The Tomahawk., 1916-12-14
THE TomAHAWk. WHITE EARTH. MINI.

| bet It postponed action upon the other
suggestions until an opportunity should
| be offered for a more deliberate con-
sideration of them. The fourth rec
ommendation I do not deem it 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 to 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 suggestions-the increase
| in the interstate commerce commits
sioas membership and in its facilities
| for performing it's manifold duties, the
provision for full public investigation
and assessment of industrial disputes
and the grant to the executive OF the
power to control and operate the rail-
ways when necessary in time OF war
or other like public necessity no"
very earnestly renew.
The necessity for such legislation is
manifest and pressing. Those who nave
intrusted us with the responsibility
and duty of serving and safeguarding
them in such matters would ind 1t
hard, I believe, to excuse failure TO
act upon these grave matters or any
] unnecessary postponement OF actlon
upon them.
Not only does the interstate COM
merce commission now find it practl-
| cally impossible, with it's present men,
bership and organization, to perform
it's great functions promptly and thor
oilghly, but it is not unlikely that 1t
may presently be found advisable to
add to it's duties still others equally
| heavy and exacting. 1t must first be
| perfected as an administrative instru-
lnent.
The country cannot and should not
consent to remain any longer exposed
! to profound industrial disturbances Tor
| lack of additional means of arbltra-
| 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-
! r.,ated use of the railroa q for the con-
centration of the military forces of the
nation wherever they are o"eded and
| whenever they are needed.
This is a program of regulation, pre-
vention and administrative efficiency
| which argues it's own case In the mere
statement of it. With regard to one
of it's items, the increase in the effl-
| 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
I dare say the congress would hesitate
| to act upon the suggestion should
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 law which
| forbade or, prevented the individual
workman to leave his work before re-
ceiving the approval Of society in do
ing so would be to adopt a new prin-
}
take it for 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 a public
investigation shall have been instituted
which shall make the whole question
kho i,,Io Of
opinion of the nation is not to propose
any such principle. It is based upon
the very different principle that the con-
certed action of powerful bodies of men
shall not be permitted to 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 it's
| opinion upon an impartial statement
| of the merits, and opportunity to con-
| slider all practicable means Of concflia-
| ton or arbitration.
I can see nothing in that proposition
ciety Of the necessary processes, OF
| it's very life. There is nothing arbi-
trary or unjust in it unless it be arbi-
trarily and unjustly done. It can and
| should be done with full and scrupu-
! lous regard for the interests and liber-
| ties of all concerned as well as for the
permanent interests of society itself.
| Other Legislation Urged.
| Three matters Of capital Importance
! await the action Of the senate which
have already been acted upon by the
house Of representatives: the bill
which seeks to extend greater 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 a more thor
ough and systematic, regulation of the
I n -H@A A.