Weekly journal-miner., 1916-12-13

in case of military necessity, to take
 control of such portions and such roll.
 ing stock of the railways as may be
 required for military use and to oper'
 ate them for military purposes. with
 authority to draft into the military
 service of the United States such train
 crews and administrative officials q.
 the circumstances require for their safe and efficient use.
 The second and third of these rec concentrations the congress immedi- ately acted on: it established the eight-hour day as the legal basis oi work and wages in train service and it authorized the appointment Of a commission to observe and report up- on the practical results, deeming these the measures most immediately need ed; but it postponed action upon the other suggestions until an opportun- | ity should be offered for a more de- liberate consideration of them. The fourth recommendation do not deem it necessary to renew. The power of the interstate commerce commission to grant an increase of rates on the ground referred to is indisputably clear and recommendation by the congress with regard to such a matter might seem to draw in question the scope of the commissions authority or its inclination to do justice when there is no reason to doubt either. Renews Suggestions.
 The other suggestions, - the in crease in the interstate commerce commissions membership and in its facilities for performing its manifold duties, the provision for full public investigation and assessment of in dustrial disputes, and the grant to the executive of the power to control and operate the railways when necessary in time of war or other like public necessity,-I now very earnestly re- new.
 The necessity for such legislation is manifest and pressing. Those who have entrusted us with the responsi- bility and duty of serving and safe guarding them in such matters would find it hard, I believe, to excuse a failure to act upon these grave mat ters or any unnecessary postpone ment of action upon them.
 Not only does the interstate com merce commission now find it prac- tically impossible, with its present membership and organization, to per form its great functions promptly and thoroughly but it is not unlikely that it may presently be found advisable to add to its duties still others equally heavy and exacting. It must first be perfected as an administrative instru- ment.
 The country cannot and should no; consent to remain any longer exposed to profound industrial disturbances for lack of additional means of arbi- tration and conciliation which the congress can easily and promptly supply. And all will agree that there must be no doubt as to the power of the executive to make immediate and uninterrupted use of the railroads for the concentration of the military forces of the nation wherever they are needed and whenever they are needed
 This is a program of regulation. prevention, and administrative effici- ency which argues its own case in tho mere statement of it. With regard to one of its items, the increase in the efficiency of the interstate commerce commission, the house of representa-. lives has already acted: its action needs only the concurrence of the senate.
 I would hesitate to recommend, and I dare say the congress would hesi- tate to act upon the suggestion should I make it, that any man in any occu- patton should be obliged by law to continue in an employment which he desired to leave. To pass law which forbade or prevented the individual workman to leave his work before re- ceiving the approval of society in do- ing so would be to adopt a new principle into our jurisprudence which I take it for granted we are not pre- pared to introduce. But the proposal that the operation of the railways of the country shall not be stopped or by the concerted action of organized bodies Of men until a l public investigation shall have been instituted which shall make the whole l question at issue plain for the judg- | ment of the opinion of the nation is