in an employment which
thev desired to leave. but that no such
principle was involved in the suggestion
that the operation of the railways of the
country should not be stopped by the
concentrated action of bodies of men un-
til public investigation for the benefit
of the public has been instituted.
'It is based upon the very different
principle" he continued. that the con-
centrated action OF powerful bodies of
men shall not be permitted to stop the
industrial processes of the nation. at any
rate before the nation shall have had an
opportunity TO acquaint itself with the
merits of the case between employe and
employer. time to form its opinion upon
an impartial statement of the merits,
and opportunity TO consider all practi-
cable means of conciliation or arbitration.
] can see nothing in that proposition but
the iustifable safeguarding by society of
the necessary processes Of its very life.
There is nothing arbitrary or unjust in it
unless it be arbitrarily and unjustly
done. It can and should be done with q