Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1916-12-08
WILSON'S MESSAGE
TO The CONGRESS
Senate and House in Joint SeS-
sion Hear Address of
the President.
he MAKES few SUGGESTIONS
Further Legislation for Settlement and
Regulation Of Railway Labor Dis
putes Held lmperatiVely Neees-
ssry by the chief Magistrate.

putes Held lmperatiVely Neees-
sary by the chief Magistrate.
Washington, Dec. 5.-The senate
and house met in joint session today
and heard President Wilson's message,
which was as follows:
Gentlemen of the Congress:
In fulfilling at this time the duty laid
upon me by the Constitution of COM
munlcating to you from time to time
information of the state of the Union
and recommending to your consldera-
ton such legislative measures as may
be judged necessary and expedient
shall continue the practice, which
hope has been acceptable to you, of
leaving to the reports Of the several
heuds Of the executive departments the
elaboration of the detailed needs Of
the public service and confine myself
TO those matters of more general pub
lie policy with which It seems neces-
sary and feasible to deal at the pres
ent session Of the congress.
realize the limitations of time un-
der which you will necessarily act at
this session and shall make my sug-
gestlons as few as possible; but there
were some things left undOne at the
last session which there will now be
time TO complete and which 1t seems
necessary In the interest Of the public
to do at once.
In the first place II seems to me i'm
perntively necessary that the earliest
possible consideration and action
should be accorded the remaining
measures of the program of settle
ment and regulation which had Occa-
sion to recommend to you at the close
of yOuE last session in view of the pub
lie dangers disclosed by the unaccom-
modated difficulties which then existed,
and which still unhappily continue to
exist, between the railroads of the
country and their locomotive engineers,
conductors, and trainmen.
Railway Troubles First.
then recommended:
First, immediate provision for the
enlargement and administrative reor-
ganization of the Interstate commerce
commission along the lines embodied
In the bill recently passed by the house
Of representatives and now awaiting
action by the senate; In order that the
commission may be enabled to deal
with the many great and various duties
now devolvlng upon 1t with a prompt
ness and thoroughness which are, with
its present constitution and means Of
action, practically impossible.
Second, the establishment of ar
eight-hour day as the legal basis alike
Of work aEd of wages in the employ
ment Of all railway employees who are
actually engaged in the work of Oper
ating trains in interstate transporta
ton.
Third, the authorization of the ap
pointment by the president of a small
body Of men to observe the actual re
suits In experience of the adoption Of
the eight-hodr day in railway trans
pOrtatiOn alike for the men and fol
the railroads.
Fourth, explicit approval by the con
gress of the consideration by the in
terstate commerce commission Of al
increase Of freight rates to meet sucl
additional expenditures by the rail
roads as may have been rendered nee
essary by the adoption of the eight
hour day and which have not been of
set by administrative readjustment
and economies, should the facts dis
closed justify the increase.
Fifth, an amendment of the exIstin
federal statute which provides for tn
mediation, Cancellation, and arbitration
of such controversies as the presen
by adding to 1t provision that, In cas-
the methods OF accommodation nov
provided for should fail, a full publ
investigation of the merits of ever
such dispute shall be instituted an
completed before a strike or lockou
may lawfully be attempted.
And; sixth. the lodgment in tn
hands Of the executive Of the power
in case Of military necessity, to talk
control of such portions and such roll
ing stock of the railroads of the couI
try as may be required for milltar
use and to operate them for militar
purposes, with authority to draft int
the military service Of the Unite
States such train crews and admins
trative officials as the circumstance
require for their safe and efficient us'
Renews His Recommendations.
The second and third of these re'
concentrations the congress immediat'
ly acted on: 1t established the eigh
hour day as the legal basis Of wor
and wages in train service and it al
thorized the appointment of a con
mission to observe and report upon til
practical results, deeming these til
measures most Immediately needed