Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1916-11-30
WILSON'S MESSAGE
TO The CONGRESS
1enate 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 Neces-
sary by the chief Magistrate.


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 as follows:
Gentlemen OF the Congress:
In fulfilling at this time the duty laid
upon me by the Constitution Of com
municnting 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 l
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 confne myself
to those matters Of more general pub
lie policy with which It seems neces-
sary and feasible to deal at the pres
ent session of the congress.
realize the limitations of time un.
der which you will necessarily act at
this session and shall make my sug-
gestions MS few an possible; but there
were some things left undone at the
last session which there will now be
time 10 complete and which 1t seems
necessary In the Interest Of the public
to do ut once.
In the FIRST place, II seems to me I'm
perativsiy necessary that the earliest
possible consideration and action
should be accorded the remaining
measures OF the program of settle
ment and regulation which 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-
m0dated difficulties which then existed.
and which still unhappily continue to
exist, between the railroads Of the
country and their locomotive engineers.
conductors. and .rainmen.
Railway Troubles First.
then recommended:
First, immediate provision for the
enlargement and administrative reor-
ganixation OF the Interstate commerce
commission along the lines embodied
IN the bin 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 It with prompt
ness md thoroughness which are. with
tts 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 employ
ment OF nli railway employees who are
actually engaged In the work of oper-
ating trains In interstate transporta-
tt0n.
Third. the authorization Of the ap-
pointment by the president OF a small
body OF men to observe the actual re-
suits In experience Of the adoption Of
the elght-hour day In railway trans
portntion 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 as may have been rendered nec-
eHsary by the adoption OF the eight
hour day and which have not been off.
aset by administrative establishments
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 rs the present
by adding to II provision that, In case
the methods Of accommodation now
provided for should fall. full public
investigation Of the merits Of every
such dispute shall be instituted and
completed before strike or lockout
may lawfully be attempted.
And. sixth. the Judgment In the
hands OF the executive of the power,
In case OF military necessity, to take
control of such portions and such roll.
Ing stock of the railroads of the coun'
try as may be required for military
use aud to operate them for military
purposes. with authority to draft into
the military service Of the United
States such train crews and admins
trative officials rs the circumstances
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 work
and wages In train service and 1t au
thorixed the appointment of com
mission to observe and report upon thu
practical results, deeming these ths
measures most Immediately needed
Unusual Experience.