Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1916-12-07
do justice when there is no reason to
doubt either

The other suggestions-the increase
In the Interstate commerce commits
sion's membership and in it's 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
intrusted US with the responsibility
and duty of serving and safeguarding
them in such matters would find 1t
hard, / believe, to excuse a failure to
act upon these grave matters or any
unnecessary postponement of action
upon them.
Not only does the interstate COM
merce commission now find 1t practi-
cally impossible, with its present men,
bership and organization, to perform
its great functions promptly and thor
oughly, but 1t Is not unlikely that 1t
may presently be found advisable to
add to Its duties still others equally
heavy and exacting. 1t must first be
perfected as an administrative instru-
ment.
The country cannot and should not
consent to remain any longer exposed
to profound industrial disturbances for
lack of additional means of arbitra-
tion and conciliation which the coz
gress can easily and promptly supply.
n oil NNvfll 81
no doubt as to the power of the execu-
tive to make immediate and uninter-
rupted use of the railroads for the con-
centration of the military forces of the
nation wherever they are needed and
whenever they are needed
This is program of regulation, pre-
ventlon and administrative efficiency
which argues its own case in the mere
statement of 1t. With regard to one
of its items, the increase In the eff
cheney of the interstate commerce COM
mission, the house OF representatives
has already acted; its action needs
only the concurrence OF the senate.
For Control and Operation.
L would hesitate to recommend, and
l dare say the congress would hesitate
to act upon the suggestion should
make 1t, that any man In any occupa-
tton should be obliged by law to con-
tinue In an employment which he de-
sired to leave. To pass law which
forbade or prevented the individual
workman to leave his work before re-
ceiving the approval Of society in do
Ing so would be to adopt q new prin-
take IL Tor granted we are not prepared
10 Introduce. But the proposal that
the operation of the railways of the
country shall not be stopped or inter
rupted by the concerted action of or
ganized bodies Of men until a public
investigation shall have been instituted
which shall make the whole question
ut issue plain for the Judgment of the
opinion OF the nation is not to propose
any such principle. 1t is based upon
the very different principle that the con-
| certed action of powerful bodies of men
shall not be permitted to stop the in
uuStriai processes of the nation, at any
rate before the nation shall have had
an opportunity TO acquaint itself with
the merits of the case as between en-
ployee and employer, time to form its
opinion upon an impartial statement
OF the merits, and opportunity to con-
| slider all practicable means of concIlio-
ton or arbitration.
can see nothing In that proposition
but the justifiable safeguarding by So
clety of the necessary processes Of
its very life. There is nothing arhi.
tr0rV fttg In Et
trarlly and unjustly done. 1t can and
should be done with a full and serum
ious regard for the interests and lber-
| ues or all concerned as we'll as for the
permanent interests of society itself.
Other Legislation Urged.
Ihree matters of capital importance
await the action of the senate which
nave already been acted upon by the
mouse of representatives the buI
which seeks to extend greater freedom
OF combination to those engaged I'm pro-
inotlhg the foreign commerce of the
country than is now thought by some
10 De legal under the terms of the laws
| against monopoly; the bill amending
the present organic law of Porto Rico
ana the bill proposing n more thor
ough and systematic regulation of the
expenditure of money In elections, com
monty called the Corrupt Practices Act
need not labor my advice that these
measures be enacted into law. Their
urgency lies In the manifest circum.
stances which render their adoption AT
tRfs time not only opportune but neces-
sary Even delay would seriously
leopard the interests of the country
and of the government.
Immediate passage of the bill to reg
ulate the expenditure OF money in cleo
tions may seem to be less necessary
than the Immediate enactment of the
other measures to which refer; be-
cause ut least two years will elapse
before another election in which fed.
eral offices are to be filed but 1t woul6
greatly relieve the public mind If this
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