The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-12-05

er OF the Interstate commerce commits.
sion To grant an increase of rates on
- ground referred Ia is inhispIltahly
clear and recommendation by tho
congress with regard 10 such matter
might seem Ia draw in question the
scope OF the commissions authority or
Its inclination +" do Justice when there
IL no reason 10 doubt either.
The other suggest nnS-thc increase
In the interstate commerce commits
sion's membership aud In its facilities
for performing It's manifold duties. the
provision for full public investigation
and assessment OF Industrial disputes.
and the grant 10 the executive OF the
power to control and operate tho rail.
ways when necessary in time OF war or
other like public necessity now very
earnestly renew.
New Legislation Necessary.
The necessity for such legislation I,
manifest and pressing. Those who hayc
Entrusted us with the reSponsibIlitv
and duty Of serving and safcgua riding
them In such matters would find 1t
hhrd. believe, to excuse n failure 10
act upon these grave matters or any
unnecessary p"Stp"ncmrnt of action.
Not only does the interstate COM
merce commission now find It practical
~ impossible, with its present member.
ship and organization. to perform its
great functions promptly and thorough
". but 1t is not unlikely that II NAV
presently he found advisable TO add TO
Its duties still others equally heavy and
exactinG. 1t must first he perfected as
an administrative Instrument.
The country cannot and should not
consent TO remain any longer exposed
to profound industrial disturbances
for lack OF additional means Of arbl.
tratiOn and cOncliatIon which the con.
gross can easily and promptly supply.
And all will agree that there must be
no doubt as tn the power Of the exeCu.
tive TO make immediate ana unintcr.
rupted use Of the railroads for the con-
centrHtiOn Of the military forces OF the
nation wherever they are needed and
whenever they nre needed.
This is program Of regulation. pre-
ventlon and administrative efficiency
which argues Its own case in the mere
statement Of It, With regard to one OF
It's items. the increase In the efficiency
Of the Interstate commerce commission,
the house Of representatives has al.
ready acted. LIS action needs only the
concurrence Of the senate.
To Safeguard Industrial Processes.
I would hesitate to recommend. anil
l dare say the congress would hesitate
to nor upon the suggestion ShoWId
make II, that any man in any 0rcupa.
ton should he obliged by law to con-
tinue In nm employment which he de-
sired to leave.
To pass law which forbade or pre-.
vented the individual workman to leave
his work before receiving the approval
Of society In doing so would he to
adopt a new principle into our juris-
prudence which l take it for granted
we are not prepared to introduce. But
the proposal that the operation OF the
railways OF the country shall not he
stopped or interrupted by the concert
ed action Of organized bodies of men
until public investigation shall have
been instituted which shall make the
whole question at issue plain for the
Judgment of the opinion of the nation
is not to propose any such principle.
1t Is based upon the very different
principle that the concerted action Of
powerful hodleS Of men shall not he
permitted to stop the industrial pro-
CpsScS Of the nation, Mt any rate before
tho nation shnll have had an Opportu-
nifty to acGunlnt itself with the merits
OF the case as between employee and
employer, time to form its opinion upon
an impartial statement Of the merits,
and opportunity to consider all practi.
cable means Of Cancellation or arbitra-
ton.
can 500 nothing in that proposition
Init the justihnhle safeguarding by So
ciety OF the necessary processes Of Its
very life. There Is nothing arbitrary
or unjust in it unIr'SS it he arbitrarily
and unjustly done. 1t can and should
he done with full and scrupnlous re-
gard for the interests and liberties Of
all concerned MS we'll 9s for the rer-
manent interests OF society itself
Three matters Of capital importance
await the action Of +hc senate which
have already been acted upon hy the
house Of representatives thp nil which
seeks to extend greater freedom Of
combination to those engaged In pro