Semi-weekly herald., 1916-12-07

concentrations the Congress innme-
diately acted on: it established the
eight-hour day as the legal basis Of
work and wages in train service and
it authorized the appointment Of n
commission to observe and report up
on the practical results, deeming
these the measures most Immediate
y 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
do not deem it necessary to re-
new. The power of the Interstate
Commerce Commission to grant IN
increase of rates on the ground re-
,erred to is indisputably clear and n
recommendation by the Congress
with regard to such a matter might
seem to draw in question the scope
of the Commissions authority or its
inclination to do justice when there
is no reason to doubt either.
The other suggestions,-the in.
,rease in the Interstate Commerce
Commissions membership and in its
facilities for performing its manifold
iuties, the provision for full public
Investigation and assessment of in
iustrial disputes, and the grant to
the Executive of the power to con
rol and operate the railways when
necessary in time of war or like
public necessity,-I now very earn
astly renew.
The necessity for such legislation
is manifest and pressing. Those who
have entrusted us with the responsi-
bility and duty of serving and safe
guarding them in such matters would
fiud it hard, 7 believe, to excuse
failure to act upon these grave n,at-
ers of any unnecessary pcstpone,
n,ent of action upon them.
Not only does the Interstate Com
merce Commission now find it prac.
ically impossible, with its present
membership and organization, to per
form its great functions promptly
and thoroughly but it is not unlikely
that it may presently be found ad
-isable to add to its duties stil'
,thers equally heavy and exactin'
must first be perfected as an nd
illustrative instrument.
The country cannot and should nc
onsent to remain any longer expo
d to profound industrial disturb
,nces for lack of additional mear
# arbitration and conciliation whicl
| he Congress can easily and prompt
" supply. And all will agree that
here must be no doubt as to the
| power of the Executive to make i'm
mediate and uninterrupted use Of the
-ailroads wherever they are needed
md whenever they are needed
This is a programme of regula
ion, prevention, and administrative
Efficiency which argues its own case
egard to one of its items, the in
rease in the efficiency of the In
erstate Commerce Commission, the
House of Representatives has al.
'eady acted; its action needs only
he concurrence of the Senate.
| I would hesitate to recommend.
md dare say the Congress would
,esitate to act upon the suggestion
lhould I make it, that any man in
my occupation should be obliged by
aw to continue in an employment
which he desired to leave. To pass
law which forbade or prevented
the individual workman to leave his
work. before receiving the approval
If society in doing so would be to
,dopt new principle into our juris
prudence which I take it for granted
We are not prepared to introduce
But the proposal that the operation
# the railways of the country shall
not be stopped or interrupted by tho
'oncerted action of organized bodies
# men until a public investigate
hall have been instituted which shall
make the whole question at issue
'lain for the judgment Of the opin-
on of the nation is not to propose
my such principle. It is based upon
he very different principle that the
oncerted action of powerful bodice
'f men shall not be permitted to stop
he industrial processes of the ma.
lion, at any rate before the natior
shall have had an opportunity to ac-
quaint itself with the merits of the
'ase as between employee and en-
oloyer, time to form its opinion up
on an impartial statement of the
merits, and opportunity to conside'
III practicable means Of conciliatior
or arbitration. I can see nothing i