The state herald., 1916-12-08
I do Justice when there IL no reason to

The other suggesti0ns-the increase
In the interstate commerce commits
sion's membership and in Its facilities
for performing its 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 now
very earnestly renew.
The necessity for such legislation is
manifest and pressing. Those who have
intrusted us with the responsibility
and duty Of serving and safeguarding
them In such matters would find 1t
hard, 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 1t practi-
cally impossible, with Its present MEM
bership and organization, to perform
Its great functions promptly and thor
oughly, but It Is not unlikely that 1t
may presently be found advisable to
add to Its duties still others equally
heavy and exactlng. II 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 conciliation 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-
rupted use Of the railroads for the con-
centration Of the military forces Of the
nation wherever they are needed and
whenever they are needed.
This IL 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 en-
dency Of the interstate commerce COM
mission. the house Of representatives
has already acted; its action needs
only the concurrepce 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 Do
sired to leave. To pass q law which
forbade or prevented the individual
workman to leave his work before re-
ceiving the approval of society In do
Ing 30 would be to adopt . new prin-
ciple into our Jurisprudence which !
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
ganixed bodies Of men until q public
investigation shall have been Instituted
which shall make the whole question
at Issue plain for the Judgment Of the
opinion Of the nation Is not to propose
any such principle. II II 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
m opportunity to acquaint itself with
the merits Of the case rs between en-
ployee and employer, time to form its
opinion upon an impartial statement
OF the merits. and opportunity to con-
slider all practicable means of concilia-
ion or arbitration.
can see nothing In that proposition
but the justinable safeguarding by 80.
ciety OF the necessary processes Of
Its very life. There is nothing arbi.
trary or unjust In II unless II 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 nll concerned ms well us for the
permanent interests Of society itself.
Other Legislation Urged.
Three matters Of capital Importance
awnit the action Of the senate which
have alrendy been acted upon by the
house OF representatives: the blu
which seeks to extend grenter freedom
OF combination to those engaged In pro.
noting the foreign commerce Of the
country than Is now thought by some
to be legnl under the terms OF the laws
against monopoly: the bin amending
the present organic law OF Porto Rico !;
and the bill proposing n more thor.
ough and systematic regulation OF the
expenditure Of money In elections. CON.
monty chilled the Corrupt Practices Act.
l need not labor my advice that these
measures be enacted Into law. Their
urgency lies In the manifest circum.
stances which render their adoption ut
this time not only opportune but ncccs.
sary. Even delay would seriously
leopard the interests Of the couuary
and Of the government.
Immediate passage Of the bill to reg.
ulnte the expenditure Of money In cleo
tions may seem TO be less necessary
than the immediate enactment Of the
other measures to which ] refer; be-
r0ttaa at Ian ~ ssvo waaes ,svlit .i.o..