Evening star., 1922-12-09
The Presidents Message.

Congress yesterday was notable for
the number of subjects touched upon
with constructive suggestions for
legislation. 1t was not merely set
ting forth of problems confronting the
country. but in the more important
instances proposals for solution Of the
problems Were advanced.
No longer can il be said that the
administration and the republican
party are without constructive pro-
gram. In the second year of his term
OF Office Mr.. Harding has given his
party program. and realization of i
substantial part of it now is in the
hands of the republican majority in
Congress.
OF the recommendations contained
in yesterdays message. those pertain
ing to transportation and related qres-
tions are properly given first place
If France Inherited Il devastated area
from the war. the United States in
heri:ed a devastated railway system.
and of the two reconstruction OF the
American railways probably is the
more vital to national life. Presi-
dent Harding recognizes that this
il a problem which cannot be dealt
with in Il n.akeShift way. 1t is a big
problem, and he tackles it with full
Ralization Of its hugeness. knowing
that superficial treatment would serve
only to aggravate conditions. he pro-
poses a major operation.
For the railways themselves he
recommends tine merger of lines into
systems. facilitated interchange of
freight cars, the economic use of
terminals and the consolidation of
facilities. Regardless of offendings of
the past. he properly insists that the
railroads have right to earn a fair
return upon actually invested capital.
and the government having imposed
regulations which largely deprive
them of freedom Of action, he argues
government responsibility to accord
them a square deal. Unless this is
done he foresees failure Of new con-
scruction, and without new copstruc-
tion lack of adequate transportation
will soon become the most menacing
Of national ills.
But proper earnings and the attract
ing of new capital will not alone con-
stitute solution of the transportation
problem. Assurance of continuous
operation of the railways through re-
moval Of the possibility of recurring
strikes and lockouts is vitality neces-
sary to the welfare of the nation. To
accomplish this he would strengthen
the Railroad Labor Board or merge
1t with the Interstate Commerce Com
mission, and then would give this fed
eral adjustment agency the power.
which it now lacks, to enforce its find
ings.
While this proposal will meet with
opposition from the leaders Of organ.
ized labor. it undoubtedly has the
ion. American sentiment favors the
largest measure Of individual liberty
consistent with the public welfare,
and does not. as a rule. hold for the
compulsory arbitration of industrial
disputes. but transportation is SO es-
sential to the life Of the nation, and
the certainties of suffering involved in
a nationwide railway strike SO ap-
palling, that the people have made up
their minds that here is a case where
the abstract rights of the few must
give way to the necessities Of the
many. But they would not deprive
railway workers Of the right to strike
without substitute assurance Of full
and even liberal justice. Such assur-
ance is contained in the plan which
the President recommends to Con-
gress. and railway management no
less than railway workers would be
made fully amenable to the federal
tribunal of adjustment.