French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1916-1919, 1916-12-14
Two Recommendations Acted On.

I IWV observation-disclosures u
The second and third OF these recon-
mendations the Congress Immediately
acted on; it established the e1ght-houE
| day as the legal basis of work ana
wages in train service and 1t autnorlz-
! ed the appointment of commission 10
observe and report upon the practlcal
results, deeming these the measures
most Immediately needed; but 1t post
poned action upon the other sugges-
lions until an opportunity should be
offered for a more deliberate consider
alton of them. The fourth recOmmen-
ration l do not deem it necessary 10
renw. The power of the Interstate
Commerce Commission to grant an IN
crease of rates on the ground referred
to is indisputably clear and recon-
mendation by the Congress with re-
gard to such a 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
SiOn's membership and in its facilities
for performing its 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 necessity now very
earnestly renew.
The necessity for such legislation is
manifest and pressing. Those who
have entrusted me with the respOn-
sibility and duty Of serving and safe
guarding them in such matters would
find it hard l believe, to excuse fail
ure to act upon these grave matters or
any unnecessary pOstpOnement of &C
ton upon them.
Not only does the Interstate Com
merce Commission now find it practi-
cally impossible, with its present Mem
bership and organization, to perform
its great functions promptly and thor
oughly but it is not unlikely that it
may presently be found advisable to
add to it's duties still others equally
heavy and eXacting. 1t must rst be
perfected as an administrative instru-
ment. $3.50
The country cannot and should not
consent to remain any longer exposed
to profound Industrial disturbances for
lack of additional means of arbitration
and Cancellation which the Congress
can easily and promptly supply. And
all will agree that there must ne no
doubt as to the power of the Executive
to make immediate and uninterruoie
use of the railroads for the concenIra-
ton of the military forces of the Ma
ton wherever they are needed and
whenever they are needed.
This is a program of regulation,
prevention, and administrative eficier-
cy which argues its own case in the
mere statement of it, With regard to
one of it's items, the increase in the
efficiency of the Interstate Commerce
Commission, the House of Representa-
tives has already acted; its acti n
needs only the concurrence of the Sen
ate.
I would hesitate to recommend. and
1 dare say the Congress would nesi-
tate to act upon the suggestion should
make it, that any man in any occu-
patton should be obliged by law to con-
tinue in an employment which he de-
sired to 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 new prin-
ciple into our Jurisprudence which |
take it 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
gained bodies of men until public
Investigation shall have been institut-
ed which shall make the whole ques
ton at issue plain for the judgment of
the opinion of the Nation is not to pro-
pose any such principle. 1t is based
upon the very different principle that