The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1916-12-07
president WILSON
ASKS FOR MORE
Declares That Their Opera
ton Should Not Be Stopped
or Interrupted by the Con-
certed Action Of Organized
Bodies Of Men Until a Pub
lie Investigation Shall Have
Been Instituted.

n y one OF the shortest neSsa ge'
ever sent to congress President
Wilson urges that early actor
be taken 10 complete his pro
gram OF settlement and regulation
recommended AT the last session. TIL,
message in full Is MS follows:
/ Gentlemen OF the Congress-
/ In fulfilling al this time the duty
/ laid upon me by the constitution OF
communicating 10 You from time &c
/ time information Of the state OF the
] Union and recommending TO your con
sideration such legislative measures as
/ may be judged necessary and eNpedi
ent shall continue the practice, which
! hope has been acceptable to YOU OF
/ leaving 10 the reports of the several
| heads Of the executive departments
the elaboration OF the detailed needs
OF the public service and coniine my
| self 10 those matters OF more general
public policy with which it seems nee
essary and feasible TO deal at the pres
ent session Of the congress.
realize the limitations OF time IN
der which YOU will necessarily act at
this session and shall make my sug.
gestlons rs few as possible. But there
were some things left undone at the
last session which there will now be
TO tRehfab ~
necessary in the interest of the public
to do at once
The Railroad Problem.
In the first place. 1t seems to me i'm
peratiyely necessary that the earliest
possible consideration and action
should he accorded the remaining
measures OF the program Of settlement
and regulation which had occasion TO
recommend 10 you at the close Of your
last session in view of the public dan
gers disclosed by the unaccommodated
difficulties which then existed and
which still unhappily continue to ex-
ist between the railroads of the coun-
try and their locomotive engineers
conductors and trainmen.
) then recommended:
First. immediate provision for the
enlargement and administrative reor-
ganization of the interstate commerce
commission along the lines embodied
in the bill recently passed by the house
OF representatives and now awaiting
action by the senate in order that the
commission may be enabled to deal
with the many great and various du
ties now deyolving upon 1t with
and th0roughness which
are. with its present constitution and
means of action, practically impossible.
SECOND. the establishment Of an eight
hour day as the legal basis alike of
work and OF wages In the employment
of all railway employees who are ac-
iually engaged in the work of operat-
ing trains In interstate transportation
Third. the authorization of the APP
pointment by the president of small
body of men 10 observe the actual re-
suits in experience Of the adoption of
The eight hour day in railway transpors
Iation alike for the men and for the
railroads.
Fourth, explicit approval by the con
gress of the consideration by the in
terstate commerce com mission of an
increase of freight rates to meet such
additional expenditures by the rail
roads as may have been rendered nee |
nssary By the adoption of the eight |
hour day asd which have not been of |
set by administrative readjustments |
md economies. should the facts dis /
.losch justify the increase.
Fifth. ~ amendment Of the existing |
'ederal statute which provides for the T
cancellation and arbitration
II such controversies as tpe present by
adding to ii a provision that, in case
he methods of accommodation now
provided Sor should fail. a full public
Of the merits OF every
uch dispute shall be instituted AMI
before strike or lockout
nay lawfully he attempted.
Control by the Executive.
And sixth the Judgment in the
lands OF the executive Of the power,
i case Of military necessity. TO take
ontroI OF such portions and such roll |
lg stock OF the railways Of the coun-
~ MS may be required for military
Sc and 10 operate them for military
urposes, with authority to draft into
be military service OF the United
tatcs such train crews and admins.
-ative officials as the circumstances
.quire for their safe and efficient use
The second and third Of these rec r!
the congress immediate
acted on II established the eight
our day as the legal basis OF work
nj wages In train service and Ii au-
lOrized the appointment OF a commits
on 10 observe aud report upon the {
tactical results. deeming these the 4
easures most Immediately needed. but I
postponed action upon the other sug-
.stions until an opportunity should be I
fered for a more deliberate consider
ion Of them.
The fourth Recommendation ! do not .
-em IL necessary TO renew. The pow c