Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1916-11-30
WILSON'S MESSAGE
TO The CONGRESS
Genate and House In Joint Ses-
sion Hear Address OF
the President.
he MAKES FEW SUGGESTIONS
Further Legislation for Settlement and
Regulation Of Railway Labor Dis
putss Held imperatlveiy Neces-
sary by the chief Magistrate.


sary by the chief Magistrate.
Washington, Dec. 5.-The senate
and house met In joint session today
and heard President Wilson's MESA 60,
which was az follows:
Gentlemen Of the Congress:
In fulfilling at this time the duty laid
upon me by the Constitution Of com
rnunlcating TO you from time to time
information Of the state OF the Union
and recommending to your considera-
tion such legislative measures as may
be judged necessary and expedient
shall continue the practice, which /
hope has been acceptable to you, Of
leaving TO the reports Of the severn!
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 II seems neces-
Sary and feasible to deal ut the pres
ent session OF the congress.
I realize the limitations of time UNI
der which You will necessarily act at
this session and shall make my sug-
gestions as few az possible; but there
were some things left undone at the
last session which there will now be
time TO complete and which II seems
necessary In the interest OF the public
70 do nj once.
In the frst place. II seems to me i'm.
peratively necessary that the earliest
possible consideration and action
should be accorded the remaining
measures Of the program of settle
ment and regulation which had occa.
sion 10 recommend to you Mt the close
OF your last session In view Of the pub
lie dangers disclosed by the unaccom-
mOdated difficulties which then existed,
and which still unhappily continue to
exist. between the railroads of the
country and their locomotive engineers.
conductors. aud .rainmen.
. Railway Troubles First.
then recommended.
First. immediate provision for the
enlargement and administrative reor-
gHnixation OF the Interstate commerce
commission along the lines embodied
IN the bin recently passed by the house
OK Representatives and now awaiting
action by the senate In order that the
commission may be enabled to deal
with the many great and various duties
now devolvlng upon II with a prompt
ness md thoroughncss which are, with
Its present constitution and means Of
action, practically impossible.
Second. the establishment OF an
elght-hour day ms the legal basis alike
Of work and Of wages In the employ
ment OF all railway employees who are
actually engaged In the work Of oper-
ating trains In Interstate transporta-
tion.
Third, the authorization of the up
pointment by the president of a small
body OF men To observe the actual re-
suits In experience Of the adoption Of
the elght-hour day In railway trans
portation alike for the men and for
the railroads.
Fourth, explicit approval by the con-
gress OF the consideration by the In.
tcrStnte commerce commission OF an
Increase of freight rates to meet such
additional expenditures by the rail-
roads M may have been rendered nee.
essary by the adoption Of the eight.
hour day and which have not been of.
sset by administrative establishments
and economies, should the facts dis
closed justify the Increase.
Fifth. an amendment Of the existing
federal statute which provides for the
mediation, Cancellation, and arbitration
OF such controversies as the present
by adding to II a provision that. In case
tho methods Of accommodation now
provided for should fall. full public
Investigation Of the merits OF every
such dispute shalt be instituted and
completed before strike or lockout
may lawfully be attempted.
And. sixth. the Judgment In the
hands Of the executive of the power.
Ia case Of military necessity. to take
control Of such portions and such roll
Ing stock Of the railroads 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 rs the circumstances
require for their safe and efficient use.
Renews His recommendations.
The second and third of these rec
concentrations the congress Immediate
~ acted on: II established the eight
hour day as the legal basis Of work
and wages In train service and II au-
thorixed the appointment Of a COM
mission TO observe and report upon the
practical results. deemtng these the
measures most Immediately needed |;
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Unusual Experience.