The Monticellonian. [volume] (Monticello, Ark.) 1870-1920, 1916-12-07

be offered for a more deliberate con
sideration of them. The fourth rec
ommendation l do not deem 1t neces-
sary TO renew. The power of the in
terstate commerce commission to grant
an increase of rates on the ground re-
ferred to is indisputably clear and
recommendation by the congress with
regard 10 such a matter might seem to
draw in question the scope of the com
missions authority or its inclination to
do justice when there is no reason to
doubt either.
The other sHggestions-the increase
In the interstate commerce commits
sion's membership and in its facilities
for performing its manifold duties the
provision for full public investigation
and assessment of Industrial disputes,
and the grant 10 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 ii
hard, l 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 it practi-
cally impossible, with its present mem
bership and organization, to perform
its great functions promptly and thor
oughly, but 1t is not unlikely that it
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
ton and Cancellation which the con
gress can easily and promptly supply.
And all will agree that there must be
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 Il program of regulation, pre-
vention and administrative efficiency
which argues its own case In the mere
statement of it. With regard to one
of its Items, the increase In the Elf
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.
| would hesitate to recommend, and
dare say the congress would hesitate
to. act upon the suggestion should l
make it, that any man In any Occupa-
ton should be obliged by law to con
tinue in an employment which he de
sired to leave. To pass a law which |
forbade or prevented the individual |
workman to leave his work before re-
eeiving the approval of society i'll do
ing SO would be to adopt ii new prin- |
eiPle into our Jurisprudence which |
take it fer granted we are not prepared |
to 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 public I
Investigation shall have been instituted |
which shall make the whole question /
at issue plain for the judgment of the I
opinion of the nation is not to propose |
any such principle. II is based upon |
the very different principle that the con
certed action of powerful bodies of men |
shall not be permitted 10 stop the in |
dustrial 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 conciliu-
ton or arbitration.
| can see nQthing in that proposition |
but the iastitiabIe safeguarding by So
eiety of the necessary processes of |
its very life. There Is nothing arbi-
trary or unjust in it unless it be arbi-
urarily and untustly done It can and I
should be done with ii full and scruW- I
lous regard for the interests aud liber- /
ties of all concerned rs we'll as for the
permanent interests of society itself.
Other Legislation Urged.
Three matters of capital Importance I
await the action Of the senate which |
have already been acted upon by the |
house of representatives. the bill |
which seeks 70 extend sreater freedom
of combination to those engaged in pro |
noting the foreign commerce. of the
country than is now thought by some |
to be legal under the terms of the laws |
against monopoly; the bill amending
the present organic law of Porto Rico;
and the bill proposing more thor
oHgh 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
this time not only opportune but neces-
sary. Even delay would seriously
leopard the interests ri the country
and of the government.
Immediate passage of the bill to reg