The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-12-05
Six Recommendations.
then recommend.


/ l then recommend:
First, immediate provision for the
enlargement and administrative re-
/ organization If 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 70 deal with the many great
and various duties now devolving
upon it with promptness and
thoroughness which are, with its
present constitution and means OF
action, practically impossible.
i Second, the establishment of an
eight-hour day as the legal basis alike
of work and of wages in the emp!nJ-
ment of all railway employees who
are actually engaged in the work Of
operating trahs in interstate trans
Third, the authorization of the ap-
pointment by tho president of small
body of men to observe the actual re-
suits in experience of the adoption
Of the eight-hour day in railway trans
portation alike for the men and for
the railroads.
Fourth, explicit approval by the
congress of the consideration by the
interstate commerce com mission 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
eight-hour day and which have not
been offset by administrative read
justments and economies, should the
facts disclosed justify the increase
Fifth, an amendment of the exist
inO faHn or into w nrNVi6aS
for. the mediation, conciliaion, and
arbitration of such controversies as
the present by adding to it pro-
vision that, in case the methods Of
accommodation now provided for
should fail, full public investigation
of the merits of every such dispute
shall be instituted and completed be-
fore strike or lockout may lawfully
be attempted.
And, sixth, the Judgement in the
hands of the executive of the power,
in case of military necessity, to take
control of such portions and such
rolling stock of the railways of the
country as may be required for mill
tary use and to operate them for
military purposes, with authority tc
draft into the military service of the
United States such train crews and
administrative
stances require for their safe and
efficient use.
Two Acted Upon.
The second and third of these
recommendations the congress imme-
diately acted on: 1t 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 more
deliberate confederation of them. The
/ fourth recommendation 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 lndisputably
/ clear and a recommendation by the
congress with regard to such mat
ter1might seem to draw in question
the scope of the commissions author
ity or its inclination to do justice
when there is no reason to doubt
either.
Tho other suggestions,-the in
crease in the interstate commerce
commissions membership and in its
facilities for performing its manifold
duties. the provision for full public
investigation and assessment of In
dustrial disputes, and the grant to
the executive of the power to control
and operate the railways when neces-
sary in time of war or other like
public necessity now very earn
estly renew.
The necessity for such legislation
is manifest and pressing. Those who
have entrusted us with the RESPONSE
bility and duty Of serving and safe
guarding them in such matters would
find it. hard, l believe, to excuse
failure to act upon these grave mat,
: tiers of any unnecessary postpone
ment Of action upon them.
Not only does the Interstate COM
merce commission now find it prac-
tically impossible, with its present
mem bership and organization, 20 pcr-
form it's great functions promptly and
thoroughly. but il is not unlikely that