The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1916-12-05
President Wilson delivered the fol-
1nw{uo aAdpAa~ - q ioint anaaion nj

the TWO houses OF COnSfeSS'
Gentlemen Of the Congress-:
In fulfilling at this time the duty
laid upon me by the Constitution Of
communicating to you from time ia
time Information Of the state Of the
Union and recommending to your con.
sideration such legislative measures a.
my be judged necessary and expedient
shall continue the practice, which
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 confine 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 as few a. possible: but there
were some things left undone at the
last session which there will now be
time to complete and which 1t seems
necessary in the interest OF the public
" uO dI OuC0.
Reviews Legislation.
In the first place, II seems to me i'm
peratively necessary that the earliest
possible consideration and action
should be accorded the remaining
measures Of the programme Of settle
ment and regulation which I had &C.
casion to recommend to you at the
close OF your last session In view OF
the public dangers disclosed by the
unaccommodated difficulties which
then existed, and which still unhappily
continue to exist, between the rail-
roads of the country and their locomo-
tive engineers. conductors. and train.
men.
then recommended:
First, immediate provision for
the enlargement and administra-
tive reorganization Of the Inter
state Commerce Commission along
the lines embodied in the bill re-
Gently passed by the House Of
Representatives and now awaiting
action by the Senate; in order
that the Commission may be en-
abled to deal with the many great
and various duties now devolving
upon II with q promptness and
thoreughness which are, with its
present constitution and means of
action. practically impossible.
Second, the establishment of an
eighthour day as the legal basis
alike Of work and of wages in the
employment Of all railway EN-.
ployes who are actually engaged
in the work Of operating trains in
Interstate transportation.
Third, the authorization Of the
appointment by the President Of a
small body of men to observe the
actual results in experience of the
adoption of the eight-hour day in
railway transportation alike for
the men and for the railroads.
Fourth. explicit approval by the
Congress of the consideration by
the Interstate Commerce Com
merce Commission of an increase
of freight rates to meet such ad-
ditional expenditures by the rail-
roads as may have been rendered
necessary by the adoption Of the
eight-hour day and which have not
been offset by administrative re-
adjustments and economies, should
the facts disclosed justify the in
crease.
Fifth, an amendment Of the
existing federal statute which pro-
vides for the mediation, concilia-
ton. and arbitration of such con-
troversies as the present by ad-
ding to 1t a provision that, in case
the methods of accommodation
now provided for should fail, full
public Investigation of the merits
OF every such dispute shall be insti-
tuted and completed before
strike or lockout may lawfully be
attempted.
And. sixth, the Judgement in the
hands of the Executive Of the
power, in case Of military necess-
fly, to take control Of such por.
tons and such rolling stock Of the
railways Of the country as may be
required for military use and to
operate them for military pur-
poses. with authority to draft into
the military service Of the United
States such train crews and ad-
ministrative officials as the cir
cumstances require for their safe
and efficient use. 80
Some Legislation Enacted.
The second and third of these
the Congress i'm
acted on: 1t established the
sight.hour day as the legal basis OF
work and wages In train service and 1t
the appointment OF COM
mission to observe and report upon
he practical results. deeming these
he measures most Immediately need
I'd; but It postponed action upon the
suggestions until an opportunity
should be offered for q more deliber.
tie consideration of them. The fourth
I do not deem It
to renew. The power Of the
interstate Commerce Commission to
,rant an increase Of rates on the
ground referred to Is indisputably
lear and a recommendation by the
congress with regard to such a matter
night seem to draw In question the
'cope Of the Commissions authority
" its inclination to do justice when
here is no reason to doubt either
The other suggestions,-the increase
n the Interstate Commerce Commiss-
on's membership and its facilities for
its manifold duties. the
provision for full public Investigation
md assessment of Industrial disputes,
nd the grant to the Executive Of the
,ower to control and operate the rail- |
Ways when necessary in time Of war
n other like public necessity now
renew.
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