The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-08-19
A RAILROAD POLICY.

Among the many plans offered for
adjustment of the railroad situation Is
one for protection Of transportation
presented to the committee on inter
state and foreign commerce of the
house of representatives. in a state
ment by Stephen C. Mason. president
of the National Association of Manu-
facturers OF the United States, an or
ganization of substantially 5000 firms.
Asserting that no program of rail-
road regulation is complete that does
not protect the paramount public in
terest in uninterrupted transportation
by rail, proposal was made that APP
propriate legislation be enacted to
provide. first, whenever in the opin-
ion of the president of the United
States a dispute over hours, wages or
working conditions threatens the in
terruption of a carrier essential to civil
or military governmental needs or the
free movement of commerce between
the states or with foreign nations, he
shall appoint a commission to investi-
gate and decide upon the merits of
the controversy, and until such find
ing is made any strike or lockout shall
be unlawful; second, that, under the
authority established by the decision
of the supreme court in the Adamson
case, whenever a labor dispute threat
ems the o. Grafton of an instrumental
ity OF Interstate commerce, the presi-
dent shall have the power to appoint
commission which would write a
contract for the parties in dispute. to
be binding upon them until they reach
voluntary agreement by themselves.
in which event their agreement would
supersede that of the commission.
Thru this legal, practical method,
freedom of contract would be left I'M
impaired unless and until the parties
are unwilling or unable to agree, in
which event the supreme interest of
the public is asserted thru its repre-
sentatives.
The people of the country. President
Mason asserted, are now confronted
with the proposition that they must
either assent thru their representa-
tives, in social self-defense. to the
control OF congress over commerce be-
tween the states or submit to its con-
troll and regulation by organized rail-
way labor under the threat, by con-
certed action. of paralyzing that COM
merce upon which the life OF the ma
ton depends.
He considers It pertinent therefore
to raise the issue and ask the ques-
ton which the supreme court asked
in the Debs case, when the strong arm
Of the government was used to burst
away all obstruction to the freedom
of Interstate commerce or the trans
portation jof the mails: TT a state
with its recognized powers OF SOW
ereignty is impotent to obstruct inter-
state commerce. can 1t be that any
mere voluntary association of indIvid-
uals within the limits OF that state has
a power which that state itself does not
possess? ?"
In answer he quotes the emphatic
declaration of the court that If this
were true, 1.-The whole interests of the
nation in these respects would be at
the absolute mercy of the inhabitants
of that single state The time has
entire strength OF the nation may be
used but should be used to enforce in
any and every part of the land the full
and free movement of commerce be-
tween the states and the free exercise
of the-5udgment of the peoples repre-
sentatives, unintimidated by the threat
OF paralyzed transportation.
Urging that a declaration of a great
constructive policy of transportation
would clarity public thought and slim
ulate aggressive business activity. Mr..
bers of the National Association of
Manufacturers that the railroads
should be returned to their owners;
that congress should, during the Pc
riod of government administration,
provide adequately for upkeep, bet
terment, and expansion; that the rule
OF rate-making should be clearly de-
fined by statute; that consolidation
and cooperation among lines be au-
thorized in the same manner as under
present operation and administration:
that the duties and functions of the
interstate commerce commission be
modified and a transportation board
be established.
1t is the duty of congress. he main
tanned. now to exert its full authority
to define in the interest OF the public
the limits to which employers or en-
ployes. capital or labor. may go in
threatening the facilities of commerce
as a means of compelling the accept
ance OF economic demands or political
policies.