The Nevada County picayune., 1916-12-07
SE EassggzSvxssEsxs as CONGRESS; HEARS WILSON MESSAGE
Presidents Address to Both
 Houses Is Quite Short.
RAIL TROUBLES COME FIRST
Further Legislation on That Line is Strongly Recommended-Bili Civ ing Foreign Commerce Promo
 ters Free Hand Necessary.

Washington. Dee. 5.-President Will son today delivered his message to both houses of congress in joint Scs- sion, The address was as follows: Gentlemen of the Congress-:
 In fulfilling al this time the duty laid upon me by the Constitution of com municating to you from time to time information of the state of the Union and recommending to your conSidera- tion such legislative measures as may be judged necessary and eXpedient shall continue the practice. which hope has been acceptable to you, of leaving 10 the reports of the several heads of the executive departments the elaboration of the detailed needs of the public service and confine myself to those matters of more general pub lie policy with which 1t seems neces Sary and feasible to deal it the pres ent session of the congress.
 I realize the limitations of time un- der which you will necessarily act at liliN HtSHIbll anu >iltill litNt iiAt ''~ gestons 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 Tt once.
 In the first place, il seems to me i'm pcrativeiy necessary that the earliest possible consideration and action should he accorded the remaining measures of the program of settle ment and regulation which had occa sion 10 recommend to you at the close of your last session in view of the pub He dangers disclosed by the unaccom modated difficulties which then existed, and which still nnhappily continue to exist, between the railroads of the country and their locomotive engineers, conductors. and trainmen.
 Railway Troubles First.
 then recommended:
 First. immediate provision for the enlargement and administrative reor- ganization of the interstate commerce c0mmi ssion along the lines embodied in :he 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 devolying upon it with prompt ness and thoroughneSS which are, with Its present constitution and means of action, practically impossible.
 Second. the establishment of an eight-hohr day as the legal basis alike of work and of wages in the employ ment of all railway employees who are actually engaged ill the work nf oper- atinG trains in interstate transporta- tion.
 Third. the authorization of the ap- pointmcut ny the president of small body of men tO observe the actual re- suits in experience of The adoption of the eight-hour day in railway trans portatien alike for the men and for the railroads.
 Fourth. explicit approval by the con gross of the consideration by the in- tcrState commerce. commission If an increase of freight rates to meet such additional expenditures by the rail- roads as may have been rendered nee rSSary hy the adoption of the eight hour day and which have not been off- set by administrative readiuStments and economies, should the facts dis closed justify the increase.
 Fifth, an amendment of the existing federal statute which provides for the mediation. concilation, and arbitration of such controversies as the present by adding 10 1t provision that. in case the methods of accommodation now provided for should fail, full public investigation of the merits of every such dispute shall he instituted and completed before n strike or lockout may lawfully be attempted.
 And. sixth. the lodgment in the hands of the executive of the power in ease of military necessity. to take control of such portions and such roll ing stock of the railroads Of the cOun- try as may be required for military use and 10 operate them for military purposes. with authority to draft into the military service of the United States such train crews and admini~- uative officials as the circumstances require for their safe and efficient use
 Reaews His Recommendation.
 The second and third of these rec concentrations the congress immediate " acted on 1t established the eight hour day as the legal basis of work and wages In train service and | au-