The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1916-08-30

Il yield to no man in firm adherence
alike of conviction and of purpose to
the principle Of arbitration in indus
trial disputes" said the president,
'ebut matters have come to a sudden
crisis in this particular dispute and
the country had been caught unpro-
vided with any practicable means
of enforcing that conviction in prac-
tice (by whose fault we will not now
stop to inquire). A situation had to
be met whose elements and fixed con-
ditions were indisputable.
"But / could only propose" he con-
tinued, II could not even govern the
will Of others who took an entirely
different view Of the circumstances
Of the case, who even refused to adj
NIT the circumstances to be what they
have turned out to be.
Having failed to bring the parties
to this critical controversy to an &C
commodation, therefore, turn to
you, deeming it clearly our duty as
public servants to leave nothing IN
done that we can 80 to safeguard the
life and interests of the nation. In
the spirit of such a purpose, l earn
estly recommend the following Tegis-
lation:
First, Immediate provision for the
enlargement and administrative re-
organization of the interstate com
merce commission along the lines en-
bodied in the bin recently passed by
the house of representatives and now
awaiting action by the senate; in or
der that the commission may be en-
abled to deal with the many great
and various duties now developing
upon it with a promptness and thor
oughness which are with its present
constitution and means Of o. action
practically impossible.
Second, the establishment of an
eight-hour day as the legal basis alike
Of work and of wages in the employ
ment of all railway employees VINO are
actually engaged in the work of OPP
Grating trains in interstate transpor-
tation.
Third the authorization Of the ap-
INpointment by the president Of a small
body of men to observe the actual
results in experience of the adoption
of the eight-hour day in railway
transportation alike for the men and
for the railroads; its effects in the
matter of operating costs, in the APP
plication of the existing practices and
agreements to the new conditions and
in all other practical aspects, with
the provision that the investigators
shall report their conclusions to the
congress at the earliest possible date
but. without recommendations as tC
legislative action; in order that the
public may learn from an unpreju
diced source, just what actual devel
opments have ensued.
Fourth, explicit approval by .tht
congress of the consideration by the
interstate commerce commission O.
an increase of freight rates to NEE
such additional expenditures by tn
railroads as may have been rendered
necessary by the adoption Of tn
eight-hour day and which have no
been offset by administrative read
: iustments and economies, should tn
facts disclosed justify the increase.
, Fifth, an amendment of the exist
ing federal statute which provides flo
! the mediation, Cancellation, and arb
. tration of such controversies as tn
present by adding to it a provisio
. that in case the methods of accommC
) dation now provided for should fail,
full public investigation of the merit
{ of every such dispute shall be inst
. tuted and completed before a strik
or lockout may lawfully be attempt
? ed.
. "And, sixth, the Judgment in tn
hands of the executive of the powe
= in case of military necessity, to tax
control of such portions and such rol
n ing stock of the railways of tn
, country as may be required for mil
: tary use and to operate them fl
military purposes, with authority |
e draft into military service of the I'm
0 ted States such train crews and al
= ministratiye officials as the circun
f stances require for their safe and e
:. ficient use.
o This last suggestion make b
r cause we cannot in any circumstance
a suffer the nation to be hampered
d the essential matter of national d
tense. At the present moment eli
s cumstances render this duty partic1
{ larly obvious. .-..
}. almost the entire military for,
o of the nation is stationed upon Il
r Mexican border to guard our tern
tory against hostile raids. 1t mu
be supplied, and steadily suppl,
with whatever it needs for its maj
Y tenance and efficiency.
eff it should be necessary for pu
q poses of national defense to transit
n any portion of it upon short mott
Il to some other part of the countr
!, for reason now unforeseen, amp
Ie means Of transportation must
available without delay.
Ie "The power conferred in this ma
s, ter should be carefully and explci
t, " limited to cases Of military nece