Omaha daily bee., 1916-08-30

organization of the Interstate Com
merce commission along the lines en-
bodied in the bill recently passed by
the house Of representatives and now
awaiting action by the senate; in or
der that the commission may be ena-
bled to deal with the many great and
various duties now devolving upon it
with promptness and thoroughness
which are, with its present constitu-
ton and means of action, practically
impossible.
Second, the establishment OF an
eight-hour day as the legal basis alike
OF work and wages in the employment
of all railroad employees, who are &C
tually engaged in the work OF opera
ting trains in interstate transportation.
Third, the authorization of the ap-
pointment by the president Of small
body OF men to observe the actual
results in experience OF the adoption
of the eigf1t-hour day in railway trans
portation alike for the men and for
the railroads, its effects in the matter
of operating costs, in the application
OF the existing practices and agree
hlSutS " tilC HCW IOluitiOHs anu Ill
all other practical aspects, with the
provision that the investigators shall
report their conclusions to the con-
gress at the earliest possible date, but
without recommendation as to legsla-
tive action, in. order that the public
may learn from an unprejudiced
source just wnal aclu.l -. llopments
have ensued.
Higher Freight Rates.
Fourth, explicit approval by the
congress of the consideration by the
Interstate Commerce commission of
an increase of freight rates to meet
such additional expenditures by the
railroads as may have been rendered
necessary by the adoption of the
eight-hour day, and which have not
been offset by administrative read
justments and economies, should the
facts disclosed justify the increase.
Fifth, an amendment Of the exist
ing federal stateute which provides for
the mediation, Cancellation and arbi-
tration OF such controversies as the
present by adding to it a provision
that in case the methods of accom-
mediation now provided for you
should fail, full public investigation
of the merits OF every such dispute
shall be instituted and completed be-
fore strike or lockout may lawfully
be attempted.
"And, sixth, the Judgment in the
hands of the executive of the power,
in case OF military necessity, to take
control of such portions and such
rolling stock of the railways of the
country as may be required for mill
tary use, and to operate them for
military purposes, with authority to
draft into the military service of the
United States such train crews and
administrative officials as the circum.
stances require for their safe and
efficient use.
National Defense Important.
| This last suggestion I make be.
cause we cannot in any circumstance.
suffer the nation to be hampered ir
the essential matter of national de,
Tense. At the present moment cir.
cumstances render this duty particu
larly obvious. Almost the entire mill
tary. force of the nation is stationed
upon the Mexican border to guarc
our territory against hostile raids. 1
must be supplied and steadily sup
, piled, with whatever it needs for it!
: maintenance and efficiency. If i
. should be necessary for purposes o
, national defense to transfer any por
, ton OF it upon short notice to SOM
. other part Of the country, for reason
now unforeseen, ample means o
transportation must be available an,
t available without delay. The powe
. conferred in this matter should b.
, carefully and explicitly limited t,
: cases OF military necessities, but in al
: such cases it should be made clea
and ample.
There is one other thing we shout
do if we are true champions of arb
r tration. We should make all arb
! trail awards, judgments by record of
! court OF law, in order that their in
, depreciation and enforcement may liz
not with one of the parties to the ar
/ bitration, but with an impartial an
!, authoritative tribunal.
81 these things urge upon you, nc
; in haste, nor merely as means c
/ meeting a present emergency, but a
; permanent and necessary additions t
r the law of the land, suggested, indeed
I by circumstances we had hoped neve
to see, but imperative as well as jus
il such emergencies are to be prevent
|, ed in the future. | feel that no eS
T, tended argument is needed to CON