The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1916-12-07
presidents Address to Both
Houses Is Quite Short.
RAIL TROUBLES COME FIRST
Further Legislation on That Line Is
Strongly Recommended-BiIl Civ
ing Foreign Commerce Promo
tiers Free Hand Necessary.

alOn The address wnS as follows:
Gentlemen Of the Congress-:
In fulfilling ut this time the duty lnir
upon me by the Constitution of con,
municating to YOU from time to time
information Of the state Of the Union
and recommending to your considern.
non Such legislative measures as may
be judged necessary and cXpedcnt |
shai continue the practice, which I
Nope has been acceptable to YOU. of
leaving to the reports OF the several
beads of the executive departments the
elaboration OF the detailed needs or
the public service and contlne myself
80 those matters OF more general pub
nc policy with which 1t seems nrces-
gary and feasible to deal at the pres.
aB! session of the congress.
realize the limitations OF time nm
Der Which YOU Will necessarily act at
this session and shall mike my suy-
RestSonS as few as possible; but there
were some things left und0nc at the
last session which there will now br
time to complete and which It seems
necessary in the interest Of the public
to do at once.
IN Tic first place, It seems TO mo i'm
pcra'ivcly necessary that the eurlirs,
pnSsii'c consideration ana nc,ion
Sh"hso u" accorded the remaining
measures OF the program Of settle
m"nt and regulation which 7 hnd occn
SION 70 recommend to YOU nt the close
o! your last session in view Of the pub.
ne dangers disclosed by the unnrron.
mooat"d difficulties which then existed
aho "hich still unhappily continue to
exist between the railroads of ,ho
country and their locomotive engineers
contractors. and trainmcn.
Railway Troubles First.
i then recommended.
flrSt, immediate provision for the
enlargement and administrative r.nr
gahiZAhon Of the Interstate commerce,
commission along the lines cmbodi,J
fh me PHI recently passed by the house
:" representatives and now awaiting
acu"h ny the senate; In order that tho
commission may be enabled to deal
WIN IN" many great and various duties
no" devolving upon It with prompt
ness and thoroughneSS which are. with
ms present constitution and means of
Rch"h. practically impossible.
Second. the establishment of mn
eifht-h"nr day as In" legal basis alike
OF WORK ana OF wages in the employ.
m'ht "' ali railway employees who are
h0na'ly engaged In The work of oprr
a'in- rains in Interstate tranSu,rto.
fion.
l''rd IN" authorization Of the nm
continent hy ,h" president of a small
hn0y az men to observe The nctuol r,.
suits ~ experience" Of the ndop,ion of
me "IGhih"lr day in railway trans
p"r'h'j"'' h'tk" for tn" men and for
tn" railroads.
'"EF''i' explicit approval by the con.
s'SS> "' The consideration hy the in
''' >'H'' commerce commission of nm
'"'i ease or freight rates to meet such
a"o''i"hh' expenditures by the rail
'"nhS rs may have been rendered nee.
eSSary hy the adoption OF the eight
hour day and which have not been or.
a"' ny administrative establishments
hho economies. should the facts dis.
crossed Justify the increase.
fhtn, an amendment OF the existing |
ie0efhi statute which provides for the |
"''olh'l"n. conciliatiOn, and arbitration |
"l Sh'h controversies as the present |
%! hdding To II n provision that, in case
10" methods Of accommodation now
PROVIDED for should fail Il full public |
Investigation of the merits of every
an@h dispute shall be instituted and
competed before strike or lockout
may lawfully bc attempted
And' sixth. the lOdgment In the
hands Of the executive OF the power,
IN case OF military necessity. to take
control "f such portions and such roll.
Ing stock of the railroads of the coun-
Try as may he 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 admits.
trative officials as the circumstances
.rfqnirc Tor their safe and cnicicn, use.
Renews His Recommend ations.
The second and third or these req
: concentrations the congress immcdute
~ acted on: 1t established the eight
hour day as the legal basis of worl,
'hha wages In train service and II an.
''"'r'H'a the appointment OF "a com.
MISSION 10 observe and report iipon the
p"'''ca' results. deeming these the
measures most Immediately needed;
""' ~ postponed action upon the other
"sS"s''"hs until an opportunity should
p' oh'r'd for Il more deliberate con.
~'"er"'loh of them. The fourth rec
"''''hehdation ] do not deem 1t neces-
@"' 70 renew. The power Of the in
Eers'"'e commerce commission to grant
an increase of rates on the ground re-
aefred to is indisputably clear and a
recommendation by the congress with