The Dickson County herald. (Dickson, Tenn.) 1907-1979, 1916-12-08
CONGRESS HEARS
WILSON'S MESSAGE
Presidents Address 10 Both
Houses Is Quite Short.
RAIL TROUBLES COME FIRST
Further Legislation On That Lire 10
Strongly Rseemmsndsd--elil Civ
ing Foreign Commerce Prone
tefs Free Hand Necessary.

Washington, Dee. A--Pred0ent VIII
sen today delivered lbs message to
both houses Of congress In Joint ses-
sioa. The address was as follows:
Gentlemen Of the Congress:
In fulfilling at this time the duty laid
upon me by the Constitution IL com
municating to you from time to time
information OF the state OF the Union
and recommending to your consitlera-
ton such legislative measures as may
be judged necessary and expedient !
shall continue the practice, which /
hope has been acceptable 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 contine myself
to those matters OF more general pub
lie policy with which II seems neces-
sary and feasible TO deal at the pres
ent session Of the congress.
I realize the limitations Of time un-
der which you viii necessarily act at
this session and shall make my sug.
gestsons IA few ms possible; but there
were some things left undone at the
last session which there VIII now be
time 10 complete and which Ii seems
necessary In the interest OF the public
to do 1T once,
In the first place, Il seems TO me i'm
peratiyely necessary that the earliest
possible consideration and action
should be 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.
lie dangers disclosed by the unaccom.
modated difficulties which then existed,
and which still unhappily continue 10
exist, between the railroads Of the
country and their locomotive engineers,
conductors, and trainmen.
halfway Ifoupiee rNsL
then recommended:
First, immediate provision for the
enlargement and administrative rcor.
ganlzation 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 10 deal
with the many great and various duties
now devoiving upon Il with a prompt
ness and thoroughness which are, with
Its present constitution and means Of
action, practically Impossible.
Second. the establishment Of an
eight.hour day as the legal basis alike
OF work and Of wages in the employ
ment Of all railway employees who are
actually engaged In the work Of oper-
ating trains IN interstate transporta-
don
Third, the authorization Of the np-
poIn,mcnt by the president Of small
body Of men to observe the actual re-
suits In experience OF the adoption Of
the eicht.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
tarstate commerce commission OF an
increase Of freight rates TO meet such
additional expenditures by the rail-
roads MS may have been rendered nee.
essary by the adoption Of the eight
hour day and which have not been of
set by administrative readjustments
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 II a provision that, In case
the methods OF accommodation now
provided for should fail. a full public
investigation OF the merits Of every
such dispute shall be instituted and
completed before strike or lockout
may lawfully be attempted.
And. sixth, the Judgment IN the
hands Of the executive OF the power,
in case OF military necessity. 10 take
control Of such portions and such roll.
ing stock Of the railroads Of the coun-
try as may hs required for military
use and TO operate them for military
purposes, with authority to draft into
the military service Of the United
States such train crews and admins
ratiye officials as the circumstances
require for their safe and esIicient use.
Renews His Recommendations.
The second and third az these rec
concentrations the congress immediate
ly acted on: II established the eight.
hour day as the legal hasis OF work
and wages In train service and II au-
thcriEed the appointment Of com
mission to observe and report upon the
practical results, deeming these the
measures most Immediately needed !;
but II pcstPeaed action upon the other
suggestions until an opportunity should
ba offered for q more deliberate con
s.siera;ioB OK them. The fourth rec
concentration do not deem II neces-
sary to renew The power OF the In.
ters.ate commerce commission TO GRAFT
an Increase Of rates on the ground re
ferred to Is indIspatably clear and a