Cheraw chronicle. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, 1916-12-07

VI TIE lHleTSldle COlulueTCe COluulS'
ion to grant an increase Of rates on
ground referred to is indisputably
lear, and recommendation by the
)ngresS with regard to such matter
light seem to draw in question the
'Ope Of the commissions authority or
inclination to do justice when there
no reason to doubt either.
rhc other suggestions-the increase
the interstate commerce commits
'aS membership and in its facilities
performing its manifold duties, the
ovision for full public investigation
d assessment of industrial disputes,
id the grant to the executive of the
)wer to control and operate the rail.
ays when necessary in time Of war or
her like public necessity now very
rnestly renew.
New Legislation Necessary.
The necessity for such legislation Is
lanifest and pressing Those who have
ltrusted us with the responsibility
Ind duty Of serving and safeguarding
hem in such matters would find 1t
hard, believe, to excuse failure to
act ulroE these grdve matters or any
Unnecessary postpOnement of action.
Not only does the interstate com.
merce commission now find 1t practical
~ impossible, with its present member.
ship and organization, to perform its
great functions promptly and thorough
ly, but it Is not unlikely that 1t may
presently be found advisable to add to
its duties still others equally heavy and
eXacting. 1t must first be perfected as
an administrative instrument
The country cannot and should not
consent to remain any longer exposed
to profound industrial disturbances
for lack of additional means Of arbi-
tration and conclliation 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
udllOu W uelcNCl luSs ulc hSCNCu anu
whenever they are needed.
This is 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 efficiency
of the interstate commerce commission.
the house of representatives has al
ready acted. Its action needs only the
concurrence Of the senate.
To Safeguard Industrial Processes.
I would hesitate to recommend, and
1 dare say the congress would hesitate
to act upon the suggestion should l
make it, that any man in any occupa-
tion should be obliged by law to con
tinue in an employment which he de-
sired to leave.
To pass a law which forbade or pre-
vented the individual workman to leave
his work before receiving the approval
OF society in doing so would be to
alopt a new principle into our juris-
prudence which 1 take 1t 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 interrupted by the concert
ed action OF organized bodies Of men
until a 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.
1t is based upon the very different
principle that the concerted action OF
powerful bodies Of men shall not be
permitted to stop the industrial pro-
cesses Of the nation, at any rate before
the nation shall have had an opportu-
nifty to acquaint itself with the merits
Of the case as between employee and
employer, time to form its opinion upon
an impartial statement Of the merits,
and opportunity to consider all practi,
cable means Of conciliation or arbitra-
tion.
/ can see nothing In that proposition
but the justifiable safeguarding by so
ciety Of the necessary processes Of Its
very life. There is nothing arbitrary
or unjust in it unless 1t be arbitrarily
and unjustly done. 1t can and should
bc done with full aud scrupulous re-
gard for the interests and liberties OF
all concerned as we'll as for the per-
manCnt interests Of society itself.
Three matters Of capital Importance
await the action Of the senate which
have already been acted upon by the
house Of representatives-the bill which
seeks TO extend greater freedom OF