New Britain herald., 1916-12-05
RAILWAY LAWS ARE: URGED BY WILSON
 BEFORE CONGRESS-
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ing measures of the program of set clement and regulation which I had occasion to recommend to you at the close of your last session in view of the public dangers disclosed by the
 unaccomm plated difficulties which
 then existed, and which still unhappily
 continue to exist between the rail-
 roads of the country and their loco-
 motive engineers, conductors, and trainmen.
 II then recOmmended:
 First, immediate provision for the enlargement and administrative re-
 organization of the interstate com- merce commission along the lines en- bodied in the bill recently passed by the house of representatives and now awaiting action by the senate: in order that the commission may be enabled to deal with the many great and various duties now devolving upon 1t with a promptness and thor oughness which are, with it's present constitution and means of action practically impossible
 Second, the establishment of an elght-hour day as the legal basis alike of work and of wages in the en- ployment Of all railway employees who are actually engaged in the work of operating trains in interstate trans portation.
 pointment by the president of a small body of men to observe the ac- tual results in experience of the adop- ton of the eight hour day in railway transportation alike for the men and the railroads
 Increase in FreiSIlt Rates
 Fourth, explicit approval bv the congress of the consideration by the interstate commerce commission of an increase of freight rates to meet such additional expenditures by the railroads as may have been rendered necessary by the adoption of the e1ght-hour day and which have not been offset by administrative readjust- ments and economies, should the facts disclosed justify the increase
 Fifth, an amendment of the exist ing federal statute which provides for the mediation. conciliation and arbi- trat1on of such controversies as the present by adding to it a provision that, in case the methods of accom- modation now provided for should fail, full public investigation of the merits of every such dispute shall be instituted and completed before a strike or lockout may lawfully be at- tempted.
 And, sixth. the Judgement in the hands of the executive of the power. in case of military necessity, to takn control of such portions and such rolling stock of the railways of the country as may be required for mili- tary use and to operate them for mii t9 rv J1tI tn into the military service of the United States such train crews and admins trative officials as the circumstances require for their safe and efficient use.
 ''The second and third of these rec concentrations the congress lmmedi- ately acted on: it established the eight-hour day as the legal basis of work and wages in train service and it authorized the appointment of commission to observe and report upon the practical results, deeming these the measures most immediately needed; but it postponed action upon the other suggestions until an oppor- tunity should be offered for a ora deliberate consideration of them. The fourth recommendation I do not deem it necessary to renew. The power of the interstate commerce commission to grant an increase of rates on the ground referred to is indsputably clear and a recommendation by the congress with regard to such a mat ter might seem to draw in question the scope of the commissions author ity or it's inclination to do justice when there is no reason to doubt either.
 "The other suggestions,-the in in, hn int rCto o "a ma commissions membership and in it's facilities for performing it's manifold duties, the provision for full public investigation and assessment of in dustrial disputes, and the grant to the executive the power to control and operate the railways when necessary in time of war or other like public necessity,--I now very earnestly re- new.
 'rThe necessity fo such legislation is manifest and pressing. Those who have entrusted us with the responsi- bility and duty of serving and safe guarding them in such matters would find it hard. I believe. to excuse a, failure to act upon these grave mat ters or any unnecessary postponement of action upon them.
 Not only does the interstate com merce commission now find 1t practl- caIly impossible, with its present membership and organization, to per form it's great functions promptly ano thoroughly but it is not unlikely that it may be presently found advisable to add to it's duties still others equal lv heavy and exacting. It must first be rerfected as an administrative in- strument.
 "The country cannot and should not consent to remain any longer exposed to profound industrial disturbances for lack of additional means of arbi- tration and conciliation which the congress can easily and promptly sup