Yerington times. [volume] (Yerington, Nev.) 1907-1932, 1916-12-09
RAILROAD STRIKES AND
LOCKOUTS WILL Be
TAKEN CARE OF

President Wilson's address at the
opening of Congress was wholly de-
voted to domestic subjects, principally
the problem of railway legislation.
In the hall OF the House, with
Senators and Representatives assem-
bled in joint session, President w i.
son, in accordance with the custom ht
began at the opening of his terra, read
his address from the clerks desk.
The President not only renewed
his recommendation for Legislation
TO prevent nation wide railway
strike or lockout before there has
been opportunity for invca6eation.
but defended it against the attack Of
organized labor as nothing arbitrary
or unjust and the ''justi6able safe
guarding by society of the necessary
processes OF its very lrfe."
Aside from recommendations for
the passage OF the Porto Rico gov.
ernment bill. the corrupt practices
bill and the Webb bill to legalize
American collective selling agencict
abroad, the Presidents address was
devoted wholly to the railroad stu
alton. The only feature which has
not been forecast was the elimination
of the proposal that CONGRESS. givt
explicit approval to consideration by
the Interstate Commerce Commission
of an increase in freight rates C
meet additional expenditures by the
railroads caused by the operation o
the Adamson law.
The President took the position
that the power Of the Interstate Com
merce Commission TO grant ar
increase of rates on the ground re
feried to is indisputably clear and
recommendation by { ngress witl
regard to such matter mipht seen
to draw in question the scope OF the
commissions authority or its lnclina
ton to do justice when there IS n
reason to doubt either
The other recommendations on the
railroad situation made in special
message during the last session
which were not put into law, were
renewed They include.
Immediate provision for the en-
larpement and administrative reor
ganization OF the Interstate Com
merce Commission along the line:
embodied in the bill recently passe6
by the House of Representatives and
HOW GNdttiHS dttibli bN bitN NNhNNN
in order that the Commis sion may
be enabled TO deal with the many
great and various duties now devolv-
ing upon it with promptness and
thoroughness which are, in its preseni
constitution and means OF action
practically impossible.
AN amendment of the existing
federal statute which provides for
the mediation. conciliation. and arbi
tration of such controversies as the
present by adding to II provision
that. in case the methods of accom-
modation now provided Tor should
fail. full public investigation of tho
merits of every such dispute shall be
Instituted and completed before 2
strike or lockout may lawfully be
attempted. ,,
"The Judgement in the hands of the
executive OF the power IN case o
military necessity. to take control o
such portions OF such rolling stool
Of the railways of the country a
may be reoured for military use an
to operate them for military purposes
with authority to draft into the mil,
tary service of the United Staes sucl
train crews and administrative OF
fcials as the circumstances may re
quire for their safe and eihcient use.
The renewed recommendation tor
compulsory investigation of labor ~
putes on railways before strikes OF
-lockouts are allowed, which ha.
aroused the opposition of the railroad
brotherhoods, and of the American
Federation of Labor was defended
in the Presidents message. He de
clared he would hesitate to recon-
mend a law which would force In
dividual workmcn to continue in ar
employment which they desired tc
leave, but that no such principle was
involved in the suggestion that the
operation of the railroads OF the
country should be stopped by the
concentrated action of bodies OF mef
until a public Investigation Tor en-
benefit of the public has been IN
stituted.
at is based upon the very d.tferen'
principle" he continued, "that the
concentrated action of powerful.
bodies of men shall not be pcrmittef
to stop the industrial processes Of
the nation, at any rate before the
nation shall have had an opportunity
to acquaint itself with he merits OF
the case between employee and EN-
plover, time to form its opinion upor
an impartial statement Of the merits
anda daopportunity to consider all prac
ticable means of conciliation or ar
bitration. can see nothing i'll thai
proposition but the iustifiable safe
guarding bv societv of the necessary
processes Of its very life There j.
nothing arbitrary or unjust in i