The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1916-12-05

'NfI Nflll 10 fbUEItSN ! TtSlutlll
Wilson urges that early action
be- taken 10 complete his pro
gram of settlement and regulation"
recommended at the last session. The
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 10 you from time 10
time information of the state of the
Union and recommending 10 your con
sidcratlon such legislative measures ns
may bc Judged necessary and eXpcdi.
ent shall continue the practice. which
| hope has been acceptable to you. Of
leaving 10 the reports Of the several
heads NJ the executive departments
the elaboration Of the detailed needs
Of the public service and conhnc my.
self 10 those matters of more general
public policy with which 1t seems nee
essnry and feasible to deal at the pres.
ent session Of the congress.
| realize the limitations Of time I'M
der which you win necessarily net at
this session and shall make my sug-
Fcstions ns few as possible But there
were some things left undone at the
last session which there will now hc
time "a complete and which II seems
necessary IN the Interest OF the public,
10 do at once
The Railroad Problem.
In the first place, IL seems To me I'M
pcrntively necessary that the earliest
possible consideration and action
should be accorded the remaining
measures of the program of settlement
and regulation which had occasion 10
recommend to you at the close of your
last session In view Of the public dan
gers disclosed by the unaccommodatcd
difficulties which then existed and
which still unhappily continue TO cx
LIST between the railroads of the coun
try and their locomotive engineers.
conductors and tralnmcn.
then recommended:
First, immediate provision for the
enlargement and administrative reor-
ganlzatlon Of the Interstate commerce
commission along the lines embodied
In the hill recently passed 10y the house
Of representatives and now awaiting
action 10y the senate I'm order that the
commission may be enabled to deal
with the many great and various du
ties now dcyolving upon 1t with a|
promptncss and thoroughness which
nrc, with its present constitution aud
means " action. practically impossible
Second. the establishment Of an eight
hour day as the legal basis alike Of
work and of wages I'm the employment
Of all railway employees who are nc
many engaged in the work Of opcrat
Ing trains IN Interstate transportation.
Third. the authorization % the up
pontmcut 10y the president Of n small
body of men 10 ohscI,c the actual re-
suits In experience Of the adoption oi
the eight hour day I'm railway transpor
tatIou alike for the men and for the
railroads
Fourth explicit approval 10y the con
Crcss uf the consideration 10y the In
tcrstate commerce commission Of uu
increase uf freight rates 10 meet such
additional expenditures 10y the rail
roads as may have been rendered nee
cssary hv the adoption OF the eight
hour day and which have not been OIL
set 10y administrative read]ustmcnis
and economies. should the facts lis
closed Justify the increase
Firh. au amendment OF the cNistiu-
federal statute which provides for the
mediation, Cancellation and arbitratiuu
~ such controversies as the present b,
adding 10 IL provision that. IN case
the methods of accommodation nov
provided for should fail. "a fun publ.
Investigation " the merits Of evcry
such dispute shall he instituted uuJ
completed before a strike or lockuul
may lawfully be- attempted.
Control by the Executive
And. sixth. the lodgment I'm the
hands OF the executive Of the power
ir cas-" uf military necessity. to take
contro, ol such portions and such roll
ing stock ~ the railways of the cuuu.
try as may Doe required for military
use aud to Operate them for military
purposes, with authority 10 draft into
the military service uf the Unite
States such train crews and admins
tratiye officials as the circumstance
require Tor their safe and efficient use
The second and third uf these res
concentrations the congress immediate
~ acted on: Il established the eiehi
hour DAY as the legal basis of work
aud wages In train service and IL Hu
thorizcd The appointment of cummIS
sion Co observe and report upon the
practical results. decmiuc these the
measures most Immediately netylcd. but
81 postponed action upon the other >us.
rcstions until an opportunity should be-
offered Tor a more deliberate consider.
alton Of them.
The fourth Recommendation | do not I
deem it necessary TO renew. The p0w