Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1916-08-29

timent were most likely to approve and
Immediately lay the foundation for Sc
curing arbitration with regard to every
thing else involved The event has con.
firmed that judgment L was seeking
to compose the present in order to safe
guard the future; for l wished an at.
mosphere of peace and friendly CO.
operation in which to take counsel with
the representatives the nation with
| regard to the best means for providing
so far as it might prove possible to pro:
vide against the recurrence of such
unhappy situations in the future - the
best and most practicable means of se'
curing calm and fair arbitration of all
industrial disputes in the days to come
This is assurerdly the best way of vim
dicating principle, namely, having
failed to make certain of its observance
in the present to make certain of its
Observance in the future.
"But / could not propose. could not
govern the will of others who took an
entirely different view of the circum-
stances of the case, who even refused to
admit the circumstances to be what
they have turned out to be.
What He Recommends.
Having failed to bring the parties
to this critical controversy to accom-
mediation, therefore, 1 turn to you,
deeming it clearly our duty as public
servants to leave nothing undone that
we can do to safeguard the life and in
terests of the nation. In the spirit of
such purpose, 1 earnestly recommend
the following legislation:
"First, immediate provision for
the enlargement and administrative re-
organization 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 .promptness and thOroughness
which are with its present constitution
and means of action practically impos-
sible.
"Second, the establishment of an
eight hour day as the legal basis alike
of work and wages in the employment
of all railway employees who are ac-
tually engaged in the work of operat-
ing trains in interstate transportation.
"Third, the authorization of the ap-
pointment by the president of small
body of men to observe the actual re-
suits in experience of the adoption of
the eight hour day in railway transpor-
tation alike for the men and for rail
roads; its effects in the matter of oper-
ating costs, in the application of the ex-
isting practices and agreements to the
new conditions and in all other prac-
tical aspects; with the provision that
the Investigators shall report their con-
illusions to the congress at the earliest
possible date but without recommends
ton as to the legislative action; in or
der that the public may learn from an
unpreiudiced source just what actual
developments have ensued.
About Increased Rates.
"Fourth, explicit approval by the
congress of the consideration by the in
terstate commerce commission of an in
crease of freight rates to meet such
additional expenditures by the railroads
as may have been rendered necessary by
the adoption of the eight hour day and
which have not been offset by admin
istrative readjustrents and economies,
should the facts disclosed justify the
increase.
Fifth, an amendment of the exist
ing federal statute which provides for
the mediation, Cancellation and arbitra-
tion of such controversies as the present
by adding to it provision that in case
the methods of accommodation now pro-
vided for should fail full public inves-
tigation of the merits of every such dis
pute shall be instituted and completed
before q. strike or lockout may be law
fully attempted.
"And, sixth, the Judgement in the
hands of the executive of the power in
case of military necessity, to take con-
troll Of such portions and such rolling
stock of the railways Of the country as
may be required for military use and to
operate them for military purposes, with
to draft into the military SER
vice of the United States such train
crews and administrative officials as
the circumstances require for their safe
and efficient use.
For Military Purposes.
"This last suggestion l make be-
cause we cannot in any circumstances
SuIIeT lHe nullOn IO De udlhpeIeu III tHt
essential matter of national defense.
At the present moment circumstances
render this duty particularly obvious
Almost the entire military force of the
nation is stationed upon the Mexican
border to guard our territory against
hostile raids. 1t must be supplied and
steadily supplied with whatever it needs
for its maintenance and efficiency. If
it should be necessary for purposes of
defense to transfer any por-
tion of that upon short notice to same
other part of the country, for reasons
now unforeseen. ample means of trans
portation must be available and avail
able without delay. The power confer
red in this matter should be carefully
and explicitly limited in cases of mill
tary necessity, but in'all such cases it
should be clear and ample.
"There is one thing we should do if
we are true champions of arbitration.
We should make all arbitral award
judgments by record of court of law
in order that their Interpretation and
may lie, not with one of
the parties to the arbitration, but with
an impartial and authoritative tribu
nal.
Remedy Should Be Permanent.
4.