Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-08-10
BY WILL p. KENNEDY.

manQS OIL railroad efnpiOyCs
and reduction of the cost Of living &C
that it will stay reduced are en-.
twined issues on which the people OF
the country-and national welfare
demand prompt and effective action
BY the government.
They are issues on which the gen.
eral welfare has yielded to group or
individual interest and profit; they are
issues on which party politics has
been played: they are issues that have
teen before the present administra-
tion for years: they are issues which
doubtless will have strong influence
in the next president campaign.
President Wilson on Friday made
his recommendations to Congress re-
garding the best way in which to re-
duce the cost of living. The Depart
nlent Of Justice Wednesday announced
that it was instituting proceedings
against the five big packers who, it
believes, have been chief profiteers on
foodstuffs. The House coumittee on
interstate and foreign commerce dur
ing the last few days has been hear
ing spokesman for the big Four
brotherhoods of railroad employees de-
plan for socializing the railroads.
How Relief Must Come.
Whatever relief is afforded to the
public on these two transcendent is
sues must be through legislation
First. passed by a republican Con-
sress. and
Second. administered by a demo-
cratic President
Now that the President has made
clear the consensus Of opinion of the
present administration regarding
what is necessary to keep living ex-
penses within reasonable bounds and
so guard against threatening indus
trial unrest. the people are looking
with intensified concern for a solu-
tion Of the railroad problem.
To be consistent with their records
both the democratic President and
the republican majority in Congress
must lay down this law as regards.
the future of the railroad wage con-
troversy: Is. -
AN amsndment or the existing feds
efal statute which provides for the
mediation, Cancellation and arbitra-
ton Of such controversies as the
present by adding to 1t a provision
L., %
dalton now provided for shall fail
a full public investigation of the
merits OF each such dispute shall be
instituted and completed before a
strike or lockout may lawfully be
attempted
Presidents Recommendations.
President Wilson emphasized this in
his letter Thursday to Director Gem
eral Hines. He has twice urged this
upon Congress. He made this the
fifth of six items of legislation which
lie earnestly recommended" when he
addressed a joint session August 20,
1916. regarding hours Of service on
railroads, when a strike was impend-
ing to start September Z.
The second and third of his recon-
mendations made at that time were
written into the so-called Adamson
law, which passed the House Septem-
Der 1. 1916. They were as follows:
Second. the establishment of an
eight-hour day as the legal basis
alike of work and of wages in the
employment Of all railway employees
who are actually engaged in the
transportation.
Third, the authorization of the ap
pointment by the President of a small
body of men to observe the actual
results in experience of the adop-
ZION Of the eight-hour day in rail-
way transportation alike for the men
and for the railroads; it's effect in
the matter of operating costs, in the
application of the existing practices
and agreements to the he " conditions,
and in all other practical aspects,
with the provision that the investi-
gators shall report their conclusions
10 the Congress at the earliest pos
eible date. but without recommends
tion as to legislative action; in or
der that the public may learn from
an unprejudiced source just what &C
tuaI developments have snsued."
He then said he urged the entire
sary additions to the law OF the land
imperative as well as just if such
emergencies are to be prevented "in
the future. We need them now and
we will continue to need them"
Mr.. Sterling's Amendment.
When the Adamson bill was being
rushed through Congress to ward Off
the impending strike which threat
ened to paralyze all business, Rep
1esentative John A. Sterling of ILL
Iois offered an amendment during
debate in the committee of the whole.
JIe proposed to put into effect the
Tecomm endation Of President Wilson,
quoted above. making lockout or
Strike unlawful until after an inves-
tisation had been made and a report
published. His amendment suggested
commission Of eleven men to make
The investigation, four to represent
each side t. the controversy ana three
10 be famed by the President.
Representative Adamson, then
chairman Of the committee, raised a
point of order against this amend
1rent, which was sustained by the
G.stir.
When the Adamson bill was report
ed from the committee Of the whole