The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1916-12-09
WILSON'S MESSAGE
TO The CONGRESS
Senate and House in Joint Ses-
sion Hear Address OF
the President.
he MAKES FEW SUGGESTIONS
Further Legislation for Settlement and
Regulation of Railway Labor Dis
putes Held ImperativeIy Neees-
sary by the chief Magistrate.

Washington, Dec. 5.-The senate
and house met In joint session today
and heard President Wilson's message
which was rs follows:
Gentlemen of the Congress:
In fulfilling at this time the duty laid
upon me by the Constitution of com
municatlng 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 l
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
10 those matters of more general pub
lie policy with which it seems neces-
sary and feasible to deal ut the pres
ent session of the congress.
I realize the limitations Of time I'M
der which you will necessarily act at
this session and shall make my sug-
gcstlons as few as possible; but there
were some things left undonc at the
last session which there will now be
time To complete and which II seems
necessary In the interest of the public
TO do at once.
In the first place, II seems to me i'm
peratively necessary that the earliest
possible consideration ana action
should be accorded the remaining
measures of the program of settle
mont and regulation which / had occa-
sion To recommend to you at the close
Ofyour last session in 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 representatives and now awaiting
action by the senate; in order that the
commission may he enabled To deal
with the many great and various duties
now devolving upon II with prompt
ness and thoroughness which are, with
its present constitution and means of
action. practically impossible
SccOnd the establishment Of an
clght-hour day as the legal basis alike
Of work and of wages in the employ
ment of all railway employees who are
actually engaged in the work of opcr-
atlng trains in interstate transporta-
ton.
Third, the authorization Of the ap-
polntment by the president of small
body of men to observe the actual re-
the eight-hour day In railway trans
portatlon alike for the men and for
the railroads.
Fourth, explicit approval by the con-
grcss Of the consideration by the in
terState commerce commission of an
additional expenditures by the rail
roads as may have been rendered nee
cssary by the adoption of the eight
Nour day and which have not been Off
set by administrative readjustments
and economies, should the facts dis
closed justify the increase.
Fifth, an amendment of the existing
federal statute which provides for the
mediation. Cancellation, and arbitration
Of such controversies as the present
#, by adding to 1t provision that, in case
the methods of accommodation now
provided for should fail, full public
Investigation of the merits of ever!
such dispute shall be Instituted ant
completed before strike or lockou
may lawfully be attempted.
And, sixth, the Judgment In thu
hands of the executive of the power
in case of military necessity, to talk,
control of such portions and such roll
ing stock of the railroads Of the coun
fry rs may be required for militar.
use and to operate them for militar
purposes, with authority to draft int
the military service OF the Unite,
States such train crews and admins
trative officials as the circumstance
require for their safe and efficient use
Renews His Recommendations.
The second and third of these rec
concentrations the congress immediate
" acted on: II established the eight
hour day as the legal basis OF wor
and wages in train service and II ut
thorized the appointment Of con
mission to observe and report upon Tn
practical results, deeming these TN
measures most Immediately needed
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II.n..uaI ENnArianHa