The Leader, enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1915-1921, 1916-12-06
President Wilson's MESSAGE
GENTLEMEN OF THE CONGRESS

III AAitlllllS at tnlS time the duty laid
ey the constitution Of communicating to you from
time TO time information of the state of the Union
ana recommending to your consideration such leg
AsEtlYe measures as may be judged necessary and
GXpedlent | shall continue the practice which
nope mas been acceptable to you, of leaving to the
reports OF the several heads of the executive de-
Pafents the elaboration of the detailed needs of
the public and conine mvSelf to those mat
tiers OF more general public policy with which it
sees necessary and feasible to deal at the present
session of the Congress-
L realize the limitations of time under which
you will necessarily act at this session and shall
make my suggestions as few possible but there
were some things lett undone at the last session
winch there will now be time t., complete and
which 1t seems necessary in the interest of the
public to do at once
In the hrst place, it to me imperatvely
necessary that the earliest possible consideration
and action should be accorded the remaining meas
1ireS OF the programme of settlement and regula-
ton which had occasion to recommend to you
al the close OF your last session in view of the pub
tic dangers disclosed by the accommodated diff
cult1es which then existed and which still unhap-
PLY continue to exist between the railroads Of the
country and their locomotive engineers Conduct
and tranmen
L then recommend:
First, immediate provision for the enlargement
and administrative reorganization of the Interstate
Commerce Commission along the lines embodied
IN the bill recently passed by the House of Rep
IeSentaflVe and now awaiting action by the Senate !;
Ill order that the Commission may be enabled t,
zeal with the many great and various duties now
deVolVlng upon it with promptness and thorough
ness which are, with its present constitution and
means OF action, practically impossible.
Second, the establishment of eight-hour day
as the legal basis alike OF work and of wages in the
employment of all railway employees who are &C
tually engaged in the work of operating trains in
interstate transportation.
Third; the authorization of the apDointment nv
che President of small body of men to observe
the actual results in experience q the adoption
OF the elght-hour day in railway transportation
alike tor the men and for the railroads.
Fourth, explicit approval by the Congress of
the consideration by the Interstate Commerce
Commission OF an increase of freight rate to meet
such additional expenditures by the railroads as
may have been rendered necessary by the adop-
tom OF the eight-hour day and which have not been
oHset by administrative readjustmcnts and econo-
Ties. should the facts disclosed Justify the increase
Fifth, amendment of the existing federal
statute which provides for the mediation concilia-
ton, and arbitration of such controversies as the
present by adding to it provision that, in case
the methods OF accommodation now provided for
should tail, tu public investigation of the merits
OF every such dispute shall be instituted and com
T3eted before a strike or lockout NAV lawfully be
attempted.
And sixth, the Judgment in the hands of the
Executive OF the power, in case of military neces-
shy, TO take control of such portions and such
foing stock OF the railways OF the country as may
be required for military use and to operate them
lot military purposes with authority 20 draft into
the military service of the United States such train
crews and administrative officials as the circunl-
stances require for their safe and efficient use.
The second and third of these recommendations
the Congress Immediately acted on: it established
the eight-hour day as the legal basis of work and
wages III train service and it authorized the an
pontment OF commission to observe and report
Epon the practical results, deeming these the meas
ures most Immediately needed; but it postponed
action upon the other suggestions until an oppor-
tulity should be offered for more deliberate CON
sideraton of them. The fourth recommendation
do not deem it necessary to renew. The power of
the Interstate Commerce Commission TO grant an
increase OF rates the ground referred to is in
d7sPutaby clear and recommendation by the
Congress with regard to such matter might seem
to draw in question the scope of the Commissions
authority or its inclination to do Justice when there
Is no reason to doubt either.
The other sugestion-the increase in the Inter
state Commerce Commissions membership and in
lis facilities for performing its manifold duties the
provision for full public investigation and assess
Tnent of industrial disputes, and the grant to the
Executive OF the power to control and operate the
railways when necessary in time of war or other
Ike public necessity now very earnestly renew
The necessity for such legislation is manifest
and pressing. Those who have entrusted us with
The responsibility and duty of serving and safe
guarding them in such matters would find it hard
, believe, to excuse a failure to act upon these
grave matters any unnecessary poStponement
ct action upon them.
Not only does the Interstate Commerce Commits
ron now find it practically impossible, with it's
resent membership and organization to perform
e, great functions promptly and thoroughly but
u IS not unlikely that it may presently be found