Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-12-05

passage of the Porto Rico government
bill. the corrupt practices bill and the
Webb bill to legalize American COL
lective 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 explicit approval
to consideration by the Interstate Com
merce Commission of an increase in
freight rates to meet additional ex-
pendttures by the railroads caused by
the operation of the Adamson law.
To-day the President took the po-
sition that the power of the Inter
state Commerce Commission to grant
an increase of rates on the ground re-
ferred to is indisputably clear and a
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"
Other Railroad Recommendations
The other recommendations on the
railroad situation made in q special
message during the last session. which
were not put into law, were renewed
to-day They include:
Immediate provision for the en-
largement and administrative reorgan-
ization 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: in or
der that the commission may be
enabled to deal with the many great
and various duties now devolving upon
1t with a promptness and thorough
ness which are, with its present consti-
tuition and means of action, practically
impossible.
An amendment of the existing fed
eral statute which provides for the
mediation, conciliation and arbitration
of such controversies as the present by
adding to 1t a provision that, in case
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.
Presidents Address
Gentlemen of the Congress:
In fulfilling at this time the duty
laid upon me by the Constitution OF
comm unicating to you from time to
! time Information of the state of the
| Union and recommending to your con-
| sideration such legislative measures as
l shall continue the practice, which
| hope has been acceptable to you, OF
leaving to the reports of the several
heads Of the executive departments
the elaboration of the detailed needs
| of the public service and contine my
self to those matters of more general
public policy with which 1t seems
necessary and feasible to deal at the
present session of the Congress.
I 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 al
the last session which there will now
/ be time to complete and which it 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
possible consideration and action
should be accorded the remaining
measures of the program of settlement
and regulation which l had occasion
to recommend to you at the close OF
your last session in view of the public
dangers disclosed by the unaccommo'
dated difficulties which then existed
and which still unhappily continue tc
exist, between the railroads of the
| country and their locomotive engi-
neers, conductors and trainmen.
Reviews Recommendations
| 1 then recommended:
First, Immediate provision for the
enlargement and administrative re-
organization of the Interstate Com
merce Commission along the lines en-
bodied in the bill recently passed by
| the House of Representative and nov
awaiting action by the Senate; in order
| that the commission may be enabled
to deal with the many great and vari.
Gus duties now devolving upon 1t with
a promptness and thoroughness which
are, with its present constitution anC
means of action, practically impos
sible.
| Second, the establishment of ar
eight-hour day as the legal basis alike
of work and of wages in the employ
ment of all railway employees who are
actually engaged in the work of op-
Grating trains in interstate transpor-
tatfon.
Third, the authorization of the ap.
pointment by the President of a small
body of men to observe the actual re-
suits in experience of the adoption o.
the eight t-hour day in railway trans
portation alike for the men and fol
| the railroads. .
/ Fourth, explicit approval by the
Congress of the consideration by tht
Interstate Commerce Commission o.
an increase of freight rates to NEE
such additional expenditures by the
| railroads as may have been rendered
necessary by the adoption of the eight
hour day and which have not beer
offset by administrative readjustmenti
and economies. should the facts dis
closed justify the increase.
Fifth. an amendment of the existins
| federal statute which provides for thu
mediation, Cancellation and arbitration
of such controversies as the present b,
adding TO IL a provision that. in cas-
the methods of accommodation nov
provided for should fail, full publ,
Iinvestiga ton of the merits of ever.
such dispute shall be instituted anC
completed before a strike or lockou
may lawfully be attempted.
Power to Take Over Lines
And, sixth, the Judgement In th
hands of the Executive of the power
in case of military necessity. to TAX
control of such portions and such roll
ing stock of the railways of the coun
try as may be required for military US
and to operate them for military pur
poses. with authority to draft into tn,
military service of the United State
such train crews and administrativ,
officials as the. circumstances requir,
for their safe and efficient use.
The second and third of these rec
concentrations the Congress immedi
lately acted on: II established the eight
hour day as the legal basis of worl
and wages in train service and 1t au