Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-12-07
Declares That Their Opera
ton Should Not Be Stopped
or Interrupted by the Con-
certed Action Of Organized
Bodies Of Men Until a Pub
lie Investigation Shall Have
Been Instituted.

TN ono of the shortest messag yes
ever sent to congress President
Wilson urges that early action
he taken to complete his pro-
gram Of settlement and regulation
recommended at the last session. The
message in full Is as follows:
Gentlemen Of the Congress:
IN fulfilling at this time the duty
laid pom me by the constitution OF
communicating to you from time to
time information of the state Of the
linton and recommending TO your con
sideration such legislative measures "a
may he Judged necessary and expedi-
ent | shall continue the practice. which
I hope has hccn acceptable TO yon. OF
leaving to the reports Of the several
heads OF the executive departments
the elaboration Of the detailed needs
Of the public service and conine my
self to those matters of more general
| public policy with which it seems nee
| cssary and feasible to deal at the pres
ent session of the congress.
I realize the limitations of time un-
der which you will necessarily act at
this session and shall make m sug-
yestions as few as possible. But there
were some things left undone at the
last session which there will now be
time to complete and which It seems
necessary in the interest of the public
TO do at once.
The Railroad Problem.
In the first place. 1t seems TO me- i'm
peratively necessary that the earliest
possible consideration and action
should he accorded the remaining
measures Of the program Of settlement
and regulation which | had occasion to
recommend to you at the close of your
last session in view Of the public dan
gers disclosed by the unaccommodated
which still unhappily continue TO ex-
list between the railroads Of the coun-
try and their locomotive engineers.
conductors and trainmen.
then recommended:
First. immediate provision for the
enlargement and administrative reor-
ganization of the interstate commerce
commission along the lines embodied
in the bill recently passed by the house
Of representatives and now awaiting
action by the senate in order that the
commission may be enabled to deal
with the many great and various du
ties now devolving upon 1t with a
promptness and thoroughness which
are, with its present constitution and
means of action, practically impossible.
Second. the establishment OF an eight
hour day as the legal basis alike of
work and of wages in the employment
of oil railway employees who are a.
tually engaged in the work Of operat
ing trains in interstate transportation.
Third. the authorization Of the ap
pointment by the president Of a 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 mon and for the
railroads.
1 oLlths CAPllNl hfiAo''i w '"'
gress of the consideration by the in
tersta;p commission Of al
increase of freight rates to meet such
additional expenditures by the rail
roads as may have been rendered nee
essary by the adoption of the eigh,
hour day and which have not been off
set by administrative establishments
and economies. should the facts dis
closed justify the increase.
Fifth. an amendment Of the existinf
federal statute which provides for the
mediation. Cancellation and arbitratio,
Of such controversies as the present By
adding to it a provision that. in case
the methods Of accommodation now
provided for should fail. a full public
Investigation OF the merits Of everj
such dispute shall he instituted ant
completed before a strike or lockon
may lawfully he attempted.
Control by tho Executive.
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 oun
try as may be required for military
use and to operate them for military
purposes. with authority to draft int,
the military service of the Unite,
States such train crews and admins
trative officials as the circumstance.
require for their safe and efficient use
The second and third of these rec
concentrations the congress immediate
ly acted on: II established the eight
hour day as the legal basis Of worl
md wages in train service and it an
thorlzed the appointment of a commits
sion TO observe and report upon thu
practical results. deeming these tn,
, measures most Immediately needed. hu'
I # postponed action upon the other sug
. gestions until an opportunity should h'
: offered for n more deliberate consider
alton of them.
Tho fourth recommendation | do no
deem II necessary to renew. The pow
er of the interstate m cdmmi;
I sion to grant an increase of rates q
the ground referred to Is indisputabi
clear, and a recommendation by tn
congress with regard to such a matte
might seem to draw in question tn
g scope Of the COMMISSIONS authority q
its inclination to do justice when Their
= ia no reason to doubt either,
The other suggestions-the increas
in the interstate commerce commi'