Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1922-12-14

imitation are not easily reduced. When
some very moderate wage reductions
were effected last summer there was
a 5 per cent horizontal reduction in
rates. l sought at that time, in very
informal way, to have the railway
managers to go before the interstate
commerce commission and agree to a
heavier reduction on farm products
and coal and other basic commodities
and leave unchanged the freight tariffs
which a very large portion of the
traffic was able to bear. Neither the
managers nor the commission saw fit
to adopt the suggestion. Railways
are not expected to render the most
essential service in our social or
ganization without fair return
on capital invested, but the govern
ment has gone so far in the reg
ulation of rates and rules of OPP
GRAFTON that it has the responsibility
of pointing the way to the reduced
freight costs so essential to your ma
tional welfare. Government operation
Does not afford the cure.
"The labor board itself is not so con-
stituted as. best to serve the public in
terest. With six partisan members on
a board Of nine, three partisans nom
mated by the employees and three by
the railway managers, it is inevitable
that the partisan viewpoint is main
tanned throughout hearings and in de-
cisions handed down. / am
well convinced that the functions Of
this tribunal could be much better car
ried on here in Washington.
Offers New Plan.
"The substitution Of labor divi-
sion i'll the interstate commerce COM
mission made up from its membership
to hear and decide disputes relating
to wages and working conditions
which have failed of adjustment by
proper committees created by the rail-
ways and their employees, O. ers a
more effective plan -.
"This suggested substitution will in
volve necessary increase in the mem
bership of the commission, probably
four, to constitute the labor division.
If the suggestion appeals to the con-
gress, it will be well to specify that
the labor division shall be constituted
of representatives of the four rate
making territories, thereby assuring
a tribunal conversant with the condi-
tons which obtain in the different
rate-making sections Of the country.
Most DemoraIizing Factor.
Constitutional prohibition has been
adopted by the nation. It is the
supreme law of the land In plain
speaking, there are conditions relating
to its enforcement which SAVIOR of
nationwide scandal. 1t is the most
demoralizing factor in our public life.
Most Of our people assumed that
the adoption of the eighteenth amend
ment meant the elimination of the
question from our politics. On the
contrary, it has been SO intensified as,
an issue that many voters are dis
posed to make all political decisions
with reference to this single question
It is distracting the public mind and
preiudicing the judgment of the cleo
torate.
"The day is unlikely to come when
the eighteenth amendment will be re
pealed The fact may as well be rec
ognized and our course adapted ac-
cordingly. If the statutory provisions
for it's enforcement are contrary to
deliberate public opinion, which, do
not believe, the rigorous and literal
enforcement viii concentrate public
attention on any requise modification.
''Such a course conforms with the
law and saves the humiliation of the
government and the humiliation of our
the destructive forces engaged in wide
spread violation, official corruption,
and individual Generalization.
Plans Governors Meet.
"The eighteenth amendment involves
the concurrent authority of state and
federal governments for the enforce
ment of the policy it defines. GER
tain lack of defniteness, through d.
vision of responsibility is thus intro.
duced. In order to bring about a full
understanding Of duties and RESPONSE
bilities, as thus distributed, I purpose
to invite the governors of the states
and territories, at an early opportunity,
to a conference with the federal ex-
ecutive authority. Out of the full and
free considerations which will thus be
possible, it is confidently believed will
emerge a more adequate comprehen-
sion Of the whole problem, and definite
policies of national and state co-opera-
ton in administering the laws.
"There are pending bills for the reg
istration of the alien who has come to
our shores. wish the passage of such
an act might be expedited
Before enlarging the immigration
quota, we had better provide registra-
ton for aliens, now here or continual
ly pressing for admission, and estab-
lish our examination boards abroad,
to make sure of desirables only.
Wants to Be Prepared.
'The proposed survey of plan to
draft all the resources of the republic,
human and material, for national de-
Tense may we'll have your approval.
commended such a program in case of
future war, in the inaugural address
of March 4, 1921, and every expert
ton of war claims and the settlement
of war obligations persuades me we
ought to be prepared for such uni
versal call to armed defense"