The Arvada enterprise. (Arvada, Colo.) 1908-1970, 1916-12-07


doubt either.
The other uggestions-the increase
III the interstate commerce commits.
sion membership and in its facilities
l"r performing its manifold duties. the
provision for full public investigation
ana assessment of industrial disputes.
ana 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 now
very earnestly renew.
Inc necessity for such Legislation is
manifest and pressing. Those who have
lntrusted us with the responsibility
and duty of serving and safeguarding
them in such matters would find it
hard, l believe, to excuse 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 pract-
cally impossible, with its present men,
bcrShip and organization, to perform
its great functions promptly and thor
oughly, but it 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 cXccu-
tive to make immediate and unintcr-
ruptcd use of the railroads for the con
centration of the military forces of the
nation whercvt they are needed and
whenever they are needed.
This is n 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 eff
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 |
make 1t, 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-
cciving the approval of society in do
ing 50 would be to adopt new prin-
ciplc into our jurisprudence which
take 1t 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
ruptcd by the concerted action of or
EaniZcd bodies of men until Il public
investigation shall have been instituted
which shall make the whole question
ut issue plain for the Judgment of the
opinion of the nation is not to propose,
any such principle. Ii is based upon
the very different principle that the con
ccrtcd 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 ncquaint itself with
the merits of the case as between en-
ploy"c and employer. time to form its
opinion upon an impartial statement
of the merits, and opportunity to con
slider all practicable means of concllin.
ton or arbitration.
can see nothing in that proposition
hut the juStiiiablc safeguarding by so.
cicty of the necessary processes of
It's very life. There is nothing arbi.
trnry or unjust in it unless it be arhl.
trarily and unjustly done. II can and
should be done with n full and serum
l"us regard for the interests and lIbcr,
ties OF all concerned ms well as for the
permanent interests of society Itself.
Other Legislation Urged.
lhr"c matters of capital Importance
await the action of III. scnntc which
have already been acted upon by the
nous" 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 IuwS
against monopoly, the bill amending
the present organic law Of Porto Rico
ana the bill proposing II more thor.