New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-06

Washington, Dec. 5.-The fvH ter'
of President Wilson's Message, read
BIZ him TO the joint session Of Con
gress to-day, lollors:
Gentlemen OF the Congress:
In fulfilling at this time the duty
laid upon me By the Constitution tof
communicating TO you from time 20
time information Of the state OF the
Union and recommending TO your
consideration such legislative meas
ures as may be judged necessary
and expedient ] shall continue the
practice. which ] hope has been &C
ceptable 10 you. OF leaving 70 the re-
ports OF the several heads Of the
executive departments the elabora-
ton Of the detailed needs of the
public service and contne myself %
those matters OF more general pub
JIG policy with which 10 seems neces-
sary and feasible TO deal at the pres
cnt session Of the Congress.
realize the limitations OF time
under which you viii necessarily act
OF this session and shall make my
suggestions as few as possible; but
there were some things left undone
az the last session which there VIII
now be time to complete and which
it seems necessary in the interest OF
the public 10 do az once.
Railroad Bills First
In the first place, IL seems to me
inperativelv necessary that the car
lest possible consideration and &C
..-..rlNaa tho I'd
ing measures of the programme OF
settlement and regulation which
had occasion 10 recommend TO you
at the close Of your last session u,
view Of the public dangers disclosed
By the unaccommodated diihculIl'S,97
which then existed, and when SUN
unhappily continue 20 exist between
the railroads of the country ana
their locomotive engineers, coneuc-
{ tors and trainmen.
then recommended:
First. immediate provision for the
enlargement and administrative re-
organization OF the Interstate COM
merce Commission along the lines
embodied in the bill recently passed
bv the House Of Representatives ana
now awaiting action by the senate
in order that the commission may De
enabled TO deal with the many great
and various duties now deVolylnB
upon it with a promptness and thor
oughness which are, with its pres
eDt constitution and means Of action
practically impossible.
Second. the establishment Of ar
eight-hour day as the legal basis
alike of work and of wages IN the
employment Of all railroad employees
who are actually engaged IN the
work of operating trains in inter
state transportation.
Third. the authorization Of the APP
pointment by the President Of
small body Of men 10 observe the
actual results in experience OF the
adoption Of the eiRht-hour day IN
railway transportation alike for the
men and for the railroads.
Rates to Meet Higher Pay
Fourth. explicit approval by the
Congress Of the consideration by
the Interstate Commerce Commission
Of an increase Of freight rates 20
meet such additional expenditures by
the railroads as may have been rem
dered 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 in
crease.
Fifth. an amendment of the exist
ing Federal statute which provides
for the mediation, Cancellation and
arbitration Of such controversies as
the present by adding TO it a pro-
vision that, in case the methods Of
accommodation now provided for
should fail, a full public investiga-
ton of the merits Of every such dis