Omaha daily bee., 1916-09-30

ing upon the subject, but to lay the
resolution (senate joint resolution las
providing for an investigation by the
Interstate Commerce commission) on
the table. The committee deemed il
inadyisable while proceedings were
pending under the mediation and con-
Citation act to take up the subject
OF pay and hours OF service, of the
railway employees. 1t was also deemed
inadvisable to add to the present
duties OF the Interstate Commerce
commission, which, as it is well
known, is overloaded with work"
Telegram of Newlands.
Then followed a telegram dated
August from Mr.. Wheeler to Sen
ator Newlands, as follows:
Action of senate committee al
meeting today great disappointment.
If resolution tabled because commit
tee believed consideration should only
follow declaration. strike vote and
deadlock next week, position might
be tenable.
Respectfully called to your atten-
ton that resolution upon which hear
ing was asked was passed by repre-
sentatives OF 5000 business firms and
corporations, who feel they have per-
feet right to ask for hearing upon
resolution in which they are vitality in
terested, and would be glad to be ad-
vised whether such hearing is posi-
lively denied or whether we may ex-
pect to be advised that hearing will
be granted after reconvening of New
York conference next Tuesday, il eff
forts OF administration in meantime
to bring about adjustment of differ
ences fail.
AS chairman senate committee, can
you assure business interests of the
country courtesy of hearing in time
for action to be taken before congress
adjournment"
Next Document Read.
The next document read by Mr..
Hughes was an extract from letter
written August 6 by Mr.. Wheeler to
Senator Newlands, as follows:
"The Interstate Commerce commits
sion is the only body that can make
such an inquiry with result accept
able to the railroad employees, the
roads themselves and the general pub
lie. Any special committee might be
more or less tinged with politics. The
Interstate Commerce commission is
sufficiently judicial in its character
and independent in its operations to
be above any political bias and would
do the work in highly acceptable
manner.
ut Is true the committee is already
overburdened. but there is no other
subject now before it which ranks in
Importance so high as averting tie
up OF our freight transportation, and
inasmuch as a tie-up is imminent It
would seem justifiable to place upon
the commission the added burden of
gathering the proper statistics for
congress and for the public, as one
OF the most important tasks that could
be delegated to it at this time"
Should Heed Request.
A telegram from Mr.. Wheeler to
President Wilson, dated August IL,
was next read by Mr.. Hughes, as fol-
lows:
"Mr. President, I beg you to con-
slider at this juncturc in the railroad
situation the dcsirability Of putting
the influence Of the administration
behind senate joint resolution in its
present or some modified form. Not
withstaf. ding the obdurate attitude OF
both sides, they cannot, without reap
ing the condemnation of the whole
public, disregard the request Of cpn-
gress to withhold action until certain
/ facts can be asccrtained which bear
directly upon the merits OF the de-
mands of the men or the contingent
proposals OF the roads, facts which
must in any event be secured before
an arbitration award upon any part
Of the differences could properly be
reached.
"If the demands OF the men are
just they will not suffer from proper
, inquiry, nor will they be irreparably
injured by continuing upon the pres
ent basis while inquiry is being made.
| II the contingent proposals of the
roads are just they will not be de-
MED consideration. Facts have not en-
tered into this controversy as bearing
upon the merits OF the proposals of
either side. The house has been conf
PEELED to form its opinions upon I'M
supported or admittedly partisan
statements, wholly contradictory.
"No one denies that the Interstate
Commerce commission is overbur-
dened; neither Is there any doubt that
the commission is the only existing
federal agency having the equipment
and experience requisite to the task
of possessing the confidence of all
parties to the controversy. AS be-
tween taxing the commission little
further and enduring the suffering
and loss OF a general railroad strike
there can be no hesitation. The
country will applaud the commission
for laying aside for time some Of
its present duties to meet the emer-
gency, the like Of which has never
before confronted the country"
! After declaring that here was
American business, month before
the railroad crisis, asking for an in
quiry," Mr.. Hughes continued:
"A sudden crisis, with no oppor-
tunity for inquiry If the admins
tration had desired to know the facts
before action it had abundant oppor-
tunity on the solicitation of the bust
ness of the United States"
, THAT is the administration rec
: ord Mr., Hughes said, after declar-
/ ing that the administration could not
/ cry out that a republican candidate
. should have saved il from carrying
out its fixed determination.
"And I submit to the American
, nsnnle that Il is a record Of hutnilia.