The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1916-08-29

| certed action of organized labor back
ed by the favorable judgment Of so
ciety, the representatives of the rail.
way management have felt justified in
declining peaceful settlement which
would engage all the forces of justice,
public and private on their side to
take care Of the event.
Fear Shippers Objections.
'They fear the hostile influence OF
shippers who would be opposed to an
increase of freight rates, (for which,
however, Of course the public itself
would pay,) they apparently feel so
confident that the interstate commerce
commission could Withstand any
objection that would be made
THE railway managers base their
decision to reject my counsel in this
manner upon their convictions that
they must at any cost to themselves
or to the country stand firm for the
principle Of arbitration which the men
had rejected.
putable fact that there was no means
for obtaining arbitration. The law
supplied none. Earnest efforts at me-
diation has failed to influence the men
in the least.
"a situation had to be met whose
elements and fixed conditions were
indisputable. The practical and pa
triotic course to pursue as 1t seems to
me was to secure immediate peace by
conceding the one thing in the de-
mands of the men which society felt
and any arbitrators who represented
public sentiment were most likely to
approve. and Immediately lay the foun-
dation for securing arbitration with
regard to everything else involved.
Wilson Makes Proposals.
"But ! could only propose. l could
not govern the will of the others who
took an entirely different view of the
circumstances of the case, who even
refused to admit the circumstances to
be what they have turned out to be.
Having failed to bring the parties
to this critical controversy to accom-
mediation therefore I turn to you,
deeming it clearly our duty as public
servants to leave nothing undone that
we can do to safeguard the life and
interest of the nation. In the spirit of
such a purpose earnestly recon-
mend the following legislation:
Enlarge Commerce Body.
l. Immediate provision for the en-.
largement and administrative reorgan-
ization 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 or
der that the commission may be una.
BILE to deal with the many great and
various duties now devolving upon
which promptness, which is with it's
present constitution and means Of ac-
tion practically impossible.
Second, the establishment Of an
eight hour day as the legal basis of
wages In the employment Of all rail-
way employees who are actually en-
gagged in the work Of operating trains
In Interstate transportation.
Suggests Third Course
Third, the authorization Of small
body of men to observe the actual re-
suits in experiences Of adoption of
the eight hour day in railway trans
portation for the men and for the
roads; Its effects In the manner OF op.
Grating cost, in the application Of the
existing practices and agreements to
the new agreement; and in all other
practical aspects. with the provision
that the investigators shall report
their conclusions to the Congress at
the earliest possible date but without
recommendation as to legislative act
ion; In order that the public may learn
from an unprejudiced source just what
developments have insued.
Fourth, explicit approval by the
Congress Of the consideration by the
interstate commerce commission of an
increase Of freight rates to meet such
additional expenditure by the roads
as may have been rendered necessary
by the adoption of the eight hour day
and which has not been offset by ad-
ministrative adjustment and economies
should the facts disclosed justify the
increase.
Names Fifth Course.
Fifth, an amendment of the existing
Federal statue which provides for the
mediation and conciliation and arbi-
tration of such controversies as the !
present by adding to it provision
that in case the methods of accommo-
dation now. provided for should fail
full public investigation of the
merits Of every such dispute shall be
Instituted and completed before
strike or lockout may be attempted.
And sixth, the Judgement in the
hands of the executives of the power.
in case of military necessity to take
control of such portions and such roll
ing stock of the railways of the coun-
try as may be required for military |
use and to operate them for military
with authority to draft into
the military service of the United |
States such train crews and admins
trative officials as the circumstances
require for their safe and efficient |
USE"
Dali AnItIM Arc nAN