Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1916-12-06

/ er Of the interstate commerce commits
sion to grant an increase of rates on
the ground referred 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 inclination to do justice when there
is no reason to doubt either.
The other suggestions-the increase
In the interstate commerce commits
siOn's membership and in it's facilities
for performing its manifold duties, the
provision for full public investigation
and assessment Of industrial disputes,
and the grant to the executive of the
powersto control and operate the rail-
ways when necessary in time Of war or
other like public necessity now very
earnestly renew.
New Legislation Necessary.
The necessity for such legislation is
manifest and pressing. Those who have
intrusted us with the responsibility
and duty of serving and safeguarding
hard, believe, to excuse a failure to
act upon these grave matters or any
unnecessary postponement of action.
| Not only does the interstate com.
merce commission now find 1t practical
ly impossible, with its present member
ship and organization, to perform its
great functions promptly and thorough
ly, but it is not unlikely that 1t may
presently be found advisable to add to
its duties still others equally heavy and
exacting. 1t must first be perfected as
an administrative instrument.
The country cannot and should not
consent to remain any longer exposed
to profound industrial disturbances
for lack of additional means of arbi-
tration and Cancellation which the con-
gress can easily and promptly supply.
And all will agree that there must be
no doubt as to the power Of the execu-
tive to make immediate and uninter-
rupted use of the railroads for the con-
centration Of the military forces Of the
nation wherever they are needed and
whenever they are needed.
This is a program Of regulation, pre-
vention and administrative efficiency
which argues its own case in the mere
statement Of it. With regard to one OF
fits items, the increase in the efficiency
of the interstate commerce commission,
the house of representatives has al
ready acted. Its action needs only the
onnonrrapaa Of fha SnpntQ
To Safeguard Industrial Processes.
would hesitate to recommend, and
I dare say the congress would hesitate
to act upon the suggestion should l
make it, that any man in any occupa-
ton should be obliged by law to con-
tinue in an employment which he de-
sired to leave.
To pass a law which forbade or pre-
vented the individual workman to leave
his work before receiving the approval
Of society in doing so would be to
adopt new principle into our Juris-
prudence which l take 1t for granted
we are not prepared to introduce. But
the proposal that the operation OF the
railways Of the country shall not be
stopped or interrupted by the concert
ed action of organized bodies OF men
until a public investigation shall have
been instituted which shall make the
whole question at issue plain for the
Judgment of the opinion Of the nation
is not to propose any such principle.
1t is based upon the very different
principle that the concerted action OK
powerful bodies of men shall not be
permitted to stop the industrial pro
cesses of the nation, at any rate before
the nation shall have had an opportu-
nifty to acquaint itself with the merits
of the case as between employee and
employer, time to form its opinion upon
an impartial statement of the merits,
and opportunity to consider all practi-
cable means OF Cancellation or arbitra-
ton.
l can see nothing in that proposition
but the justiiable safeguarding by So
ciety of the necessary processes OF its
very life. there is nothing arbitrary
or unjust I'm it unless it be arbitrarily
and unjustly DONE 1t can and should
be done with full and scrupulous re-
gard for the interests and liberties OF
all concerned as well as for the per-
manent interests of society itself.
Three matters Of capital Importance
await the action of the senate which
have already been acted upon by the
house Of representatiyes-the bill which
seeks to extend greater freedom of
combination to those engaged in pro