Evening journal., 1916-12-05
1Ihe message IN iulI loIIows .


In fulfilling at this time the duty
laid upon me by the constitution OF
communicating TO you from time 10
time information Of the state OF the
Union and recommending to your con
Eideration such legislative measures as
may he Judged necessary and expedi-
ent 7 shall continue the practice which
] hope hss been acceptable to you. OF
leaving 10 the reports of the several
heads Of thr executive departments
the elaboration OF the detailed needs
OF the public service and conhne my
self 10 thvss matters OF more general
public policy with which IT seems nee
essary and feasible 10 deal at the pres
ent session of the congress
! realize the limitations OF time un-
der which you will necessarily act at
this session and shall make my sug-
gestions as few as possible But there
were some things left undohe. at the
last session which there will now be
time 70 complete and which It seems
necessary IA the Interest Of the public
10 dn
AT the last session OF the Congress a
bill was passed by the Senate which
provides for the promotion Of yOca-
tional and industrial education, which
is Of vital Importance TO the whole
country because it concerns a matter,
too long neglected upon which the
thorough industrial preparation Of the
country for the critical years of eco
nOmical development Immediately
9 Il.
pends May ! not urge its early and
favorable consideration by the House
Of Representatives and its early
enactment into law? It contains plans
which affect all interests and All
parts Of the country. and am sure
that there is no legislation now pend
ing before the Congress whose pas
sage the country waits with more
thoughtful approval or greater inn
patience TO see a great and admirable
thing set in the way of being done.
The Railroad Problem.
In the first place, it seems to me i'm
neratively necessary that the earliest
possible consideration and action
should he accorded the remaining
measures Of the program Of settlement
and regulation which had occasion 70
recommend TO you at the close Of your
last session in view Of the public dam
gers disclosed by the unaccommodated
difficulties which then existed and
which still unhappily continue TO eK-
Isl between the railroads Of the coun-
fry 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 bin recently passed by the house
Of representatives and now awaiting
action by the senate in order that the
commission hay be enabled 70 deal
with the many great and various du-
Ties now devolving upon It 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 all railway employees who are nc
tually engaged IN the work OF operat-
ing trains I'm interstate transportation.
Third. the authorization OF the ap-
pomtment by the president OF a small
body Of men 70 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 the
railroads
Fourth. explicit approval by the con-
gress Of the consideration by the in
ferstate commerce commission OF an
Increase or freight rates 10 meet such
additional expenditures by the rail
roads as may have been rendered nee
essary by the adoption Of the eight
hour day and which have not been on
set by administrative readjustments
Hnd economies. should the facts dis
closed Justify the increase
Fifth. an amendment OF the existing
federal statute which provides for the
mediation, conciliation and. arbitration
OF such controversies as the present By
adding TO II 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 lockout
may lawfully be attempted
Control by the Exseutivs.
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
trstive officials as the circumstances
fequire for their safe and efficient use.
The second and third OF these rec
concentrations the congress immediate
iy acted on: 1t established the eight
hour day as the legal basis Of work
and wages in train service and il au-
thorized the appointment Of a commits
sion TO observe and report upon the
ctical results, deeming these the
90 asures most Immediately needed, but
ostponed action upon the other sug-
stiOns until an opportunity should be
offered for a more deliberate consider
alton OF them.
The fourth Recommendation I do not
deem It necessary to renew. The pow
er OF the interstate commerce commits
sion "a grant nm Increase NJ rafcs on