The Washington herald., 1916-12-06
New Railroad Legislation
Requested by the President
aactment of Original Program Chief Recon-
mendation of Executive Who Disregards
Preparedness and Living Cost r
Message

,t,d the following message to Con-
Css yesterday:
"tntlemen Of the Congress:
In fulfilling at this time the duty laid
upon me by the Constitution of communi-
eating to you from time to time informa-
tion Of the state Of the Union and recon-
mending to your consideration such leg
tslative measures as may be judged neces-
sary and expedient I shall continue the
practice, which / hope has been accept
able to you, of leaving to the reports of
the several heads of the executive depart
ments the elaboration of the detailed
needs OF the public service and confine
myself to those matters of more general
public policy with whicA 1t seems neces-
sary and feasible to deal at the present
session Of the Congress.
1 realize the limitations Of time under
which you will necessarily act at this
session and shall make my suggestions
as few as possible; but there were some
things left undone at the last session
which there will now be time to COM
plete and which 1t seems necessary in
the interest OF the public to do at once.
In the first place, 1t seems to me i'm
peratively necessary that the earliest pos
sible consideration and action should be
accorded the remaining measures of the
programme Of settlement and regulation
which I had occasion to recommend to
you at the close Of your last session in
view Of the public dangers disclosed by
the unaccommodated difficulties which
then existed. and which still unhappily
continue to exist, between the railroads
OF the country and their locomotive engi-
neers. conductors and trainmen.
Some of Recommendation.
l then recommended:
fNnma6liafa nrOvfginn
largement and administrative reorganiza-
ton Of the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion along the lines embodied in the bill
recently passed by the House of Repre-
sentatives and now awaiting action by
the Senate: IN order that the commission
may be enabled to deal with the many
great and various duties now devolving
upon Il with a promptness and thorough
ness which are, with its present constitu-
ton and means Of action. practically i'm
possible.
Second, the establishment Of an eight
hour day as the legal basis alike Of work
and of wages in the employment of all
railway employees who are actually en-
gagged In the work Of operating trains in
interstate transportation.
Third, the authorization Of the appoint
ment by the President of a small body Of
men to observe the actual results in ex-
perience OF the adoption of the eight hour
day In railway transportation alike for
the men and for the railroads.
Fourth, explicit approval by the Con-
gress Of the consideration by the Inter
state Commerce Commission Of an in
crease Of freight rates to meet such addi-
tional expenditures by the railroads as
may have been rendered necessary by the
adoption Of the eight-hour day and which
have not been offset by administrative re-
adjustments and economies, should the
facts disclosed justify the increase.
Fifth, an amendment Of the existing
federal statute which provides for the
mediation, conciliation. and arbitration of
such controversies as the present by add
ing to it a provision that, In case the
methods Of accommodation now provided
for should fail. a full public investigation
Of the merits of every such dispute shall
be instituted and completed before a
strike or lockout may lawfully be at
tempted.
And. sixth. the Judgement In the
hands of the Executive of the power.
in case of military necessity. to take
control Of such portions and such roll
ing stock Of the railways Of the coun-
try as may be required for military
Use and to operate them for military
purposes, with authority to draft into
he military service OF the United
States such train crews and admins
,equire for their safe and efficient
use.
Action by Congress.
The second and third of these rec
concentrations the Congress immedi-
ately acted on: it established the
eight-hour day as the legal basis of
work and wages in train service and
I authorized the appointment of a
70 oh nd
the practical results, deeming these
the measures most Immediately need
ed; but it postponed action upon the
other suggestions until an opportunity
should be offered for a more delib-
crate consideration of them. The fourth
recommendation do not deem it nee
essary to renew. The power of the
Interstate Commerce Commission to
grant an increase of rates on the
ground referred to Is indisputably clear
and a recommendation by the Con-
gress with regard to such a matter
might seem to draw in question the
scope of the commissions authority or
its inclination to do justice when there
is no reason to doubt either.
The other suggestions,-the increase in
the Interstate Commerce Commission's
membership and In its facilities for per-
forming its manifold duties, the provision
for full public Investigation and assess
ment Of industrial disputes. and the
grant to the Executive of the power to
control and operate the railways when
necessary In time Of war or other like
public necesHty,-I now very earnestly
renew.
The necessity for such legislation is
manifest and pressing. Those who have
entrusted Us with the responsibility and
duty of serving and safeguarding them
in such matters would find It hard, 1
believe, to excuse a failure to act upon
these grave matters or any unnecessary
postponement Of action upon them
Not only does the Interstate Commerce
Commission now find 1t practically i'm
possible, with its present membership