The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-12-05

IN 1ulnllihg at TINS tlHlc tHe
duty laid upon me by the Consti-
tuition of communicating to you
from time to time information OF
the state OF the Union and recon-
mending to your consideration
such legislative measures as may
ent ] shall continue the practice,
which I hope has been acceptable
to you, OF leaving to the reports
OF the several heads of the execu-
tive departments the elaboration
OF the detailed needs Of the public
service and conhne myself to
those matters OF more general
public policy with which IL seems
necessary and feasible to deal at
the present session OF the Con-
I realize the limitations of time
act at this session and shall make
my suggestions as few as pos
aible: but there were some things
left undone at the last session
which there will now be time TO
complete and which II seems ne.
cessary In the interest OF the pub
lie to do at once.
ImperstiveIy Necessary.
In the first place, Il seems to me
imperatively necessary that the
earliest possible consideration and
action should be accorded the re.
naming measures OF the program
OF settlement and regulation which
I had occasion to recommend to you
at the close OF your last session in
view OF the public dangers dis
closed by the unaccommodated dif.
fcultics which then existed. and
which still unhappily continue to
exist, between the railroads or the
country and their locomotive engL
neers. conductors, andtrainmen.
The Recomme ndstions.
then recommended:
First, immediate provision for the
enlargement and administrative re.
organization OF the Interstate Com.
merce Commission along the lines
embodied In the bill recently passed
by the Houses OF Representative
and now awaiting action by the
Senate: In order that the commits
sion may be enabled TO deal with
the many great and various duties
promptness and thoroughness which
are, with It's present constitution
and means OF action, practically Inn
possible.
Second. the establishment OF AN
eight.hour day as the legal basis
alike Of work and wages In the
ployes who are actually engaged In
the work OF operating trains In in'
terstate transportation.
Third, the authorization OF tho
appointment by khe President OF a
small body OF men to observe the
actual results In experience OF the
railway transportation alike for tho
men and for the railroads..
Fourth, explicit approval by tho
Congress OF the consideration by
the Interstate Commerce Commis'
sion OF an increase OF freight rates
to meet such additional cspendi'
lures by the railroads as may have
been rendered necessary by the
adoption OF the eight.hour day and
which have not been offset by nd.
ministrative readJustments ana
economies. should the facts'disclosed
justify the increase.
Firth. AN amendment OF the eS-
listing Federal statute which pro-
yides for the mediation, concilia'
tion. and arbitration OF suchscontro-
vcrsies as the present by adding TO
IL "A provision that. In case the meth
DDS OF accommodation now pro
vided for should fail, a full public
such dispute shalhbe instituted and
completed before n strike or lockout
may lawfully be attempted.
Power 90 Hun Trains.
And, sixth, the Judgment In the
hands OF the Executive OF the pow.
err, in case of military necessity, 10
take control OF such portions and
such rolling stock OF the railways
OF the country as may be required
for military use and TO operate them
for military purposes, win author-
ity To draft into the military serv-
ice OF the United States such train
crews and administrative officials
as the circumstances require Tor
their safe and efficient use.
The second and third or these
recommendations that Congress Inn
mediately acted on; IL establlshed
the eight-hour day as the legal
basis OF work and wages In train
service and IL authorized the APP
serve and report upon the practical
results, deeming these the meas
ures most Immediately needed: but
IL postponed action upon the other
suggestions until an opportunity
should be offered for a more de-
fourth accommodation ] do not
deem II necessary to renew.
Power OF 4. q. q. Clear.
The power OF the Interstate Com
merce Commission 10 grant an In
crease of rates on the ground re-
ferred TO Is indisputably clear and
a recommendation by the Congress
with regard To such a matter might
seem To draw In question the scope
OF the commissions authority or It's
inclination TO do justice when there
Is no reason to doubt either,
The other suggestions-the In
crease In the Interstate Commerce
Commissions membership and In its
facilities for performing its mani
fold 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 railways
when necessary In time of war or
other like public necessity now
very earnestly renew.
Necessity Manifest.
The necessity for such legislation
is manifest and pressing. Those
who have entrusted us with the re-
sponsibility and duty OF serving
and safeguarding them In such mat
ters would find II hard, / believe,
to excuse failure to act upon
these grave matters or any un-
necessary postponment of action up
on them.
Not only does the Interstate Com.
merce Commission now find IL prac-
tically impossible, with its present
membership and organization, TO
perform its great functions prompt
ly and thoroughly, but II il not UNI
likely that II may presently be found
advisable to add TO its duties still
others equally heavy and exacting.