The Arvada enterprise. (Arvada, Colo.) 1908-1970, 1916-12-07
CONGRESS HEARS
WILSON'S MESSAGE
Presidents Address to Both
Houses Is Quite Short.
RAIL TROUBLES COME FIRST
Further Legislation on That Line |.
Strongly Recommended-BiII Civ.
ing Foreign Commerce Promo.
tiers Free Hand Necessary.

Washington, Dec 5-PrcSident Will
son today delivered his message to
both houses of congress in joint SEES
sion. The address was as follows:
Gentlemen of the Congress:
In fulfilling ut this time the duty laid
upon me by the Constitution of COM
municating 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 cXpedicnt |
snail continue the practice, which !
nope 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
to those matters of more general pub
lie policy with which it seems ncces-
sary and feasible to deal at the pres
ent session of the congress.
realize the limitations of time I'M
de. which you will necessarily act at
this session and shall make my sug-
gestionS as few as possible; but there
were some things left undone ut the
last session which there will now be
time to complete and which it seems
necessary in the interest of the public
to do at once.
IN the first place, 1t seems to me i'm
perativcly necessary that the earliest
possible consideration and action
should be accorded the remaining
measures OF the program of settle
ment and regulation which I had occa-
sion to recommend to you mt the close
of your last session in view of the pub
lie dangers disclosed by the unaccom-
modnted difficulties which then existed,
and which still unhappily continue TO
cXia:, between the railroads of the
country and their locomotive engineers.
conductors. and trainmcn.
Railway Troubles First.
| fhen recommended
First. immediate provision for the
enlargement and administrative reor-
gnniZatiOn 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 be enabled to deal
with the many great and various duties
now dcvolving upon ii with prompt
ness and thoroughncSs which are, with
Its present constitution and means of
action. practically impossible.
Second. the establishment of an
ciSht-hour day MS 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
nting trains in interstate transporta-
ton.
Third. the authorization of the ap-
pointmcnt by the 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 CON
gress of the consideration by the in
terstate commerce commission of an
increase Of freight rates to meet such
additional expenditures by the rail
roads rs may have been rendered nee
cssary by the adoption of the eight
hour day and which have not been OFF
set by administrative rcadjustmcntS
and economics. should the facts dis
closed justify the increase.
Fifth. nm amendment Of the existing
federal statute which provides for the
mediation. Cancellation, and arbitration
Of such controversies ms the present
by adding to 1t II provision that, in case
the methods OF accommodation now
provided for should fail. II fun public
Investigation Of the merits Of every
such dispute shall be instituted and
completed b"ror" n strik" or lockout
may lawfully be attempted.
And. sixth. the Judgment In III"
hands Of the executive Of the power,
in cnsc Of military necessity 10 tax"
control Of such portions and such roll
ing stock Of the railroads Of III" cnun-
try ms may be required for military
use and to operate them for military
purposes. with authority to draft into
lll' IlllllIIN ~ w W NV 49, -
States such train crews and admins.
tratIvc officials MS III" circumstances
require for their SAT" and efficient use.
Renews His Recommendation.
The second and third of th"s" rec
concentrations the congress Immediate
" nctrd on: II established III" eight.
hour day ms II" legal hu.is Of work
md wages In rain service and II uu-
thnrl2cd III" appointment Of com.
mission to ohs"ry" ana r"pUr, upon 'h"
practical results. d""ming ll"s" III"
measures most Immediately needed
but II post on"d action upon the other
.uggostinrs uutIl nm opportunity should
be Offered for NOR" d"IIb"rn'" con.
sldcrntiuu of thom The fourth roe.
pmmcudutiun | do not deem II u"""s-
mry to renew, IN" power of ia" In.
torstntc commerce commission a. grant
an Increase Of rites on III" ground re-.
fcrrod to Is lndisputnbly cl"ur ana
recommendation by N" congress with
regard to such matter might seem to
u Ia, ,n.gtt,,, ,ll 1pyfI Uf tho com