Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-12-07

power to control and operate ,;,c rail
ways when necessary in time of war or
other like public necessity now very
earnestly renew
New Legislation Necessary.
The necessity for such legislation is
manifest and pressing. Those who have
intrnstod lis with the responsibility
and duty Of serving and safeguarding
them in such matters would find it |
hard. | believe. to excuse a failure to
act upon these grave matters or any
unnecessary p"ostponemcnt of action.
Not only does the interstate COM
merce commission now find if practical
ly impossible. with it's present member
ship and organization. to perform its
great functions promptly and thorough
ly. but It is not unlikely that it 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 Cancellation 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
IL. Lo,- ,aNIaI o~I
whenever they are needed.
This is a program of regulation. pre-
ventiOn and administrative efficiency
which argues Its W case in the mere
statement of 1t. With regard to n Of
It's items. the increase in the efficiency
Of the interstate commerce commission.
the house Of representatives has al
ready acted. It's action needs only the
concurrence ~ the senate.
I To Safeguard Industrial Processes.
| would hesitate TO recommend. and
I dare say the congress would hesitate
to act upon the suggestion should !
make il. thai any man in any occlpa-
ton 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 10 leave
his work before receiving the approval
of society in doing SO would be to
adopt a new principle into our juris-
prudence 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 concert
cd 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-
resses Of the nation. at any rate before
the nation shall have had an opportu-
nifty to a~cquaint 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 conciliatior or nrpitra-
tion
can see nothing in that proposition
but the justifable safeguarding by So
ciety Of the necessary processes of its
very life. There is nothing arbitrary
or unjust in II unless it be arbitrarily
and unjustlv done. II can and should
be done with a full and %Scrupulous re-
gard for the interests and liberties OF
all concerned as well as for the per-
manent interests OF society itself.
Three matters Of capital importance
await the action OF the senate which
house Of representativeS--the bill which
seeks 10 extend greater freedom of
combination to those engaged in pro
noting the foreign OF the
country than is now thought by soma
10 be legal under the terms or the
laws against monopoly, the bill amend
ing the present organic law of Porto
Rico and the bill proposing n more
thorough and systematic regulation OF
the expenditure of none. in elections.
commonly called the corrupt practices
act, ! need not labor my advice that
these measures he enacted into law.
Their urgency lies in the manifest cir
cumstances which render their adop-
tion at this time not only opportunc
hut necessary. Even delay would Sc
riously leopard the interests Of the
country and Of the government.
Immediate passage Of the bill to reg
ulate the expenditure Of money In
elections may seem 70 be less np,es-
sary than the immediate enactment %
the other measures to which ! refer.
because AT least two years will elapse
before another election in which fed
eral Offices are to be filled, but II would
greatly relieve the public mind if this
important matter were dealt with
while the circumstances and the dan
gers TO the public morals of the pres
ent method Of obtaining and spending
campaign funds stand clear under re,
| cent observation ard tho mathods ~