French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1916-1919, 1916-12-14
Full, TEXT PRESIDENT
WILSON'S RECENT
ADDRESS TO CONGRESS

Gentlemen of the Congress:
In fulfilling at this time the duty
laid upon me by the Constitution Of
communicating to you from time to
time information of the state of the
Union and recommending to your con-
sideration such legislative measures
as may be judged necessary and expe-
dent / shall continue the practice,
which | hope has been acceptable to
you. of leaving to the reports OF the
several heads of the executive depart
ments the elaboration of the detailed
myself to those matters of more gen.
eraI public policy with which it seems
necessary and feasible to deal at the
Dresent session of the Congress.
| realize the limitations of time I'M
der which you will necessarily act at
this session and shall make my sugges-
tions 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.
In the first place, it seems to me i'm
peratively necessary that the earliest
should be accorded the remaining
measures Of the program of settle
ment and regulation which | haG coca
sion to recommend to you at the close
of your last session in view of the
public dangers disclosed by the unac-
commodated difficulties which then eX,
listed, and which still unhappily con-
tinue to exist between the railroads or
Tie country and their locomotive en-
gineers, conductors and trainmen.
| then recommC nded:
First. immediate provision for the
enlargement and administrative re-or-
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 duties now devolv-
ing upon it with a prOmptness and
thoroughness which are. with its pres
ent constitution and means of action,
practically impossible.
Second, the establishment of an g.
hour day as the legal basis alike of
work and of wages in the employment
of all railway employees who are ac-
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 trans
portation alike for the men and for the
railroads.
Fourth. explicit approval by the Con-
gress of the consideration by the In
terstate Commerce Commission of an
increase of freight rates to meet such
additional expenditures by the rail-
roads as may have been rendered nee
essary by the adontion of the eight
hour day and which have not been
offset by admins trative 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 it 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 a strike Or lockout
may lawfully be attempted.
And, sixth. the Judgement in the
hands of the executive of the power, IN
case of military necessity, to take con-
troll 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 crews and administrative Off
Gals as the circumstances require for
their safe and efficient use.