Fergus County Democrat., 1916-12-07

suits in experience of the adoption OF ,
the eight-hour day in railway transpor-
tation alike for the men and for the |
railroads.
Fourth-Explicit approval by the !
congress of the consideration by the
interstate commerce commission OF an
increase 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 Off
set by administrative readjustments
and economies, should the facts dis
closed justify the increase.
! Fifth-An amendment OF the exist
! ing federal statute which provides for
the mediation, conciliation, and arbi-
tration OF such controversies as the
present by adding to it 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 instituted
and completed before strike or lock-
out may lawfully be attempted.
Sixth-The Judgement in the hands
of the executive of the power, in case
of military necessity, to take control
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 authority to draft into the mill
tary service of the United States such
train crew and administrative officials
as the circumstances require for their
safe and efficient use.
The second and third of these
recommendations the congress imme-
diately acted upon; it established the
eight-ho day as the legal basis OF
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 deliber
ate consideration of them. The fourth
recommendation l do not deem II
> necessary to renew. The power OF
!. the interstate commerce commission II
y grant an increase OF rates on the
+ ground referred to is indisputaDl!
!. clear and q recommendation by ths
j, congress with regard to such mat
4 ter might seem to draw in question
!. the scope Of the commissions au
8 thority or its inclination to do justice
r when there Is no reason to dOuD
# either.
D. The other suggestions-the increas
e in the interstate commerce commls
@ sion's membership and and its facll
ic ties for performing its manifold du
y les, the provision for full public lnve'
1t tigatiOn and assessment OF lndustrls
disputes, and the grant to the exec'
n tive of the power to control and ope
ct ate the railways when necessary !
e. time OF war or other like public nece
re sity-I now very earnestly renew.
le The necessity for such legislatio
oe is manifest and pressing. Those VIII
MS have entrusted with us the respons
ic bility and duty of serving and sal
guarding them in such matters wou
ne find it hard, believe. to excuse ia
rl- ure to act upon these grave matte
on or any unnecessary postponement
ng action upon them.
le- Not only does the interstate col
&C. merce commission now find 1t prac
he cally impossible, with It's prese
OF membership and organization, to pc
ne form its great functions promptly al
oh thoroughly but it is not unlikely tn
ap- it may presently be found advisab
he to add to it's duties still others equal
cir heavy and exacting. 1t must first
nd perfected as an administrative instl
ment.
The country cannot and should n
the consent to remain any longer expos
re- to profound industrial disturbances
'm- lack of additional means Of arbitratl
em- and conciliation which the congre
by can easily and promptly supply. A
low all will agree that there must be
der doubt as to the power OF the exe'
LED tive to make immediate and unint
var rupted use of the railroads for
1t concentration of the military fore
ess of the nation wherever they are ne'
ltu- ed and whenever they are need
ally This is program of regulation,
administrative efficiency which argt
an its own case in the mere statement
ike it. With regard to one OF its iter
ent the increase in the efficiency of
ac- interstate commerce commission,
per- house of representatives has alrea
rita acted: its action needs only the C
currence of the senate.
ap would hesitate to recommend, a
nan dare say the congress would hesit
fe' to act upon the suggestion should