Arizona republican., 1916-12-06

results m experience of the adoption of the eight-hour day in railway transportation alike for the men and 1 for the railroads.
 Fourth. explicit approval by the congress of the consideration by. the | Interstate Commerce Commission Of an increase of freight rates to meet such additional expenditures by the | | railroads as may have been rendered | necessary by the adoption of the | l eight-hour day and which have not | been offset by administrative read | iustments and economies, should the | facts disclosed justify the increase. @ifth. an amendment Of the exist 1 ing federal statute. which provides for the mediation, conciliation. and | | arbitration Of such controversies as 1 the present by adding to 1t pro- vision that in case the methods of accommodation now provided for ! | should fail, a full public investigation | Of the merits of every dispute shall | be instituted and completed before q strike<or lockout may lawfully be at l tempted
 And sixth. the Judgement in the hands of the executive of the power in ease of military necessity. to take | control of such portions and such ! rolling stock Of the railways of the l country as may be required for mill | tary use and to operate them for mill tary purposes. with authority to draft 1 into the military service of the Unit 1 ed States such train crews and ad- ministrative officials as the circum- stances require for their safe and i efficient use.
 The second and third of these rec i concentrations the Congress immedi- 1 ately acted on: il established the eight-hcur day as the legal basis of work and wages In train service and it authorized the appointment of q commission to observe and report up- or the practical results. deeming these the measures most immediately need ed but it postponed action upon the other suggestion until an opportunity should he offered for q more deliber- ate consideration of them The fourth recommendation l do not deem it necessary to renew. The power O. ] the Interstate Commerce commission 10 grant an increase of rates on the ground referred 10 Is indisputably clear and a recommendation by the congress with regard 10 such a matter might seem 10 draw in question the scope of the commissions authority or it's inclinatlOn' to do justice when there Is no reason to doubt either.
 The other suggestions,-the increase in the Interstate Commerce commiE- sion's membership and its facilities for performing it's manifold duties. the provisions for full public investigation and assessment of industrial disputes and the grant to the executive Of the power to control and operate the rail- ways when necessary In time of wal or other like necessity.-l now very earnestly renew.
 Need is Imperative
 The necessity for such legislation is
 
 have entrusted us with the responsi- hility and duty of serving and safe guarding them in such matters would [ find it hard l believe. 10 excuse a failure tO act upon these grave mat ters or any unnecessary postpOnement 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 r form it's great functions promptly and . thoroughly but it is not unlikely that , it may presently be found advisable { 10 add to it's duties still others equally heavy and exacting. IL must first be , perfected as an administrative in- strument.
 The country cannot and should not consent to remain any longer exposed i to profound industrial disturbances for i lack of additional means of arbitra- , tion and conciliation which the con- , gress can easily and promptly supply. And all will agree that there must be no doubt as to the power of the exc cuiive 10 make immediate and unin- terrupted 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 q program of regulation, prevention. and administrative eff ciency of the Interstate Commerce commission, the house of repre- sentatives has already acted: Its ac- 1, tion needs only the concurrence of the senate.
 would hesitate to recommend. and dare say the congress would hesitate 10 act upon the suggestion should 1 make ii. that any man in any occupa- ton should be obliged by law to con- , tinue in an employment which he desired to leave. To pass law which. forbade or prevented the individual workman to leave his work before re- eeiving the approval of society in do- ing so would be to adopt new prin- ciple into our Jurisprudence which 1 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 in terrupted by the concerted action of l piSafllItu pOultS OI men untii a DuDliC investigation shall have been instituted which shall make the whole question at issue plain for the judgement of the opinion of the nation Is not to pro- pose any such principle. It is based upon the very different principle that the concerted action of powerful bodies of men shall not be permitted to stop the industrial processes of the nation, at any rate before the nation shall have had an opportunity to acquaint itself with the merits of the case as between employe and employer, time to form it's opinion upon an impartial statement of the merits and opportun- ity to consider all practicable means of conciliation or arbitration. can see nothing in that proposition but the justiflahle safeguarding by society of the necessary processes of it's very fife There in nothing arbitrary or unjust In 1t unless 1t be arbitrarily and un- justly done. It can and should be done with a full and scrupulous regard for the interests and liberties of all con cerned as well as for the permanent interests of society itself
 To Promote Foreign Commerce
 Three matters of capital importance await the action of the senate which have already been acted upon by the house of representatives: the bill which seeks to extend greater freedom of combination to those engaged in promoting the foreign commerce of the country than is now thought by