The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1916-12-07
WILSON, CALLS ON. CONGRESS.
TO COMPLETE RAIL PROGRAM
Still Holds For Increased Freight Rates to Offset
light Hour Day Wage Boost.---Favors Inves-
tgation Before Action.
INT of action upon them.

) ment of action upon them.
Mot only does the interstate com.
merce commission now find it practic
ally impossible, with its present mem
bership and Organization, to perform
, Its great functions promptly and
thoroughly but it is not unlikely
\ that it may presently be found advis-
able to add to its duties still Others
equally heavy and eNacting. 1t must
first be perfected as an administra.
instrument.
!aa country cannot and should
not consent to remain any longer ex-
posed to profound industrial disturb
'ances for lack of additional means of
arbitration and Cancellation which the
congress can easily and promptly sup
ply. And all will agree that there
must be no doubt as to the power of
the executive to make immediate and
uninterrupted use of the railroads for
the concentration of the military
forces of the nation wherever they
pre- needed and whenever they are
needed
ton prevention and administrative
efficiency which argues its own case
in the mere statement of it, With re-
gard to one of its items, the increase
in the efficiency of the interstate
Commerce Commission, the House of
representatives Gas already acted:
its action needs only the concurrence
of the Senate.
Would Investigate First.
II would hesitate to recommend,
and l dare say the Congress would
hesitate to act upon the suggestion
should make it, that any man in any
occupation should be obliged by law
to continue in an employment which
he desired to leave. To pass law
before receiving the approval of So
ciety in doing so would be to adopt a
new principle 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 interrupted by the con-
certed action of organized bodies Of
men until a public investigation
shall have been instituted which
shall make the whole question at is
sue plain for the judgment of the
opinion Of the nation is not to pro-
pose any such principle. 1t is based
upon the very differeno princinple
that the concerted action of powerful
bodies of men shall not be permitted
to stop the Industrial processes of
the nation, at any rate, before the
nation shall have had an opportun-
ity to acquaint itself with the merits
of the case as between employee ana
employer, time to form its opinion
upon an impartial statement of the
merits, and opportunity to consider
all practicable means of Cancellation
or arbitration can see nothing in
that proposition but the justifiable
safeguarding by society of the necs-
ss.ry processes of it's very life. There
is nothing arbitrary or unjust in it
unless 1T be arbitrarily and unjustly
done. 1t can and should be done with
d fsa and scrupulous regard for the
interests and liberties of all concern
as we'll as for the permanent inter-
ests of society itself.
Three matters of capital import
ance await the action of the Senate
which have already been acted upon
ny the House of representatives: the
bill which seeks to extend create,
'reedom of combination to those en-
gagged in promoting the foreign com
nerce of the country than is now
thought by some to be legal under
he terms of the laws against monop-
Ny: the bill amending the present
organic law of Porto Rico; and the
Till proposing more thorough and
systematic regulation of the expen-
IditGre of money in elections, common
.ly called the corrupt practices att
need not labor my advice that these
measures be enacted into law. Their
urgency lies in the manifest circum-
stances which render their adopuon
at thistime not only opportune but
necessary. Even delay seriously jeo-
pard the interests of the country and
Of the government.
Immediate passage of the bill to
regulate the expenditure of money in
elections may seem to be less neces-
sary than the immediate enactment
Of the other measures to which | re-
fer; because at least two years will
elapse before another election in
which federal offices are to be filled;
but it would greatly relieve the pub
lie mind>-if this important matter
We're dealt with while the circum-
stances and the dangers to the pub
lie morals of the present method Of
obtaining and spending campaign
funds stand clear under recent obser-
walton and the methods of expendit-
ure can be frankly studied in the light
of present experience; and a delay
would have the. further very serious
disadvantage Of postponing action
until another election was at hand
and some special object connected
with it might be thought to be in
the mind of those who urged it. Ac-
ton can be taken now with facts for
guidance and without suspicion of
partisan purpose.
For Foreign Commerce.
! 81 shall not argue at length the de-
STABILITY of giving a freer hand in
the matter of combined and concert
ed effort to those who shall undertake