Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1916-12-06
CONGRESS HEARS
WILSON'S MESSAGE
Presidents Address to Both
Houses Is Quite Short.
RAIL TROUBLES COME FIRST
Further Legislation on That Line Is
5 Strongly recommendation Civ
ing Foreign Commerce Promo
tiers Free Hand Necessary.

Washington, Dec. 5.-President VIII
son today delivered his message to
both houses of congress in joint ses-
sion. The address was as follows:
Gentlemen of the Congress:
In fulfilling at this time the duty laid
upon me by the Constitution of COM
municating to you from time to time
information of the state of the Union
and recommending to your considera-
ton such legislative measures as may
be judged necessary and expedient ]
shall continue the practice. which
hope has been acceptable TO you. of
leaving to the reports of the several
heads of the executive departments the
elaboration of the detailed needs of
the public service and confine myself
to those matters Of more general pub
lie policy with which it seems neces-
sary and feasible to deal at the pres
ent session of the congress.
l realize the limitations Of time I'M
der which you will necessarily act at
this session and shall make my sug-
gestions as few as possible; but there
were some things left undone at the
last session which there will now be
time to complete and which it seems
necessary In the interest of the public
TO do at once.
In the first place. it seems to me i'm
peratively necessary that the earliest
possib., consideration and action
should be accorded the remaining
measures Of the program of settle
ment and regulation which had occa-
sion to recommend to you at the close
Of your last session I'm view Of the pub
lie dangers disclosed by the unaccom-
modated difficulties which then existed,
and which still unhappily continue to
exist between the railroads Of the
country and their locomotive engineers,
conductors. and trainmen.
Railway Troubles First.
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 representative and now awaiting
action by the senate; in ordg that the
commission may be enabled to deal
with the many great and various duties
now devoWing upon it with prompt
ness and tInr0ughness 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 employ
ment Of al railway employees who are
actually engaged in the work Of oper-
ating trains IN Interstate transporta-
tion.
Third, the authorization Of the APP
pointment by the president OF a small
body 9f men to observe the actual re-
sults in experience " the adoption Of
the eight-hour day in railway trans
portation alike for the men and for
the railroads
Fourth, explicit approval BY the con-
gress Of the consideration by the in
terstate commerce commission Of an
increase Of freight rates to meet such
additional expenditures by the rail-
roads as may have been rendered nee
essary by the adoption Of the eight
hour day and which hive not been or
set by administrative establishments
and economies. should the facts dis
closed Justify the Increase.
Fifth. an amendment Of the existing
fedora statute which provides for the
metliati~a. Cancellation, and arbitration
Of such controversies as the present
by adding 10 it a provision Thar. tn ease
the methods of accommodation now
provided for should fail, a full public
Investigation or the merits ~ every
such dispufe shah be Instituted and
completed before a strike or lockout
may lawfully be attempted.
And sixth ihe Judgment in the
hands of the executive Of the power.
in case Of military necessity. to take
control of s,Ieb portions and such rof-
ing stock Of the railroads Of the conn
try as may be required for military
use and to Operate them fer military
purposes, with authority 70 draft into
the military service Of the United
States such train crews ana admins
tratiye officials as the circumstances
require for their safe ahd efficient use.
7enews His Recommendations.
The second and third ~ these rec
concentrations the congress Immediate
~ acted on IT established the eight
hour day as the legal basis Of work
and wages in train service and il au-
thorized the appointment OF com
mission 70 observe and report upun the
practical results Gceming these the
measures most Immediately needed :;
hut it postponed action upon the other
suggestions until an opportunity should
be offered for more deliberate con
sideration Of them. The fourth rec
ommendation [ 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 a
recommendation by the congress with
regard To such n matter might seem to
draw In question the scope of the COM
missions authority or its inclination TO
Largest Peanut Fields.