Evening journal., 1916-09-20

there tonight and viii deliver six
speeches en- route.
Legislation Without Inquiry.
Mr.. Hughes. after declaring, ''the
iust interests OF labor are the concern
of ALL" and asserting that he desired
10 see safe and wholesome conditions
of work, adequate opportunities for
education and recreation, reasonable
hours OF labor. and fair wages, said:
"The Adamson bill is a force bill. IL
was legislation without inquiry, with
out knowledge Tho demand by the
administration for such legislation as
the price OF peace was a humiliating
spectacle. II was not only a serious
misuse OF official power. but a deplor-
able abdication OF moral authority.
"The excuses presented are futile.
The AdamsOn bill Is not a bill pro-
viding for an eight-hour work day.
II does not fix hours at all. II regu-
lates wages. It's provisions do not
require any employer to employ any
set OF men for only eight hours a
day. Elght-hour day laws are 10
avoid fatigue and overstrain by pro
hibitirs employment in excess OF the
requirement. There is nothing OF
this.
What il does Is TO provide by law
for an increase in wages for certain
men. They may work just as long
as before They may work ten
or more. They are simply to get
more pay. The act provides that in
contracts for labor and service eight
hours shall be deemed a days work,
and the measure or standard OF a
days work for the purpose of reck-
oning the compensation for service
to all employees OF the sort described"
Pointing out that the Adamson bill
itself conceded that the subject was
one requiring investigation, Mr..
Hughes said that il there was any
thing requiring a careful inquiry It
was n proposition affecting read
justment other than OF rates and OF
expenses OF carriers on whose ett-
cheney "the community depends" He
continued:
'What Is fair and right must be
done, but what is fair and right must
first be ascertained. When railroads
arc required to eXpend additional
millions, this burden must ult-
mately fall on the public. II expenses
are necessarily increased beyond
what existing rates will stand, the
rates must be increased.
1T was proposed in substance by
the administration that increased
rates should be charged TO shippers
so far as required to pay this in
crease OF wages. Assurance was
given that no obstacle OF law would
be suffered TO stand in tho way OF
the railroads I'm increasing their
revenue to meet resulting increases
in the expenses so far as develop
mont OF their business and OF their
administrative efficiency did not
prove adequate to meet them.
Public Must Pay BIZ.
I'VE may pause TO ask what is the
significance OF this reference 70 OBJ
stacle of law The law provides for
reasonable rates and an appropriate
proceeding for fixing OF reasonable
rates by the Interstate Commerce
Commission. We're these proceedings
and the provisions Of law the'obstacles
OF law to which reference was made?
We're they to be overcome. II neces-
sary, to accomplish the desired In
crease?
at must be understood that the
burden OF increased rates IS passed 10
the public. II necessarily affects a
host OF activities. agricultural and in
dustrial.
"Manifestly we have here an ex-
tremely intricate question Of rates and
outlays What was the manifest duty
Of the Executive? Plainly 10 insist
that investigation should precede ac-
tion and that nothing should be yield