The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-12-05
Urges Six New Laws in Presis
dents Message to Congress.
Is Shortest Message He Has
Delivered to SOIOns.
R. R. LEGISLATION PARAMOUNT
Advocates "Settlement and
Regulation" at Once.
Wants Strike Arbitration and
COnfiScatiOn Laws.


country cannot and should not con-
sent to remain any longer exposed to
profound industrial disturbances"
President Wilson appeared before a
joint session of congress today and ap-
pealed for immediate action on his
program of settlement and regulation
of difficulties between the railroads
and their trainmen.,
Statement of the need of such legis-
lation occupied the bulk of his annual
MESA ge-the shortest one he has de-
livered. 1t recommended passage OF
the provisions included but not acted
upon in his last special appeal last
August. At that time nationwide
strike necessitated congressional ac-
ton.
In a late addition to his message
the president urged the passage by the
house of the vocational and Industrial
educational measures passed by the
senate during the last session.
No Crisis on Hand This Time.
The thrill and dramatic tension so
noticeable in the presidents three
previous visits to the Sixty-fourth con-
gress were lacking today. Crowds
thronged the capitol, however. and
hours before the session was sched-
uled to convene, all gallery entrances
were besieged with men and women
endeavoring to work their way past
the. guards. Admission was by card
only.
There were no staggering national
defense recommendations, such as
featured the presidents message a
year ago. There was no note of war,
such as threatened in the second mes
sage. reporting the dispatch to Ger
many of virtual ultimatum following
the Sussex sinking, nor was there
pressing need of speed and quick deci-
sion reflected in the request for con
gressional action to avert a nation
wide railroad strike last fall.
L The message today constituted a
clean up program.
No Reference to "H. c. L.
Altho both branches of congress are
seething over the high cost of living
problem and interest in this has over
shadowed all other proposed action.
the president made no reference to il
today.
He is receiving reports from differ
ent executive departments, however.
in an effort to devise the best possible
plan for the curbing of soaring prices
1t is believed the president will eth
er deliver a special message on the
question later, or take it up personally
with the house and senate leaders
when plan he deemed feasible has
been found.
So serious does the president re-
gard the high cost of living question
of politics If possible.
He is understood to feel that Re-
pCblicans and Democrats are equally
interested in a solution of the diff
Guilty, and will make no effort to put
thru a party measure.
His Address in Full.
Gentlemen of the Congress:
In fulfilling at this time the duty
laid upon me by the constitution of
communicating to you from time to
time information of the state and of
the Union and recommending to your
consideration such legislative measures
as may be judged necessary and expe-
dent 1 shall continue tho practice.
which / hope has been acceptable to
you, of leaving to the reports of the
several heads of the executive depart
ments the elaboration of the detailed
needs of the public service and con-
fine myself to those matters of more
general public policy with which It
seems necessary and feasible to deal
at the present session of the congress-
1 realize the limitations of time un-
der 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 at 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.
ItdHHdy IEODit-Ln
In the first place, it seems to me
imperatively necessary that the earIi-
est possible consideration and action
should be accorded the remaining
measures of the program of settlement
and reluation which had occasion to
recommend to you at the close of your
last session in view of the public dam
gers disclosed by the unaccomnodated
difficulties which then existed and
which still unhappiIy contif ue to exist.
between the railroads of the. country
and their locomotive engineers. con-
ductors and trainmen-
/ then recommended:
First. immediate provision for the
ganization 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 devolving upon it with a prompt
ness and thoroness which are. with IFS
present constitution and means of ac-
ton, practically impossible.
Second, the esta blishmeut Of an
eight-hour day as the legal basis alike
of work and wages in the erfiplovrnenf
of all railway employees who are act1l
ally engaged in the work of operat-
ing trains in interstate TRANSFORMATION
Third. the authorization of the ap-
pointment by the president of small
body OF men to observe the actual re-