The Washington times., 1916-11-17
URGE LEGISLATION TO
!. STOP RAIL- STRIKES
National Council Of Chamber Of
!, Commerce Discusses Plan
for New Law.
CONTINUED from First Pase.)

tion and prevention OF railroad
strikes, and 10 is one OF numerous
symptoms that the railroad capital
inE up before the nation in ugly
Other railroad problems. including
Federal control as opposed to the
present method Of control. are also
lie utilities being tied up and to pre-
vent the public suffering. while EN-
ployer and employe thresh out their
differences is the big thing before the
meeting.
lis Emphasizes Importance.
President r. Goodwin Rhett, of the
Chamber of Commerce. in opening
the meeting today, emphasized the
Importance OF railroad problems be-
fore the country. As to preventing
public utilities being tied up, he said
thtre were four, suggestions already
before the chamber.
They include he Canadian plan the
publicity plan, the method OF special
contracts between railroads and other
utilities and tssis snd
Henry r. Towne, of New York. urged
the plan of a contractual relation be-
tween employers and employed.
DR.. Van Hise spoke this morning
after President Rhett made an OPEN
spoke on the proposed railroad inves-
tfgatlon. DR.. Victor s. Clark. OF the
Carnegie Institution. spoke on the
Canadian Industrial Disputes Act"
and Mr.. Towne then presented his plan
of Q contractual relation for averting
tis-up OF railroads and other utilities.
Power Is Unquestioned.
"rhe commerce clause Of the Consti-
tuition knows no limitations" Judge
Adamson said. There Is no doubt
about Congress having the power to
control all operations of railroads. 1t
passed first law limiting railroad
hour law. then laws limiting days
work to thirteen, and even nine hours
for some classes Of work. The pres
emit law has been misrepresented VIDE
tight. Congress will Ak their rights and
duties in the interests Of the people"
Opposed to Ownership.
Judge Adamson said he is unalter-
ably opposed to government ownership
as a solution of the public utility prob
lem.
Government ownership would put
the country in the hands of the rail-
roads" he said. 1.-THE roads would be
capitalized at $26 900, 000,000 There
isn't that much money in the world.
who could buy them would be the
present owners of the railroads. They,
also are the men the country would
have to employ to run the railroads.
They would constitute the most pow
erful political oligarchy that ever was
on tho face OF the arth. We shall
never reach stage where Govern
ment ownership will be necessary"
II necessary the Joint Congresslonai
shortly, will not b consulted by Con.
gress as to legislation, Judge Adam
son said. Congress, he said, Is in a
position II IL wants, to pass laws be-
fore the committee ends it's hearings.
This afternoon there will be other
speakers, including Alfred p. Thorn,
general counsel of the railway execu-
tives' advisory committee. and Harry
A. Wheeler, chairman of the commit
tee of the chamber on the railway sit
uRtion.
A representative OF the railway
brotherhoods was invited through a
letter to the four brotherhoods, bpt
none appeared.
Employees Unaffected.
Or. Van Hise pointed out that up Ia
this time public regulation had not
affected the employees of the railroads
and they were unregulated. But now
that the organizations are united and
the welfare of great sections OF the
country can be jeopardized by strikes
the public interest rises paramount &c
Elf the men have injustices" declar