The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1916-12-09
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 imperstIvely Neces-
sary by the chief Magistrate.


Washington, Dec. 9Th" senate
and house met in joint session today
and heard President wilson message
which was us follows:
Gentlemen OF III" Congress:
In fulfilling AT this Tune the dH'y iaid
upon IN" by IN" Constitution "i com
municatinE % you from time 10 uIAe
information OF IA" state OF 'he IhI"h
and recommending To- Your '"hslu'E"-
ton such legislative measures as may
be Judged necessary ana exponent l
shall continue the practice, when l
hope has been acceptable 10 you, OF
leaving to the reports Of III" several
heads Of the executive departments me
elaboration OF the detailed needs al
the public service ana c"ni.u" "tN'II
10 those matters Of NOR" general pub
lie policy with which it seems nccrS-
sary and feasible I" deal at the pres
ent session of the congress.
l realize the limitations Of tim" IN
der which you VIII necessarily act al
this session and snail make my ShG-
geStionS as few as possible; but there
were some things left undoHe at the
last session which th"r" viii now be
time Ia complete and which 1t seems
necessary in the interest OF the pubic
10 do at once.
In the first place. II seems 10 me I'M
peratively necessary that III" 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 your 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 bv the senate. in order that the
commission NAV be enabled 70 deal
with the MANY great and yorious duties
now devolvinr unon II with nromnt-
ness and tborouphness which ora with
its present constitution and means Of
action nrocticoIIv imnossibIo
Second tho establishment of nm
eight-hour day ms the Local bosis alike
NJ vorl, and of u.ocos In tho o,,,lo,,-
ment of all railway emnIovaes who ora
actuoIIv engored In tbo u.or,, 90 o,,o--
atinp trains IN iptorstoto tronsror+o
tion
Third the authorization of tho an
pointment nv tba nrasidan+ NJ s,,or,
body Of mon 70 observe tho octroI 70
suIts IN evnarianco NJ tho odontion ..
the eirht-bour dov In -oiIrro,, +-o,s
portotion alike for tho mon ond -or
the railroads
Fourth exnIIcit onnrovoI b,, ,bo oo,,-
gress Of the consideration nv tho In
terstate commercn commission 90
increase of freight rotas IN moot s,,ob
additional expenditures nv tho roi1-
roads as NAV have been rendered. moe
essary by the adoption Of tho aicbt-
hour day and which have nor heen ~,
set by administrative reodiustments
and economies shouId tho focts at
closed Justify the increase
Fifth. an amendment Of tho avisting
federal statute which provides for the
mediation. Cancellation. md arbitration
Of such controversies rs the present
by adding to II a provision that, in case
the methods of accommodation now
provided for should fail. full public