New Britain herald., 1916-12-05
RAILWAY LEGISLATION IS AGAIN URGED ON CONGRESS
 IN PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
Favors an Increase in Freight Rates, if Nee essary, to Offset New Wage Expense
NO STRIKES UNTIL
 FACTS ARE PROBED

\ AN \ o IA1SL I Would Give Executive Authority to
 Assume Control of Rolling Stock in I
 Case of Military Neccssity-Cor-
 rupt Practices Act, Webb Bill,
 Government of Porto Rico and Vo-
 cationaI Training Discussed.
 Washington, Dec 5.-President Wilson's address at the opening of the session of Congress today was wholly devoted to domestic subjects, princi- paIly the problem of railway legisla- ton.
 In the hall of the house with sena- tors and representatives assembled in joint session, President Wilson in &C., cordance 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 present a nationwide railway strike or
 
 tunity for investigation, but defended it against the attack of organized and the "justifable safeguarding by labor as nothing arbitrary or unjust and the 'justifable safeguarding by society of the necessary processes of it's very life.'
 Aside from recommendations for the passage of the Porto Rico govern ment bill, the corrupt practices bill and the Webb bill to legalize Ameri- can collective selling agencies abroad, the presidents address was devoted wholly to the railroad situation. The only feature which had not been fore cast was the elimination of the pro- posal that Congress give explicit ap- proval to consideration by the inter state commerce commission of an in- crease in freight rates fo meet addf- tional expenditures by the railroads caused by the operation of the Adan- son law.
 Today, the president took the position that "the power of the in- terstate commerce commission to grant an increase of rates on tho ground referred to is indisputabIy clear and a, recommendation by the congress with regard to such a matter might seem to draw in question the scope of the commissions authority or it's inclination to do justice when there is no reason to doubt either"
 The other recommendations on the railroad situation made in a special message during the last session. which were not put into law, were renewed today.
 SuffragistS Are There.
 Galleries were packed when 4he president escorted by the usual com mittee, walked brisl1ly into the cham Der and took his place at the clerks desk, manuscript in hand He was forced to wait while the demonstra- tion went on. Everybody rose while the democrats and some republicans Joined in cheers and applause.
 Wave after wave of shouts swept the chamber until Speaker Clark pounded for order. , The president smiled and bowed and as the demonstration subsided, began the reading of his address.
 AS he began reading huge yellow banner bearing in black letters the words MT President, what will you do for woman suffrage? was un- furled over the edge of the gallery by some suffrage invaders. The pages quickly jumped up and pulled down the banner. AS the banner fell to tho floor there was no demonstration eith- CT from floor or galleries. police man went to the gallery from which the banner dropped and stood near the suffragists. He made no attempt to reach them.
 The Message. "Gentlemen of the Congress:
 'In fulfilling at this time the duty laid upon me by the constitution or communicating to you from time to time information of the state of the Union and recommending to your con- sideration such legislative measures as may be judged necessary and eXpedi- ent I shall continue the practice, which I hope has been acceptable to vou of leaving to the reports of the several heads of the executive depart ments the elaboration of the detailed needs of the public service and confine myself to those matters of more gen eral public policy with which it seems necessary and feasible to deal at the present session of the congress. q realize the limitations of time under which you will necessarily act at this session and shall make my suggestions as few as possible; but here were some things left undone at .he last session which there will now oe time to complete and which 1t seems necessary in the interest of the public to do at once. "In the first place, it seems to me necessary that the possible consideration and lction should be accorded the remain