The daily commonwealth. (Greenwood, Leflore Co., Miss.) 1916-1919, 1916-12-05
by Associated Press)

sons ADDRESS at the opening OF tn
session of Congress today was who'll
devoted to domestic subjects, prime
pally the problem of railway legisls
tion.
When President Wilson appeare,
before Congress today at one o'clocl
the Democrats and Republicans unit
ed in a great demonstration whicl
vas prolonged and noisy. As soon Al
the demonstration subsidized the Pres
ident began reading his message Al
he started a banner bearing the word
"Mr. President, what will you do fol
Woman Sufffage?" was unfurled ove1
the adge Of the gallery. It was quick
ly pulled down.
In the Hall Of the Huose with Scna.
tors and Representatives assembled ir
joint cession, President Wilson in ac-
cordance with the custom he began at
the opening of his term, read his ad-
dress from the clerks desk.
The President not only renewed his
recommendation for legislation to pre-
vent nation wide railway strike or
lockout before there has been oppor-
tunity for investigation, but defend
ed it against the attack of organized
labor as nothing arbitrary or unjust
and the "justifable safeguarding by
society of the necessary processes of
its very life."
Aside from recommendation for
passage of the Porto Rico government
bill, the corrupt practices bill and the
Webb bill to legalize American col
lective selling agencies abroad, the
Presidents address was devoted who'll
ly to the railroad situation. The only
feature which had not been forecast
was the elimination of the proposal
that Congress give explicit approval.
to consideration by the. Interstate
Commerce Commission of an increase
in freight rates to meet additional ex-
penditures by the railroads caused by
the operation of the Adamson law.
Today, the President took the posi-
ton that "the power Of the Interstate
Commerce Commission to grant an
increase of rates on the ground re-
ferred to is indisputably clear and
recommendation by the Congress with
regard to such matter might seem
to draw in question the scope of the
commissions authority or it's inclina-
ton to do justice when there is no
reason to doubt either
The other recommendation on the
railroad situation made in a special
message during the last session, which
were not put into. law, were renewed
today. They include:
Immediate provision for the en-
largement and administrative reor-
ganlzation of the Interstate Com
merce Commission along the lines en-
bodied in the bill recently passed by
the House of Representatives and now !
awaiting action by the Senate; in or
der that the commission may be en-
abled to deal with the many great and
various duties now devolving upon it !
with promptness and thoroughness
Which are, with it's present consti-
tuition and means of action, practical
ly impossible.
An amendement of the existing
federal statute which provides for the
mediation, Cancellation and arbitration
Of such controversies Is the present
by adding to it a provision that, in
case the methods of accommodation now
provided for should fail, full public
investigation of the merits of every
such dispute shall be instituted and
completed before strike or lockout
may lawfully be attempted.
The Judgement in the hands Of the
executive Of the power, in case Of
military necessity, to take control Of
such portions Of such rolling stock Of
the railways Of the country as may be
required for military use and to oper-
ate them for military purposes, with
authority to draft into the military
service Of the United States such
traln crews and administrative off,
clals as the circumstances may re-
qulre for their safe and efficient USE"
The renewed, Recommendation for
compulsory investigation Of labor dis
putes on railways before strikes or I
lockouts are allowed, which has arous-
ed the opposition, ;of: the railroad !
orotherhoods, and the American Fed I
Grafton Of Labor, was defended in the ,
fresident's message. He declared he :
would hesitate to recommend q law
which would force individual workmen {
70 continue in an employment which {
they desired to leave, but that no such
was involved in the sugges- !
ton that the operation Of the rail- |
ways Of the country should not be I
stopped by the concentrated action Of !
bodies Of mon until public investi- I
cation for the benefit 81 the public has !
been instituted. !
1T Is based upon the very differ I
w ss'paiy|s,' ~ csntmusA .'thst .tAa I