Arizona republican., 1916-09-29

would see fit to start an inquiry on behalf of the administration as to the near approach of the actual sit uatiOn.
 Tt was determined to have no hearing upon the subject, but to lay the resolution (senate joint resolu- ton l45, providing for an investiga- ton by the Interstate Commerce Commission on the taDle. The com mittee deemed it inadvisable while proceedings were pending under the mediation and consultation act to take up the subject of pay and hours of service of the railway employees It was also deemed inadvisable to add to the present duties of the in terstate commerce commission, which it is well known is overburdened with work.
 Respectfully called to your atten- tion that resolution upon which hear ing was asked, was passed by rep rcsentatives of 300,000 business firms and corporations who feel they have perfect right to ask for hearing upon a resolution in which they are vitally interested and would be glad to be advised whether such hearing is positively denied or whether we may expect to be advised that hearing will he granted after Teconvening of New York conference next Tuesday, if ef- forts of administration in meantime to bring about adjustment of differ ences fail.
 As chairman senate committee, can you assure business interests of the country courtesy of hearing in time for action to he taken before con- gross adjournment
 The next document read by MT. n4 written August 6. by Mir Wheeler I to Senator Newlands, as follows: The interstate commerce commits sion IS the only body that can make such an inquiry with a result ac- ceptable to the railroad employees, the roads themselves, and the general public. Any special commission might be more or less tirged with politics. 1t is true that the commission is already overburdened, but there is no other subject now before it which ranks in importance so high as avert | ing a tie up of our frienght trans portation, as a tie up is imminent. it would mean juStifiable to place upon the commission the added burden of gathering the proper statistics for congress that could be delegated to | it at this time"
 A telegram from MT. Wheeler to President Wilson. dated August I2. was next read by Mir Hughes. as | follows
 MT. President, I beg you to con- slider at this juncture in the railroad i situation the advisability of putting
 ne influence of the administration 1 behind the senate joint resolution in | US present CT some modified form. Notwithstanding the obdurate atti- tude of both sides. they cannot. with ont reaping the condemnation of tho Whole public disregard the request or congress 10 withhold action until certain facts can be ascertained which 1 hear directly upon the merits of the 1 demands of the men or the contingent proposals of the roads. facts which i must in any event De secured before an arbitration award upon any part or the demands could properly be i reached
 If the contingent proposals of the 1 loadS arc just, they will not be denied I conslderation. Facts have not en- | tered into this controversy as bear- Ing upon the merits of the proposals of either side. The public has been compelled to form it's opinion upon 1 unsupported or admittedly partisan statements, wholly contradictory NC one denies that the interstate 1 commerce commission is overburden- | eo' neither IS there any doubt that i the commission is the only existing federal agency having the equipment ana experience requisite to the task o1 possessing the confidence of all partles to the controversy. The coun- ,IA VIII applaud the commission for laying aside for a time. some of frs present duties to meet this emer- gency. the like of which has never aetore confronted the country.." f'Htracts from a letter dated Aug | ust Z2 from l.. c. Rhett president of [ tne chamber of Commerce Of the i united States, to the president were read as follows:
 | The railroad situation has assum - { ed so grave aspect in our judgment as to render it now more imperative ! man at any past stage that the pub- Iic should be informed of all tho | i@cts or the controversy. and thus
 nave tne opportunity of giving an | thfnlstaFable verdict as to the ius- ! tice and fairness of the demands
 which have been made, upon inc
 railroads primarily. but ultimately up- on the public itself.
 i It was in view of the many grave questions and serious complications | tnat our committee came to the con
 cIuslon that an impartial investigation
 or all these facts by an official bodv
 was essential There are now tw0
 questions involved which are vital tc
 the future prosperity of this country
 The first is whether discussion of all
 vital points at issue shall succeed fnot
 precedeJ complete ascertainment oj
 the underlying facts necessary to ad.
 Just determination; and the second is
 whether the government has the right
 to insist upon the continuance of tho
 pubic service during such investiga.
 tion.
 The seriousness of the situation, a.
 we now see it, is that the public is in.
 formed of it's helplessness to protec
 itself against certain demands and