The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1916-12-06
DOMESTIC SUBJECTS DEALT
WITH BY PRESIDENT WILSON
Annual Address to Congress Today Devoted to
Recommendations for Legislation to Better
Conditions Here at Home.
by Associated Press)

! ~ Wv "'N'"HS VI bHs
session of Congress today was WHOLLY
devoted to domestic subjects, princi.
pally the problem Of railway legisla.
ton
When President Wilson appeared
before Congress today at one o'clock
the Democrats and Republicans unit.
ed in a great demonstration which
was prolonged and noisy. As soon as
the demonstration subsidized the Pres
ident began reading his message As
he started banner bearing the words
Mr. President what will you do for
Woman Suffrage" was unfrled over
the adge of the gallery. Ii was quick
ly pulled down
In the Hall Of the Huose with Sena-
tors and Representatives assembled in
joint session, President Wilson in ac-
cordance with the custom he began at
the opening Of his term, read his ad-
dress from the clerks desk.
The President not only renewed his
recommendation for legislation to pre-
vent a nation wide railway strike or
lockout before there has been oppor-
tunity for investigation, but defend
ed it against the attack of organized
labor as nothing arbitrary or unjust
and the "justifable safeguarding by
society of the necessary processes of
its very life"
Aside from recommendations for
passage of the Porto Rico government
bill, the corrupt practices bill and the
Webb bill to legalize American col
lectiye selling agencies abroad, the
Presidents address was devoted who'll
ly to the railroad situation. The only
feature which had not been forecast
was the elimination of the proposal
that Congress give explicit approval
to consideration by the Interstate
Commerce Commission Of an increase
in freight rates to meet additional ex-
penditures by the railroads caused by
the operation of the Adamson lew
Today, the President took the posi-
ton that "the power Of the Interstate
Commerce Commission to grant an
increase of rates on the ground re-
ferred to is indisputably clear and
recommendation by the Congress with
regard to such a matter might seem
to draw in question the scope of the
commissions authority or its inclina-
ton to do justice when there is no
reason to doubt either
The other recommendation on the
railroad situation made in special
message during the last session, which
were not put into law, were renewed
today. They include;
Immediate provision for the en-
largement and administrative reor-
ganization 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 or
der that the commission may be en-
abled to deal with the many great and
various duties now devolving upon it
with a promptness and thoroughness
which are, with its present consti-
tuition and means of acton, practical
ly impossible.
"An amendement Of the existing
federal statute which provides for the
mediation, conciliation and arbitration
of such controversies as the present
by adding to it a provision that, in
case the methods Of accommodation now
provided for should fail, a full public
investigation OF the merits of every
such dispute shall be instituted and
completed before strike or lockout
may lawfully be attempted
"The Judgement in the hands Of the
executive Of the power, in case of
military necessity, to take control of
such portions Of such rolling stock Of
the railways Of the country as may be
required for military use and to oper-
ate them for military purposes, with
authority to draft into the military
service Of the United States such
train crews and administrative off
cials as the circumstances may re-
quire for their safe and efficient use"
The renewed recommendation for
compulsory investigation of labor dis
putes on railways before strikes or
lockouts are allowed, which has arous-
ed the opposition Of the railroad
brotherhoods, and the American Fed
Grafton of Labor, was defended in the
Presidents message He declared he
would hesitate to recommend law
which would force individual workmen
to continue in an employment which
they desired to leave, but that no such
principle was involved in the sugges-
ton that the operation of the rail
ways of the country should not be
stopped by the concentrated action Of
bodies Of men until public investi-
cation for the benefit OF the public has
been instituted,
ut is based upon the very differ
snt Yriacpls," he continued, that the