AMERICAN POLITICS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 881, 6 December 1916, Page 11

AMERICAN POLITICS.

MESSAGE TO CONGRESS. SHORTEST ON RECORD. By Cable. — Press Association. — Copyright. Renter's Telegrams. (Received December G, 12.50 p.m.) WASHINGTON, December 5. President Wilson has delivered his Message to Congress. It is the shortest on record, dealing exclusively with domestic affairs—mainly the regulation of railway labour on the basis of an eight-hours day. The President advocated an amendment of the law to authorise labour disputes to be fully and publicly investigated before a strict lockout can be lawful. He said:—"The country cannot remain exposed to profund industrial disturbances for hick of additional means of arbitration and conciliation, which Congress could easily supply. The proposal whereby the working of railways should not be stopped or interrupted by the concerted action of organised bodies of men, until a public investigation has been instituted for the purpose of explaining the whole question to national opinion, involves no new principle." The President also recommended a law giving greater freedom of combination to those engaged in promoting foreign commerce than the present laws against monopoly permit.