The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-09-20
HUGHES ASSAILS
tContinued from First Page.)

TO have ten hours pay for eight hours
work. with additional pay for addl-
llunal hours.
we have words which may seem TO
mean one thing and in fact mean an
other" the candidate continued. no
iphrase eight hour day Is apparently
used To tickle the public ear In order
TO establish something quite different.
II it was proposed ~ give an elsnt
hour work day why were not work
for longer hours. and all contracts Tor
longer. service, prohibited under pen
,alty save where emergencies exist
1T is said for this bill that IL Will
have a tendency 10 procure an eight
hour day. This is extremely dou0tfui.
hut we are dealing with whtN the Dill
actually eracts. not with inconcluslfe
suggestions OF tendencies toward
Something else which is not enacted.
How to Judge Bill.
This hill must be Judged by what
II provides. not by what it does not
provide 1t is nothing more than a
measure TO fix wages and as meas.
lure to fix wages it must be judged. II
as much a measure It's passage was
justified, it needs no further excuse
III moi, its passage is not 10 be con
Idemned by reference TO another eight
hour work day which it does not cs'
ttabIish Such reference can only be
regarded as a subterfuse.
We are, therefore, not concerned
with anything that is selfJudgment CT
isucicty with respect to an eiSht hour
work day. There is plainly no Jude..
jment OF society upon the increase Oh
wages this bill requires.
III the asserted Judgment OF society
inspired it why does the act apply
Ionly 10 a limited number Of railroad
men, relatively few?
The obvious fact is that there is a
demand by certain men for an IN
crease in their own wages and the an
ADMINISTRATION in advance Of investlga-
ton surrendered to this demand.
Pointing out that the Adamson Dill
Itself conceded that the subject was
|one requiring investigation, Mr.
Hughes said that il there was anything
"propostion affecting re-adJustmentS
= either of rates or of expenses or car.
, Iriers " upon whose efficiency the
community depends" He continued:
|; What is fair and right must ne
: done, but what is fair and right must
i first be aScertained. When raliroaos
z are required to eXpend additional NIL M,
!. lions, this burden must ultimately IAN
lon the public. If expenses are neces'
l. sarily beyond what existing rates Win
n stand, the rates must be Increased.
= Promised Increased Rates.
!. ut was proposed in substance by the
:, administration that increased rates
3 should be charged 10 shippers so Tar
p as required TO pay this increase OF
q wages. Assurance was given that no
= obstacle OF law" would be suffered 10
. stand in the way Of railroads IN IN
G creasinc their revenue 10 meet result
y ling increases in the expenses Sd Tar
. as development Of their business and
= of their administrative enlclency u'd
= not prove adequate 10 meet lnem'
we may pause TO ask what Is the
significance OF this reference TO 'oo-
|. stacle of law The law provides for
reasonable rates and an appropriate
proceeding for fixing Of reasonable
: rates by the interstate commerce coul,
mission We're these proceedings ana
provisions Of law the obstacles OF law
10 which reference was made? Were
!, they 10 be overcome. if necessary, 10
accomplish the desired increase:
1T must be understood that the our
den OF increased rates in passed on 10
the public. II necessarily affects a
host of activities agricultural and in
dustriai.
increases of wages for selected
classes Of men on railroads might re-
: OF other working men, not only those
| employed BY railroads but upon those
| pmplOved in industries throughout the
country ii the latter be required 10
: operate under increased transporta'
ton charges.
} Again, what becomes Of present ad-
: justmentS and business agreements
relating 10 the men whose services
ARE involved in this bill if wages are
6Sad ny law in This manner?
Intricate Question.
"ManifeStly. we have here an OK.
= tremely intricate question Of rates and
. OUTLAWS. What was the manifest duty
= of the executive. Plainly to insist that
r investigation should precede action,
8 and that nothing should be yielded 10
/ force. 1t was stated by the executive
!. in his address 10 congress that the
y matter had been agitated for more
y than year. Why then was it not in
. vestigated? Could not the administra.
Ition command all necessary machln-
| cry for fair and thorough inquiry?
' Not only did the administration fall TO
+ take proper action on Its own lnltla-
, tive but the business men OF the coun'
try appealed in vain 10 the administra-
ton for investigation. Their request
, won no favorable action.
Time was allowed TO rum. then
came came the surrender that shocked
! the people throughout the land. was
! the crisis unforeseen? Why was 1t
permitted to arise when the admins
: tration was forewarned?
II stand for the principle of arbltra-
ton in industrial disputes. Labor,
least of all, can afford 10 have that
principle surrendered. It is civil
lied method, as opposed to the injur-
ious contests of force, which impover.
ish labor and imperil the social order.
The essence of the matter is fair
and reasonable hearing Of all parties
concerned and just determination
. according to the facts:
1T is no answer TO say that the
} awards OF arbitration are not always
lust. The effort should be to improve
them. Railroad companies refusing
: Iarbitration have been condemned at
: 1.-The bar OF public opinion, and great
, iprogress has been made in the dircc-
Ition of the peaceful and reasonable
settlement of labor disputes.
ITO say that fair and prompt arbl-
Itration could not have been had in this
lease is to indict both the administra-
ton and the American people
Mr. Hughes held that there was no
justification Of the yielding Of prin.
ciple." OF those who sought to "eX-
lcuse the administration" on the ground
Of exigency he would ask he said,
'EIow far do you propose 10 yield 20
force?' asserting that force can re-
iject courts as well as arbitration. that
lit can dispose with any part or the
orderly procedure of government
which 1t may oppose. Mr.. hughes
| univ Nna Stand