Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1916-12-12
NATIONS HEAD READS MESSAGE
DEALING CHIEFLY WITH
RAILWAY LEGISLATION.
AID INTERSTATE COMMERCE
Holds Freight Rates May Be lncress-
ed to Meet Results of Adamson
Law-Thanks Congress for
Its Cooperation.

ADDRESS at the opening or the ses-
sion of congress Tuesday was wholly
devoted to democratic subjects, pri-
cipally the problem of railway leg
islation
In the hall of the house, with SEN
ators and representatives assembled
in joint session, President Wilson, in
accordance with the custom he be-
gan at the opening of his term read
his address from the clerks desk
The president not only renewed his
recommendation for legislation to
prevent a nationwide strike or lock-
out before there has been opportu-
nifty for investigation, but defended
it against the attack of organized la
Dor as nothing arbitrary or unjust
and the "justifiable safeguarding by
society of the necessary processes of
it's very life"
Aside from recommendations for
the passage of the Porto Rico govern
ment bill, the corrupt practice bill
and the Webb bill to legalize Ameri
can collective selling agencies abroad,
the presidents address was devoted
wholly to the railroad situation.
The only feature which had not
been forecast was the elimination of
the proposal that congress give ex-
plicit approval to consideration by
the interstate commerce commission
of an increase in freight rates to
meet additional expenditures by the
railroads caused by the operation of
the Adamson law.
Today the president took the po-
sition that 1.-THE power of the inter
state commerce commission to grant
an increase of rates on the ground
referred to is indisputably clear and
recommendation by the congress
with regard to such matter might
seem to draw in question the scope
of the commissions authority or it's
! inclination to do justice when there
is no reason to doubt either"
Renews His Recommendations.
The other recommendations on the
railroad situation made in a special
message during the lats session
which we're not put into law, were
renewed today. They include:
Immediate provision for the en-
largement and administration reor
ganization 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, il
order that the commission may be en-
abled to deal with the many great
and various duties now devolving up
on 1t with a promptness and thor
oughness which are, with its present
constitution and means of action
practically impossible.
| AN amendment of the existing fed
eral statute which provides for the
exploitation, Cancellation and arbitra
ton of such controversies as the pres
ent by adding to it a provision that
in case the methods of accommoda
ton now provided for should fail, ;
full public investigation of the mer
| its of every such dispute shall be in
stituted and completed before a strik,
or lockout may lawfully be attempted
THE Judgement in the hands o
the executive of the power, in cas-
of military necessity, to take con
troll of such portions of such rolling
stock of the railways of the countr.
as may be required for military US
and to operate them for military pun
poses, with authority to draft int
the military service of the Unite,
States such train crews and admin
istrative officers as the circumstaI
ces may require for their safe an
efficient USE"
Defends Compulsory investigation.
The renewed recommendation TO
compulsory investigation Of labor dis
putes on railways before strikes O
lockouts are allowed, which ha
aroused the opposition of the raj
road brotherhoods, and of the Anne
lean Federation of Labor. was d.
Tended in the presidents message
He declared he would hesitate to re-
ommend a law which would force il
dividual workmen to continue in a
employment which they desired
leave, but that no such principle wa
involved in the suggestion that tn
operation of the railways of the coul
try should not be stopped by the col
centrated action of bodies of me
until a public investigation for tn
benefit of the public has been inst
tuted.
To Safeguard Society.
ut is based upon the very differeI
principle" he continued, that tn
concentrated action of powerful bo
les of men shall not be permitted
stop the industrial processes of I'll
nation, at any rate before the natio
shall have had an opportunity to a
quaint itself with the merits of Il
case between employe and employe
time to form its opinion upon an IL
! partial statement of the merits, ar