The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1916-12-08

been Offset by administrative read
justments and economies, should the
lacts disclosed justify the increase.
Fifth, al amendment of the exist
ing federal statute which provides
Tor the mediation, Cancellation ana
arbitration OF such controversies as
the present by adding to It a pro-
vision that, in case the methods vi
accommodation now provided for
should fail, d full public investigation
OF the merits OF every such dispute
snall be instituted and completed be-
tore strike or lockout may lawfully
be attempted.
And sixth, the lodgment in the
hands 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 couu-
try as may be required for military
use and to operate them for military
purposes, with authority to draft into
the military service Of the United
States such train crews ana admins
trative officials as the circumstances
require for their safe and efficient
use.
What Has Been Done.
THE second and third of these rec
concentrations the congress imme-
diately acted on 1t established the
eight hour day as the legal basis Oh
work and wages in train service aha
it authorized the appointment Of d
commission to observe and report
upon the practical results, deeming
these the measures most Immediately
needed; but it postponed action upon
the other suggestions until an oppor-
tunity should be offered for more
! deliberate consideration Of them. The
! fourth recommendation I do not deem
it necessary to renew. The power c.
the interstate commerce commission
to grant an increase of rates on the
ground referred to is indisputably
clear and a recommendation by the
congress with regard to such a matter
might seem to draw in question the
scope of the commissions authority
or it's inclination to do justice wheh
there is no reason to odubt either.
"The other suggestions-the in
crease in the interstate commerce
commissions membership and in its
facilities for performing its manitoba
duties, the provision for full public
/ investigation and assessment of indus
trial disputes, and the grant to the
executive of the power to control and
! operate the railways when necessary
| in time of war or other like public
necessity now very earnestly re-
new.
"The necessity for such legislation
| is manifest and pressing. Those who
| have entrusted us with the RESPONSE
bility and duty Of serving and SAFE
guarding them in such matters would
find it hard, | believe, to excuse a
failure to act upon these grave mat
tiers or any unnecessary postponement
Of action upon them.
"Not only does the interstate COM
! merce commission now fEd it prac-
tically impossible, with it's present
membership and organization, to per-
form its great functions promptly and
thoroughly but it is not unlikely that
it may presently be found advisable
to add to its duties still others equally
| heavy and exacting. 1t must first be
| perfected as an administrative instru-
ment
"rhe country can not and should
not consent to remain any longer ex-
posed to profound Industrial disturb
ances for lack of additional means OF
arbitration and conciliation which the
congress can easily and promptly
supply. And all will agree that there
mast be no doubt as to the power OF
The executive to make immediate and
uninterrupted use Of the railroads fol
the concentration of the military
forces of the nation wherever they
are needed and whenever they are
needd.
Argues Its Own Case.
''This is a programme OF regulation
| prevention and administrative eff
cheney which argues it's own case in
the mere statement Of it. With re-
gard to one of its items, the increase
in the efficiency of the interstate COM
merce commission, the house of rep
resentatives has already acted; its ac-
ton needs only the concurrence OF
the senate.
"I would hesitate to recommend,
and I dare say the congress would
hesitate to act upon the suggestion
should / make it, that any man in
any occupation should be obliged by
law to continue in an employment
which he desired to leave. To pass
a law/which forbade or prevented the
individual >workmen to leave his Work
before receiving the approval of So
cictv in doing so would be to adopt
q new principle into our Jurisprudence
which I take it for granted We are
not prepared to introduce. But the
proposal that the operation of the