The Hattiesburg news., 1916-12-05
The President S Address


And, sixth, the lodgment in the
hands of the Executive Of the power,
in case of military necessity, to take
control of such portions and such roll
ing stock of the railways Of the coun-
Try as may be required for military
use and to operate them for military
purposes, with authority to draft into
the military service of the United
States such train crews and admins.
trative officials as the circumstances
require for their safe and efficient use.
The second and third of these rec
concentrations the Congress imme-
diately acted on: it established the
eight-hour day as the legal basis Of
work and wages in train service and
it authorized the appointment of a
commission to observe and report upon
the practical results, deeming these
the measures most Immediately need
ed; but it postponed action upon the
other suggestions until an opportunity
should be offered for a more delib-
crate consideration of them. The
fourth recommendation l do not deem
it necessary to renew. The power of
the Interstate Commerce Commission
to grant an increase of rates on the
ground referred to is indisputably
, clear and a recommendation by the
Congress with regard to such a mat
ter might seem to draw in question
the scope of the commissions author
ity or its inclination to do justice when
there is no reason to doubt either.
Increase the |. c. C.
The other suggestions-the increase
in the Interstate Commerce Commits.
sion's membership and in it's facilities
for performing it's manifold duties,
the provision for full public investiga'
tion and assessment of industrial dis.
putes, and the grant to the Executive
of the power to control and operate
the railways when necessary in time
of war or other like public necessity
Il now very earnestly renew.
The necessity for such legislation
is manifest and pressing. Those who
have entrusted us with the RESPONSE
bility and duty of serving and safe
guarding them in such matters would
find it hard, believe, to excuse fail
ure to act upon these grave matters
or any unnecessary postponement Of
action upon them.
Not only does the Interstate Com
merce Commission now find it practi
Ically impossible, with its present
4 membership and organization, to per
4 form it's great functions promptly ant
thoroughly, but it is not unlikely thai
it may presently be found advisable
to add to its duties still others equal
ly heavy and exact,ng. 1t must frs
be perfected as an administrative in
strument.
The country cannot and should no
/ consent to remain any longer exposed
to profound industrial disturbance
: for lack of additional means of arbi
tration and Cancellation which th
: Congress can easily and promptl
: supply. And all will agree that ther
a must be no doubt as to the power O
4 the Executive to make immediate an
/ uninterrupted use of the railroads 70
: the concentration Of the militar
: forces of the nation wherever they ar
I lneeded and whenever they are needed
s This is a program OF regulation
$ prevention and administrative efficiel
Icy which argues its own case in tn
lmere statement of it. With regard I
: one of its items, the increase in tn
! efficiency Of the Interstate CommerC
! Commission, the House of Represent
i tiyes has already acted; its actio
! needs only the concurrence Of til
I Senator
i Can't Force Employment.
! would hesitate to recommend, al