The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-08-07
WILSON HAS
FULL AUTHORITY
Continued from page IL


In letter written by Chairman
Cummins at the committees direc-
ton, Wilson was told that Director
General Hines has authority to INK
both wages and rates and that there
fore no action by congress is neces-
sary to meet the present emergency-
The letter was a refusal Of President
Wilson's request that congress au-
thorize special wage commission.
The letter follows:
my Dear Mr.. President:
I'm accordance with my promise,
I called together the interstate COM
merce committee of the senate for
the purpose Of considering the sug-
gestions and the recommendations
confined in your letter to me OF the
| first instant.
1.-THE committee has carefully gone
| over the whole subject and has
unanimously authorized me to make
the following further response to
your communication:
1.-THE committee recognizes the
gravity of the situation and earnestly
| desires to cooperate with you IN
bringing about the proper solution OF
the difficult problems which con-
front the country. 1t feels, however,
| that congress has already given you
complete and plenary authority to
deal with the existing situation, and
that additionl legislation at this
time can add nothing whatever to
! your powers In the premises. The
director general can fix the wages OF
all men employed in the transporta-
81 nd
| that it is for him to say whether the
compensation of the men should or
should not be increased. He has all
the available information which can
possibly be secured, and 1t is the
view of the committee that he should
act in accordance with public inter
est and his own judgment He can
be advised upon the subject by any
| board or tribunal which you may Sc
lect for that purpose.
1.-THE director general also has the
| absolute right to initiate rates for
transportation, and he can advance
or lower them as he may think nee
essary or wise to meet the require
ments Of the transportation systems
! in his charge, and moreover he can
| put the new rates into effect, when
ever in his judgment they should be-
come effective. At the present time
| the interstate commerce committee
has not the authority for examination
or approval of the rates initiated by
the director general, but even II the
act which lately passed the senate,
and which has not yet passed the
house, shall become a law, and the
! authority of the interstate commerce
! commission to suspend rates re-
stored, 1t will still be true that the
i director general must initiate the
rates, and 1t is entirely possible to
believe that the interstate commerce
| commission would suspend rates that
| are necessary in order to pay any
! increased wages of railway opera
! tives.
1.-THE committee now ia diligently
engaged in preparation OF bill for
the general reorganization OF our sys-
| tenn of regulation and control. one
| common phase Of the many plans
which have been submitted for our
| consideration relates to the further
| direction which ought to be given to
! the interstate commerce commission
for its guidance in determining the
reasonableneas of rates. Upon that
phase Of the subject diverse opinions
have been developed, and it is
thought to be unwise to bring for
ward for action by congress any fur
Their legislation in that respect until
it can be associated with the general
plan Of reorganization.
"If the committee felt that there
was any lack of power on your part
or on the part of the director gen
eral, 1t would be quick to act; but In
asmuch as 1t can perceive no want
of authority it has reached the con
clusion that no additional legislation
is required to meet the particular
emergency which you have pointed
out"
Disturb Political Structure.
iIBy L. G. Martin, United Press staff
Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Aug. Disturb
ance of the existing political party
structure is foreseen by some polfti
clans in congress if American labor
goes through with its plan of carry
ing to the people in the 1920 campaign
its demand for naturalization Of rail
roads. This disturbance they hold
!, NAV amount to a realignment in which
conservatives in both republican ant
democratic ranks may unite to pre-
went plan which they regard a!
socialistic.
. Fares TWO Cents Higher.
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