South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-12-05

pigment Of all railroad employees
who are actually engaged in the
work OF operating trains In inter-
state commerce
BODY TO OBSERVE TESTS.
Third. the authorization OF the
appointment by the president OF a
small body OF men TO observe the
actual results in experience Of the
adoption OF the eight-hour day In
railway transportation alike for the
men and for the railroads.
Fourth, explicit approval by the
congress Of the consideration by the
Interstate commerce commission OF
an increase Of freight rates TO meet
such additional expenditures by the
railroads as may have been render
cd necessary by the adoption Of the
cight-hour day and which have nor
been offset by administrative read
lustments and economies. should the
facts disclosed justify the increase.
Fifth, an amendment OF the exist
ing federal statute which provides
for the mediation, Cancellation, and
arbitration OF such controversies az
the present by adding 20 it pro-
vision that. In case the methods Of
accommodation now provided for
should fail. a fun public investiga-
ton Of the merits Of every such dis
pute shall be instituted and COM
pleted before a strike or lockout
may lawfully be attempted.
WOULD TAKE OVER ROADS.
And, sixth. the Judgement in the
hands OF the executive Of the power.
in case Of military necessity, 70 take
control Of such portions and such
rolling stock of the railways of the
country as may be required for mill
itary use, and 20 operate them for
military purposes. with authority to
draft into the military service Of
the United States such trains and
administrative officials as the cir
cumstances require for their safe
and efficient use.
The second and third Of these
| recommendation the congress inn
mediately acted on; il established
! the eight-hour day as the legal basis
/ OF work and wages in train service
and IL authorized the appointment
/ OF a commission 20 observe and re-
port upon the practical results.
! deeming these the measures most
I Immediately needed: but il post
pOned action upon the other sug-
I Gestions until an opportunity should
/ be offered for a more deliberate
, consideration of them. The fourth
| recommendation i do not deem il
i necessary 10 renew. The power Of
I the interstate commerce commission
/ C. grant an increase of rates on the
| ground referred TO is indisputably
\ clear, and "a recommendation by the
| congress with regard to such a mat
ter might seem 70 draw in question
| the scope Of the commissions au-
| thority or it's inclination TO do JUS
| tice. when there is no reason to
doubt either
/ The other suggestions--the in
| crease in the interstate commerce
| commissions membership and i'm its
! facilities for performing its mani
/ fold duties, the provision for full
public investigation and assessment
/ CT industrial disputes. and the grant
70 the executive of the power to
| control and operate the railways
| when necessary in time of war or
other like public necessity now
! very earnestly renew.
| LEGISLATION NEEDED.
| The necessity for such legislation
is manifest and pressing. Those
who have entrusted us with the re-
] sDonsibility and duty of serving and
safeguarding them i'm such matters
would find it hard / believe. TO eX-
| Cuse a failure 10 act upon these
| grave matters or any unnecessary
| postponement of action upon them
I Not only does the interstate COM
| merce commission now find il prac-
/ tcally impossible. with its present
! membership and organization, TO
I perform its great functions prompt
/ ly and thoroughly. but il is not un-
\ likely that il may presently be found
] advisable 20 add 10 its duties still
/ others equally heavy and exactinS.
\ IL must be perfected as an admins
| trative instrument
The country cannot and should
/ rot consent 20 remain any longer
/ exposed 10 profound industrial dis
turbances for lack of additional
\ means of arbitration and concilia-
\ ton which the congress can easily
and promptly supply. And all will
] agree that there must be no doubt
as 20 the power of the executive to
make immediate and uninterrupted
use Of the railroads for the concen-
/ tration of the military forces of the
nation wherever they are needed
and whenever they are needed.
This is "A program of regulation,
! prevention, and administrative eff
cheney which argues its own case in
| the mere statement of 10. With re-
u gard 10 one of its items. the increase
IN the efficiency of the interstate
commerce commission. the house of
] representatives has already acted
its action needs only the concur
renee of the senate.
NATION COMES FIRST.
J would hesitate 10 recommend
/. ond L dare say the congress woult
hesitate TO act upon the suggestion