The Ordway new era., 1916-12-08

SuSSeStIuiS uuIAl AL opportunity SiVuiu
he offered for more deliberate con
sideration Of them. The fourth rec
Ommendntion do not deem 1t 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 matter might seem to
draw in question the scope Of the com
missions authority or its inclination to
do Justice when there is no reason to
doubt either.
The other SuggestiOns--thc increase
in the Interstate commerce commits
sons membership and in Its facilities
for performing its 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 such 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 II
hard, l believe, to excuse failure to
act upon these grave matters or any
unnecessary postponemcnt of action
upon them.
Not only does the interstate COM
mcrcc commission now find 1t pract-
caily impossible, with its present mem
bcrship and organization, to perform
its great functions promptly and thor
oughly, but 1t is not unlikely that ii
may presently be found advisable to
add to its duties still others equally
heavy and eNacting. 1t must first be
perfected as an administrative instrn-
ment.
The country cannot and should not
consent to remain any longer exposed
to profound industrial disturbances for
lack of additional means of arbitra-
tIon and conciliation which the CON
gress can easily and promptly supply.
And all will agree that there must be
no doubt rs to the power of the eNecu-
tive to make immediate and uninter-
rupted use of the railroads for the con-
ccntrntion OF the military forces Of the
nation wherever they are needed and
whenever they are needed.
This is program of regulation, pre-
/ vention and administrative efficiency
| which argues its own case in the mere
statement of it. With regard to one
of its items. the increase in the eff
| cheney OF the interstate commerce com
mission, the house of representatives
| has already acted: its action needs
| only the concurrence of the senate.
For Control and Operation.
/ would hesitate to recommend. and
| dare say the congress would hesitate
| to act upon the suggestion should !
| make it. that any man in any occupa-
ton should be Obliged by law to con-
time 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 rc-
ceiving the approval of society in do
ing so would be to adopt new prin-
ciplc into our jurisprudence which !
take II 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
| ruptcd by the concerted action of or
| ganiZed bodies OF men until n public
| investigation shall have been Instituted
which shall make the whole question
at issue plaiu 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, Mt any
rate before the nation shall have had
an opportunity to acqunint itself with
the merits of the case as between EN-
ployce and employer, time to form its
opinion upon an impartial statement
of the merits, and opportunity to con-
slider all practicable means of concilin-
ton or arbitration.
| can see nothing in that proposition
but the justitiablc safeguarding by So
ciety Of the necessary processes of
Its very life. There is nothing arbi-
trary or unjust In it unless 1t be nrbi-
trarily and unjustly done. 1t can and
should be done with full and scr,lpu-
! lOus regard for the interests and liber-
ties of all concerned rs well 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 more thor
ough and systematic regulation of the