The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1916-12-05

Wants Provision for the Public Inves-
tigation of All Disputes Before a
Strike or Lockout May Be Lawfully
Attempted.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 5.-President
Wilson 5 address at the opening of
| the session of congress today was
| wholly devoted to domestic subjects.
principally the problem of railway leg
| islation.
In the hall of the house with sena-
tors and representatives assembled in
joint session, President Wilson in ac-
cOrdance with the custom he began
at the opening of his term, read his
address from the clerk s desk.
The President not only renewed re-
commentator for legislation to pre-
vent nation wide railway strike or
lockout before there has been oppor-
tunity for investigation, but defended
it against the attack of organized la
Dor rs nothing arbitrary or unjust and
the "iustihable safeguarding by So
ciety of the necessary processes of its
very life.
Aside from recommendations for the
passage of the Porto Rico government
| bill, the corrupt practices bill and the
| Webb bill to legalize American collec-
tive selling agencies abroad, the Presi-
| dent s address was devoted wholly to
the railroad situation. The only fea-
ture which had not been forecast was
| the elimination of the proposal that
| congress give explicit approval to con
sideration by the interstate commerce
commission of an increase in freight
rates to meet additional expenditures
| by the railroads caused by the opera
tion of the Adamson law.
Today, the President took the posi-
tIon that 1.-The power of the interstate
commerce commission to grant an in
crease of rates on the ground referred
to is indisputablv clear and a recon-
mendation by the congress with regard
| to such a matter might seem to draw
IN question the scope of the commits,
sion authority or its inclination to do
Justice when there is no reason to
doubt either.
The other recommendation on the
| railroad situation made in a special
message during the last session. which
were not put into law, were renewed
today. They include:
Immediate provision for the en-
largement and administrative reorgan-
lzat1on Of the interstate commerce com
mission along the lines embodied in
the bill recently passed by the house of
| representatives and now awaiting ac-
ton by the senate; in order that the
commission may be enabled to deal
| with the many great and various duties
now devolving upon it with prompt,
ness and thoroughness which are, with
| its present constitution and means of
| action, practically impossible.
| - An amendment of the existing fed
eral statute which provides for the me
| dlation, Cancellation and arbitration of
such controversies as the present by
adding to 1t a provision that, in ease
the methods of accommodation now
provided for should fail, full public
investigation OF the merits of every
such dispute shall be instituted and
completed before a strike or lockout
may lawfully be attempted.
The Judgement III the hands of the
executive of the power, in case of mill.
tary necessity, to take control of such
! portions of such rolling stock of the
| railways OF the country as may be re
| CURED for military use and to operate
them for military purposes, with au.
thorlty to draft into the military ser.
vice of the United States such train
crews and administrative officials as
the circumstances may require for thei,
safe and efficient use.
The renewed recommendation fol-
compulsory investigation of labor dis
putcs on railways before strikes or lock
outs are allowed, which has aroused the
Opposition of the railroad brotherhoods
and OF the American Federation OF
Labor, was defended in the President ;:
message. He declared he would hest
tate to recommend a law which wouIC
force individual workmen to continu,
IN an employment which they desired
to leave, but that no such principal wa,
/ involved i'll the suggestion that tn,
operation of the railways of the coun
try should not be stopped by the con
centrated action of bodies of men I'm
til public investigation for the bene
fit of the public has been instituted.
1t is based upon the very differen
principle, he continued. "that tn
concentrated action Of powerful bodie
of men shall not be permitted to stoI
the industrial processes of the nation
at any rate before the nation shall hav
had an opportunity to acquaint itsel
with the merits of the case between EN-
ploye and employer, time to form it
opinion upon an impartial statement o
the merits, and opportunity to cor
slider all practicable means of concilia
ton or arbitration. | can see nothin
i'll that proposition but the iustifiabl
safeguarding by society of the necessa
ry processes of its very life There j
nothing arbitrary or unjust in it unles
it be arbitrarily and unjustly done,
can and should be done with full an
scrupulous regard for the interests an
liberties of all concerned as well as fC
| the permanent interests of society i
| self. -
\ l1n Of Ia