Evening star., 1916-12-06
PRESIDENTS PLAN
lMEETSOPPOS|T|ON /
His Program of Railway Legis-
/ lation Likely to Have
ns '"Hard SIedding."
UPHELD BY SOME LEADERS

UPHELD BY SOME LEADERS
President Wilson's recommendations
to Congress for railroad Legislation
senators to-day. and the program of
such legislation advocated by him is in
for hard shedding. it appears.
In the first place the amendment pro-
posed by the President to the mediation
and conciliation act to bring about a
compulsory public investigation of the
merits of every dispute before strike
or lockout may lawfully be attempted"
Is regarded by many of the senators as
little short of proposal to violate that
part of the Constitution which pro-
hibits involuntary servitude. 1t was
predicted that the President would have
more difficulty in getting such a law
through Congress, particularly with to
strong opposition of the labor unions,
than he would have in getting a law
through authorizing the interstate com
nerce commission to raise freight rates
o. the railroads to offset any losses due
Administration Men Approve.
On the other hand administration
democrats in the Senate announce their
strong approval of the Presidents mes
sage AND the recommendations it con-
tanned. Senator Newlands of Nevada,
chairman of the Senate committee Oh
interstate commerce, which must handle
that he approved the Presidents ad-
dress.
II have always considered the Presi-
dents program for railroad legisla-
Newlands. 1T should have been enact
ed into law at the last session. Ger
tainly favorable action should be had
on it now. I believe firmly in the JUS
tice and wisdom of enacting a law
which will insure thorough public in
vestigation into all controversies aris-
ing between interstate carriers and
their employees before a strike or lock-
out may lawfully be undertaken. / be-
lieve that such law would be bene-
fetal, and that when public opinion had
been crysta1lized by means of such an
investigation the contending parties
%sald ". be bound by the findings there
Senator Newlands said that he ex-
pected to take up in his committee Fri
day the work of drafting bill or bills
tions. He pointed out that tentative
bills had been drafted by him and sub
mitted to the committee last fail and
that these bills were at hand to form
q basis for the final measure.
Views of Senator Sherman.
Senator Sherman of Illinois, discuss
ing the Presidents recommendation
for compulsory government investi-
cation into controversies between the
roads and employees before a strike.
said:
TN order to enforce such law there
must be penalties attached for its vio-
1ation. The law must provide for con-
tempt of court or whatever tribunal
makes the Investigation If a strike is
undertaken before the investigation is
completed, and Jail and fine penalties
must be attached. Would not such
ice involuntarily? I wonder if the
President thinks he can get any such
measure through Congress?
I'm regard to the Presidents with
drawal of his earlier recommendation
that Congress suggest to the inter-
state commerce commission that it
raise freight rates, / shrewdly suspect
that he found this suggestion very un-
popular with the shippers of the coun-
try. Undoubtedly any increase allowed
by the commission, IL such a law were
passed, would be laid at the door of
the administration.
Of the recommendation is confession of
moral weakness on the part Of the Presi-
dent There is just as maEh reason now
for adhering to this suggestion as there
Other Senators in Opposition.
Senator cumnins Of Iowa, member of
x-%z
tee, regarded as an authority on railroad
matters, said:
II am against any such law as that pro-
posed by the President. providing for
compulsory governmental investigation
OF the merits Of any controversy between
the roads and their employees before a
strike or lockout is begun. 1t is practi-
cally the same as the Canadian law. 1
do not believe that ii would do any good
in this country and / think it would
merely be an unnecessary expense placed
upon the taxpayers.
'If the government, by law. can prevent
q strike until such an investigation has
been completed. then why would it, not
be right for the government to impose
the findings of the investigators upon the
The proposed law. I think. would run
counter to the provision of the Consti-
tuition prohibiting involuntary servi-
tude.''
Senator Norris of Nebraska also an
nounced that he was opposed to law
for compulsory investigation of con-
troversies between railroads and en-
pioyes.
II believe that the interstate COM
merce commission should be empowered
70 flx the wages and salaries of all
employees and officials of railroads, Just
a. IT 10 empowered to fix the rates
that may be charged by the roads now"
said Senator Norris. THE rates are so
intimately connected with salaries and
wages that the body which fixes the
one should fix the other"
Ar. Underwood Proposes Remedy.
A remedy for the railroad situation,
20 far as the controversy between the
roads and employees regarding pay is
concerned, is sought in a bill intro
duced by Senator Underwood of Ala
bAma yesterday, empowering the inter-
state commerce commission to fix hours
OF labor and to determine wages for
employees Of common carriers engaged
IN interstate and foreign commerce He
excepts from the operation of the pro-
posed law railroads independently
owned which do not exceed 100 miles
in length.
"A bill embodying the Presidents sue-
gestfons for railroad legislation has
been prepared by Chairman Adamson
OF the House commerce committee for
submission as soon as Attorney Cen
ality.
Chairman Henry of the House rules