New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1916-12-08

ia the Interstate commerce commits
stems membership and in its facilities
for performing its manifold duties, the
provision for full public investigation
and assessment Of industrial disputes,
and the grant to the executive of the
power to control and operate the rail
ways when necessary in time of war
or other like public necessity now
very earnestly renew.
The necessity for such legislation is
manifest and pressing. Those who have
intrnSttd us with the responsibility
and duty of serving and safeguarding
them in such matters would find il
hard, | believe, to excuse II failure to
act upon these grave matters or amy
unnecessary postponement of action
upon them.
Not only does the interstate ON
mcrce commission now find ii practi-
"Hlly Impossible, with its present men,
brrShip and organization, to perform
its great functions promptly and thor
oughIy, hut it is not unlikely that it
may presently he found advisable to
add to its duties still others equally
heavy and ~cXactiug. II must first he
perfected rs an administrative inStru-
mcnt.
The country cannot and should not
consent to remain any longer exposed
10 profound industrial disturbances for
hack of additional means of nrbitra-
,i,p ,,,J ..a,,tIi,,tnN ,,Ii,b tIn .A,,
grcs> can easily and promptly supply.
And AL will agree that there must be
no doubt AS 10 the power Of the eXccu-
tive to make Immediate and uninter-
ruptcd use of the railroads for the con
Crntratiun of the military forces of the
nation wherever they are needed and
whenever they are needed.
This is a program of regulation, pre-
vrntion and ndminiS,rativ" efficiency
which argues its W. ease in the mere
statement of it. With regard to one
of its items, the increase in the ELI
cheney of the Interstate commerce ON
mission. The house of representatives
has already acted; its action needs
only the concurrence" of the %Sonate.
For Control and Operation.
would hesitate to recommend, and
| dar" sly tn" congress would hesitate
to act upon the suggestion should |
max" II, that any man in any occupa-
ti"n should be obliged by law to con
Time in AN employment which he de-
sired to leave. To pass II law which
forbade or prevented the individual
workman To leave his work before re-
c"ivinG tn" approval of society in do
ing so would be to adopt n new prin-
ciplc into our Jurisprudence which !
take 1t for granted we are not prepared
to Introduce. But the proposal thai
the operation of the railways of the
country shall not be stopped or inter
rlipled by The concerted action of or
GanlZ"d bodies of men until n public
Investigation shall have been instituted
which shall make the whole question
al issue plain for the Judgment of the
opinion of tn" natlou is not to propose
any such principle. Ii is based upon
the very different principle that the con
~ l''' ~ VI NV y
shall not be permitted To stop the in
duStrial processes of the nation. mt any
rate before the nation Shall have had
an opportunity Ia acquaint itself with
the merits of the ease as between en-
ploy"" and employer, time To form its
opinion upon m impartial statement
OF the merits, and opportunity to u
slider all practicable means of concilia-
lion or arbitration.
can see nothing in that proposition
the juStiiiable safeguarding by So
ciety of the necessary processes of
IT'S very life. There is nothing arhi-
trary or unjust in ii unless it be arbi-
trarily and unjustly done. II can and
should be done with II full and scrupu-
regard for the interests and liber-
ties of all concerned as well nS for the
permanent interests of society itself.
Other Legislation Urged.
Thr"" matters Of capital Importance
await the action of the senate which
alr"ady been acted upon by the
ho'iN" of representatives: the bill
which seeks to extend greater freedom
combination to those engaged in bro
the foreign commerce of the
country than is now thought by some |
to be legal under the terms of the laws |
against monopoly; the bin amending
the present organic law Of Porto Rico:
ana the bill proposing Il more thor
ouSll and systematic regulation of the
expenditure of money in elections, COM
monty called the Corrupt Practices Act. |
| need no labor my advice that these |
bc enacted into law. Their
urgency lies in the manifest circum-
which render their adoption at
this time not only opportunc but neces-
,ary. Even delay would seriously
leopard the interests of the country
and of the government.
Immediate passage of the bill to reg
llatc The expenditure of money in cleo
lions may seem To be less necessary
the immediate enactment of the
other measures to which | refer; be-
cause at least W. years will elapSe
another election in which fed
III 'ilItfS ARE W w nIl'N DNl III Woulu
greatly relieve the public mind if this
important matter We're dealt with
while the circumstances and the dan
gers to the public morals of the pres
mt method of obtaining and spending
'ainpaign funds stand clear under re-
'ent observation and the methods of
can be frankly studied in
hc light of present experience; and n
lplay would have the further very Sc
'ioCs disadvantage of postponing ac-
ion until another election was at hand
md some special object connected with