Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1916-12-08
MESSAGE TO CONGRESS.
Presidents Address Tuesday Devoted
Wholly to Domestic ubjects-Legis-
lation for Railways is Urged.

President Wilson S address at the
opening of the session of congress
Tuesday was wholly devoted to domes-
tic subjects, principally the problem of
railway legislation.
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 IS desk.
The President not only renewed re-
commentator for legislation to pre-
vent a nation wide railway strike or
lockout before there has been oppor-
tunity for investigation, but defended
it against the attack of organized la
Dor as nothing arbitrary or unjust and
the 'justifiable safeguarding by so
cicty 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 colec-
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.
Tuesday, the President took the posi-
ton that "the power of the interstate
commerce commission to grant an in
crease of rates on the ground referred
to is indisputably clear and recon-
mendatiOn by the congress with regard
to such a matter might seem to draw
in question the scope of the commits
sion s authority or its inclination to do
justice when there is no reason to
doubt either
The other recommendations on the
railroad situation made in 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-
iZation 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 a 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-
diation, Cancellation and arbitration Of
such controversies as the present by
az tn hot in
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.
1.-THE Judgement in 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-
quired for military use aud to operate
them for military purposes, wi n au-
thority to draft into the military ser
vice of the United States such train
crews and administrative officials as
the circumstances may require for heir
safe and efficient use. -
The renewed recommendation for
compulsory investigation of labor dis
putes on railways before strikes or lock-
outs are allowed, which has aroused the
opposition of the railroad brotherhoods,
and of the American Federa ion of
Labor, was defended in the President S
message. He declared he would hest
tate to recommend a law which would
force individual workmen II continue
in an employment which til " desired
to leave, but that no such pri tcipal was
involved in the suggestion that the
operation of the railways of the coun-
try should not be stopped b. the con-
centrated action of bodies Of men I'M
til a public investigation fo" the bene-
fit Of the public has been III 'titutcd.
1T is based upon the ve.y different
principle he continued, that the
concentrated action of powerful bodies
of men shall not be permitted to stop
the industrial processes of the nation,
at any rate before the nation shall have
had an opportunity to acquaint itself
with the merits of the case between EN-
ploye and employer, time to form its
opinion upon an impartial statement of
the merits, and opportunity to con
slider all practicable means of concilia-
ton or arbitration. | can see nothing
in that proposition but the justifable
safeguarding by society of the necessa-
ny processes of its very life. There is
nothing arbitrary or unjust in it unless
it be arbitrarily and unjustly done. 1t
can and should be done with a full and
scrupulous regard for the interests and
liberties of all concerned as well as for
int rs -