The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1916-12-07

SiueratlOn OF them. Inc louIth I'N-
ommendatlOn | do not deem II neces-
sary 10 renew. The power 81 the In
terstate commerce commission to grant
an Increase OF rates on the ground re-
ferred to is lndlsputably clear and q
recommendation by the congress with
regard TO such matter might seem to
draw In question the scope Of the com
missions authority or It's inclination to
do Justice when there Is no reason TO
doubt either.
The other suggestions-the Increase
in the interstate commerce commits
slon's membership and in its facilities
for performing It's manifold duties, the
provision 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 war
or other like public necessity now
very earnestly renew.
The necessity for such legislation Is
manifest and pressing. Those who have
lntrusted us with the responsibility
and duty OF serving and safeguarding
them in such matters would find It
hard. believe, 10 excuse a failure to
act upon these grave matters or any
unnecessary postponement OF action
upon them.
Not only does the interstate COM
merce commission now find II practi-
cally impossible, with It's present men,
bershlp and organization, to perform
It's great functions promptly and thor
oughly. but Il Is not unlikely that II
may presently be found advisable to
add 10 It's duties stlll others equally
heavy and exactlng II must first be
perfected as an administrative instru-
ment.
The country cannot and should not
consent 10 remain any longer exposed
10 profound Industrial disturbances for
lack Of additional means Of arbltra.
ton and Cancellation which the con-
greSs can easily and promptly supply.
And an will agree that there must be
no doubt as 10 the power Of the eXeeu-
tive TO make immediate and uninter-
rupted use Of the railroads for the con
centratlon Of the military forces Of the
nation wherever they are needed and
whenever they are needed.
This is program Of regulation, pre-
vpntlon and administrative efficiency
which argues It's own case In the mere
statement OF IT, With regard TO one
OF it's items, the Increase In the eff.
cheney Of the interstate commerce com.
mission, the house of representatives
has already acted; It's action needs
only the concurrence OF the senate.
For Control and Operation.
would hesitate 20 recommend, and
/ dare say the congress would hesitate
to act upon the suggestion should /
make IT, that any man In any Occupa.
tion should be obliged by law to con-
tiuue In an employment which he de-
sired 10 leave. To pass a law which
forbade or prevented the individual
workman TO leave his work before re-
ceiving the approval Of society In do
ing so would be TO adopt a new prln-
cipIe into our Jurisprudence which !
take lt for granted we are not prepared
TO Introduce. But the proposal that
the operation Of the railways Of the
country shall not be stopped or inter
rupted by the concerted action Of or
gauIzed bodies Of men until a public
Investigation shall have been Instituted
which shall make the whole question
az issue plain for the judgment Of the
opinion Of the nation is not 20 propose
any such principle. It Is based upon
the very different principle that the con
Certed action OF powerful bodies Of men
shall not be permitted TO stop the in
duStrial processes OF the nation, at any
rate before the nation shall have had
an opportunity to acqualnt itself with
the merits OF the case as between en-
ployee and employer, time to form It's
opinion upon an impartial statement
Of the merits, and opportunity to con.
slider all practicable means OF concllla-
ton or arbitration.
can see nothing In that proposition
but the justltiable safeguarding by so
ciety Of the necessary processes Of
It's very life. There Is nothing arbl-
trary or unjust In IL unless It be arbl-
trarily and unjustly done. It can and
should De done with a full and scrupu-
lous regard for the interests and llber-
ties Of an concerned as we'll as for the
permanent interests Of society itself
Other Legislation Urged.
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 10 those engaged In pro-
noting the foreign commerce Of the
country than Is now thought by some
TO be legal under the terms Of the laws
against monopoly; the bill amending
the present organic law OF Porto Rico /;
and the bin proposing a more thor
ough and systematic regulation Of the
expenditure Of money In elections, com.
monty called the Corrupt Practices Act
| need not labor my advice that these
measures be enacted into law. Their
urgency lies in the manifest circum-
stances which render their adoption AT
this time not only opportune but neces.
sary. Even delay would seriously
leopard the interests Of the country
and of the government.
Immediate passage Of the bill to reg