The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1916-12-07

the lull text OF President Wilson
Annual. address to congress, delivered
today: = :, :
sGeatlemen of the Congress:
In fulfilling at this time the dut,
!Ald upon me by the constitution o.
communicating to you from time to
time Information of the state Of the
union and recommending to you,
consideration such legislative meas.
ures as may be judged necessary and
expedient shall continue the prac.
tice, which hope has been ACCEPT.
able TO you, of leaving to the reports
Of the several heads of the executive
departments the elaboration of the
detailed needs Of the public service
and conffne myself to those matters
OF more general public policy with
which # seems necessary and feasible
to deal at the present session of the
Congresss
II realize the limitations Of time
under which you will necessarily act
et this session and shall make my sue-
kPattOns as few as possible; but there
were some thing left undone at the
last session which there will now be
time to complete and which it seems
necessary In the interest of the pub
lie to do at once.
In the first place, it seems to m.
imperatively necessary that the earl
lest possible consideration and action
should be accorded the remaining
measures OF the programme of set
tlement and regulation which / had
occasion to recommend to you at the
close OF your last session in view of
the public dangers disclosed by the
unaccommodated difficulties which
then existed, and which still unhap-
pilv continue to exist, between the
railroads of the country and heir
locomotive engineers, conductors and
tratnmen.
Would Enlarg Commission.
Il then recommended:
First immediate provision for the
enlargement and administrative re-
organization of the interstate com
merce commission along the lines en-
bodied in the bill recently passed by
the House OF representatives and now
awaiting action by the Senate; in or
der that the commission may be en-
abled to deal with the many great
and various duties now deyolying up
on 1t with a promptness and thor
oughness which are with its present
constitution and means of action.
practically impossible.
Second, the establishment of an
eight-hour day means of action, prac-
tically impossible.
.'sSecond the establishment of an
eight hour day as the legal basis alike
OF work and wages in the employ
ment Of all railway employees who
are actually engaged in the work of
operating trains in Interstate trans
portation.
Third. the authorization Of the
appointment by the president of a
small body OF men to observe the act
ual results in experience of the
adoption OF the eight-hour day in
railway transportation alike for the
men and for the railroads
For Higher Rates.
Fourth, explicit approval by
the Congress of the consideration by
the interstate commerce commission
OF an Increase nf freight RAJ, to ", a..
sncA additional expenditures by the
railroads as may have been render
Cd necessary by the adoption of the
eight hour day and which have not
been Offset by Administrative rrafjust
ments and economies, should the
facts disclosed justify the increase
Fifth, an amendment of the ex
listing federal statue 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 accom-
mediation now provided for should
fall, FULL public investigation of the
merits of every such dispute shall
be instituted and completed before
strike or lockout may be attempt
ed.
s'And, sixth, the Judgement in the
hands of the executive of the power,
IN case of military necessity, to take
control of such portions and such
rolling stock of the railways of the
country as may be required for mill
tary use and to operate them for mill
tary purposes, with authority to draft
into the military service of the Unit
ed States such train crews and ad-
ministrative officials as the circum-
stances require for their safe and eff
.flcient use.
The second and third of these rec
concentrations the Congress immed-
lately acted on: it established the
eight-hour day as the legal basis of
work and wages in train service and
1t authorized. the appointment Of al
commission to observe and report up
on the practical results, deeming
these the measures most immediate
ly needed; but 1t postponed action
upon the other suggestions until an
opportunity should be offered for a
more deliberate consideration of
them. The fourth recommendation II
do not deem 1t necessary to renew.
The power Of the interstate commerce
commission to. grant an increase of
rates on the ground referred to ISL
indisputably clear and recon-
mendation by the Congress with re-
gard to such matter might seem
to draw in question the scope. OF the
commissions authority or its in
clination to do justice when there is
no reason to doubt either.
Wants Executive Power.
"The other suggestions, the in
crease in the interstate commerce
commission membership and in its
oi1;tjoc !