The Washington herald., 1916-08-30
Wilson'S Recommendnt

President Wilson consumed just
tw enty-one minutes in delivering his
address. He recommended:
Enlargement and administrative re-
organization OF the Interstate Com
merce Commission.
An eight-hour day for all railroad
employees engaged in operating trains
in interstate traffic.
A Congressional commission to study
results of the application OF the eight
hour day to railroad operation alike
for the man and for the roads.
An instruction from Congress to the
Interstate Commerce Commission to
consider what just increase in freight
rates the railroads would be entitled
TO, if any, due to the eight-hour day.
An amendment of the Federal media
tion, Cancellation. and arbitration laws
to provide for a fully public investiga-
tion before strike or lockout may be
lawfully attempted.
Granting the President power in case
of military necessity to seize and op-
crate such portions of the railways as
may be required for military use; to
draft into the military service such
train crews and administrative officials
as circumstances may require.
Wilson Addresses Congress.
II the Executive is weighted down
with the heavy responsibilities of his
chosen task arbiter, he did not show
it yesterday. He entered the House
chamber with jaunty step and smile
on his face. Accompanied by the usual
reception committee. he appeared three
minutes after the appointed hour. His
entrance was the signal for prolonged
applause led by Democratic statesmen
which swelled up into good old
Southern yell that reverberated through
the chamber.
AS he stepped to the rostrum, the
Executive shook hands with the-Speak-
er and Vice President Marshall Turn
ing to face the gathered assemblage
of Senators and Representatives. Mr..
Wilson bowed slightly. drew from his
pocket a package of tyepwritten sheets
about three to five inches in size, and
began to read in conversational tone
Listening to his words in the private
gallery of Speaker Clark were the CEN
trail figures of the impending strike.
Speaker Clark has an allotment of ten
seats on such occasions. Today he
turned five OF them over to the leaders
of the Brotherhood and an equal num-
ber to the railway executives. Among
the latter were President Hill, of the
Great Northern. and Hale Holden, of
the Burlington, who has been the
spokesman of the railway executives in
"
The first manifestation of approval came
when President Wilson said he had been
acting merely as the spokesman of the
nation" and as the representative of the
hundred million men, women and children
who would pay the price" should these
men refuse to accept the larger responsi-
bility which the public would put upon
them"
RESOLUTION Introduced.
His Endorsement of the principle of ar
bitration caused the last visible sign of
approval, but as he announced his recon-
mendations, there was a slight stir in
the chamber as every man involuntarily
leaned forward to catch the concrete pro-
posals that up to that moment had been
kept profound secret from all except
the small group of Senators with whom
the President conferred on Monday night.
In the House yesterday afternoon Rep
resenative Buchanan, of Illinois, intro
duced resolution providing in the event
the roads failed to give full and satie-
factory service the President be author
lied to Immediately take over the man.
agement and operation of said railroads"
The resolution requires the employment
of the present men 20 work under the
eight-hour day, with time and a half for