The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-12-05
Declares That Their Opera
ion Should Not Be Stopped
Or interrupted by the Con-
certed Action Of Organized
Bodies Of Men Until a Pub
lic Investigation Shall Have
Been Instituted.

~ one Of the shortest MESA gc4
ever sent to congress President
~ Wilson urges that early action
nh be taken to complete his pro.
gram Of settlement and regulation"
recommended at the Inst session. The
message in full is as follows:
Gentlemen OF the Congress:
In fulfilling at this time the duty
laid upon me by the constitution Of
Communicating TO you from time TO
lime information Of the state of the
Union and recommending 10 your con.
islderation such legislative measures as
may be Judged necessary and cxpcdi.
emit I shall continue the prncticc. which
ID hope has been acceptable to you. ~
leaving to the reports 81 tho several
heads Of the executive departments
the elaboration of the detailed needs
of the public service and confinc my
self to those matters Of more general
public policy with which It seems nee.
essary and feasible to deal at the pres.
tent session OF the congress.
! realize the limitations OF time I'M
der which you will necessarily act at
this session and shall make my sug-
lgestions as few as possible. But there
were some things left mdone at the
last session which there will now he
time to complete and which It seems
necessary in the interest OF the public
TO, do at once.
4 The Railroad Problem.
Il In the first place, it 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
Ind regulation which had occasion to
recommend to you at the close of your
last session In view OF the public dan
gers disclosed by the unaccommodatcd
difficulties which then existed and
which still unhapplly continue to ex-
list between the railroads Of tho coun.
try and their locomotive engineers,
conductors and trainmen.
1 then recommended:
First, immediate provision for the
enlargement and administrative rpor-
iganizatlon of the Interstate commerce
commission along tho lines embodied
in the bill recently passed by the house
of representatives and now awaiting
action by the senate In order that the
commission may he enabled to deal
with the many great and various du-
ties now devolving upon It with n
;promptness and thorOuChneSs which
are, with Its present constitution and
means Of action, practically impossible.
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 az.
itually engaged in the work Of operat-
ing trains in interstate transportation.
Third, the authorization W. the ap-
,polntment by the president OF small
body of men to observe the actual re-
suits in experience Of the adoption Of
the eight hour day in railway transpor-
tatlon alike for the men and for the
railroads.
Fourth, explicit approval by the con-
gross Of the consideration by the in
terstate commerce commission Of an
increase Of freight rates to meet such
additional expenditures by the rail-
roads as may have been rendered nee
essary by the adoption of tho eight
hour day and which have not been on
aAk 1NHy 1F1i piufr tt.n the =.
and economies, should the facts dis.
closed justify the Increase.
4 Fifth, an amendment OF the existing
federal statute which provides for the
mediation, conciintiOn and arbitration
OF such controversies as the present by
adding to it provision that, in cnsc
! the methods OF accommodation now
provided for should fail, full public
Investigation Of the merits Of every
such dispute shall he Instituted and
) completed before strike or lockout
may lawfully be attempted.
y; Control by the Executive.
And, sixth, the Judgment 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 he required for military
use and to operate them for military
purposes, with authority TO draft into
the military service of the United
States such train crews md admins.
trative officials MS the circumstances
f1y, 1N.Nt. ..