The Benson signal., 1916-12-09

sideratiOn of them. The fourth rec
ommendation l do not deem it neces-
sary to renew. The power of the in
terstate commerce commission to grant
an increase of rates on the ground re-
ferred to is indisputably clear and
recommendation by the congress with
regard 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 it's 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 sIaEh legislation is
manifest and pressing. Those who have
intrusted us with the responsibility
and duty of serving and safeguarding
them in such matters would find it
hard, I believe, to 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 1t pract1-
cally impossible, with it's present mem
bership and organization, to perform
it's 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 first be
perfected as an administrative instru-
ment.
The country cannot and should not
consent to remain any longer exposed
to profound industrial disturbances for
lack Of additional means Of arbitra-
ton and cOnciliatiOn which the con-
gress can easily and promptly supply.
And all will agree that there must be
no doubt as to the power of the execu-
tive to make immediate and uninter-
rupted use of the railroads for the con-
nation wherever they are needed and
whenever they are needed.
This is program of regulation, pre-
ventiOn 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.
I would hesitate to recommend, and
dare say the congress would hesitate
to act upon the suggestion should I
make it, that any man in any occupa-
ton 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 l
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
ganized bodies of men until public
investigation shall have been instituted
which shall make the whole question
at issue plain for the judgment of the
opinion of the nation is not to propose
any such principle. 1t 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 acquaint 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 concilia-
| tion or arbitration.
can see nothing in that proposition
but the justifiable safeguarding by So
c1ety OF the necessary processes of
it's very life. There is nothing arbi
trary or unjust in it unless it be arbi-
trarily and unjustly done. 1t can and
should be done with a full and scrupu-
lous regard for the interests and liber-
ties of all 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 to 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 bill proposing a more thor
ough and systematic regulation of the
expenditure Of money in elections, COM
monty called the Corrupt Practices Act.
I need not labor my advice that these