Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-12-05
Declares That Their Opera
ion Should Not Be Stopped
or interrupted by the Con-
certed Action Of Organized
Bodies Of Men Until 1 Pub
lie Investigation Shall Have
Been Instituted.

message in fun is as follows:
Gentlemen Of the Congress:
In fulfilling at this time the duty
laid upon ME by the constitution Of
communicating to you from time lo
time information OF the state OF tie
Union and recommending to your con
sideration such legislative measures a
may be judged necessary and expedi-
ent shall continue the practice. which
/ hope has been acceptable to you, OF
leaving to the reports of the several
heads Of the executive departments
the elaboration Of the detailed needs
| OF the public service and confine my
self to those matters OF more general
public policy with which 1t seems nee
essary and feasible to deal at the pres.
ent session Of the congress.
y realize the limitations OF time I'M
der which you will necessarily act at
this session and shall make my sug-
gestions as few as possible. But there
were some things left undone at the
last session which there will now be
time to complete and which II seems
necessary In the interest of the public
to do a. once.
The Railroad Problem.
In the first place it seems TO me i'm
peratively necessary that the earliest
possible consideration and action
should he accorded the remaining
mra sures OF he program of settlement
and regulation which had occasion to
-a..n,n.n.ni 70 YOU at the close Of your
last session 10 view Of the public dan
gers disclosed 10y the upaccommoda'ed
difficulties which then existed ana
which still unhappily continue TO e1-
lst between the railroads of the COIN
try and their locomotive engineers,
conductors and trainmen-
y teen recommended:
First, Immediate provision for the
enlargement and administrative reor'
gantZation OF the interstate commerce
commission along the lines embodied
In the bill recently passed by the house
OF representatives and now awaiting
action by the senate in order that the
commission may be enabled TO deal
with the ma ms great and various du-
ties now devoiving upon 1t with a
promptuess and thorouchness winch
are. with its present constitution ana
means OF action. practically Impossible.
Second The establishment of an eight
hour day rs the legal basis alike OF
work aud OF wages In the employment
Of all railway employees who are ac-
tualIy engaged in the work OF operat-
Ing trans in interstate transportation
Third. The authorization of the ap-
I,oinfmeut b[ tllc.rf,EeSidcnt OF small
body of men 10 observe the actEai re-
sul,s IN experience Of the adoption OF
the eight hour day in railway trarsifor-
tation alike for the men and for the
railroads.
Fourth. explicit approval by the con-
gress Of the econsideration by the IN
ltcrstate commerce commission or an
increase Of freight rates to meet such
additional expenditures by, the rail-
roads as may have been rendered nee
essary by the adoption of sthe eight
hour day and which have not been on
set by administrative establishments
and economies. should the facts DIS
closed justify the increase.
Fifth. an amendment Of the existin:
federal statute which provides for the
mediation. cancellation ard arbitration
Of SUCH controversies as the present BY
adding to Ii. a provision that. in case
| the methods Of accommodation now
provided for should fab. a full public
Investigation OF the merits OF every
such dispute shall be instituted and
completed before a strike or lockout
may lawfully be attempted.
Control BY the Executive.
And. sixth. the Judgment in the
hauds ,of the executive Of the power
In case Of military necessity, to TAKE
| control OF such portions and such roll
ing stock Of the railways of the coun
try as may be required for military
use and to operate them for militar,
purposes. with authority to draft int
the military service Of the Cnitet
| States such train crews and admins
trative oficials as the circumstances
| require for their safe and efficient use
The second and third Of these rec
concentrations the congress immediate
~ acted on: 1t established the eigh
hour day as the legal basis of worl
and wages in train service and It 40
thorized the appointment of commits
sion to observe and report upon th
practical results. deeming these th
measures most Immediately needed, bn
1t postponed action upon the other sue
gestions until an opportunity should b
offered for q more deliberate consider
alton Of them.
| The fourth recommendation do no
deem Il necessary to renew. The poN
er or The interstate commerce cOmmis
sion to grant an increase OF rates o.
the ground referred to Ii iDdisputabi,
clear, and 4 Recommendation BY n
congress with regard to such matts
might seem to draw In question u
scope Of the commissions authority .
it, inclina tton to do justice when tfief'
ID no reason to doubt either.
The other suggesti0nst the increas
in the interstate. commerce commits
sion's membership and In IT, facilifie
! for performing Its manifold duties, U
provision for full public 4nvestisatio
and assessment Of industrial dispuSe'