The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-01-02
DOINCS IN HARRISBURG
Concluded from Page 1.

opportunities for investigation into the
merits of applicants are better than yours
or mine. The ''shrieks OF locality ana
the demands of personal favorltisln
should not outweigh the careful Judgment
OF disinterested philanthropists; whose
sole purpose Is to serve the best interests
of the commonwealth. 80
To enable this board to more eiiectua!ty
carry out its purposes " should pe au-
thoriZed to subpoena ana enlore tne at
tendance and testimony of witnesses ma
terial to it's Investigations. The board S
review of the jail management IN many
parts of the state merits your attention.
as we'll as the overcrowding OF penlten-
tiaries and reformatories. New provls-
ion for the epileptic and criminal insane
needs to be made, and an appropr,atl01h
for additional grounds and enlarged build
ings at the state hospital at Harrisburg. I.
Factory Inspection.
The amendments to the factory in
spection law, passed by your immediate
predecessors, enlarging the number and
extending the authority OF those charged
with the duty of inspection, nave Deen t,e,
sentiment sustains legal prohibition OF
child labor and the age or restriction Is
certain to be gradually advanced fau.
perism, poverty, cruelty to ana negiect OF
children are perhaps inseparable from the
conditions of civilization and progress,
but there is gratifying certainty lhat
year by, year larger proportioh even tn,.oh vi
into the schools and in one way or ahothef
enjoy the benefits OF broader culture
and more tender care than they Were
aforetime wont to receive. Protection 10
employees by fire escapes, better Ventila-
1ion, necessary hygienic apparatus, IN
quiry into the cause of and responsibility
for accidents and general ameilorltlon OF
the condition of workngmen and women,
have followed the increased efficiency or
the factory inspectors department. l
commend to you his Recommendation IN
behalf of shorter hours of toll, Saturday
half-holidays better assured semi-month-
ly payments of wages, and inquiry INTO
and supervision of the so-called Sweat
ing" system of labor.
capes on buildings of certain public
character, and the supervision of factor
les, hotels, etc; by state officers nave re-
suited in greatly increased safeguards or
human life. Recent events have dem
Onstrated that the operation of such laws
might be properly extended The leg
islature should see to it that every build
likely to be occupied by an unusual mum,
ber of people. should be amply. provided
with means of escape in times of peril.
Labor in Its Relation to Legislation
The thorough Investigations and COM
prehensive reports OF the accomplished
head of the bureau of statistics, in the de-
partment of internal affairs, Will bring
10 your notice the significant figures Of
the extent and cost of labor troubles dur
ing the past two years. These have not
been as Widespread in their extent nor us
disastrous in their results as often here
tofore. The report OF the military opera
tions of the state government ana or the
movements of the National guard dis
closes fewer calls upon it and less neces-
sity for its use to protect property and to
preserve the supremacy of the law than
in some former periods.
Bitter experience has often taught both
employer and employe the unprohtable-
ness of strikes. lockouts and every form
of forcible collision and passionate dis
pute between labor and capital. All tenn
perate representatives of either admit
their community of interests Co-opera-
tion and arbitration therefore seem to be
methods of avoiding or of settling con
fiicts which both would ardently seek
Thus far, in our own commonwealth, le-
gal provisions for arbitration seem 10
have been ineffective, whereas in some
other states, notably in Massac chusetts
scheme of amicably settling labor dis
putes. There ought to be no difficulty in
devising u board of arbitration in which
both sides might have confidence and &c
whose impartial judgment both would
yield respect. Corporations deriving
their life and powers from the common
wealth and seeking It's protection owe tc
it the duty of serving and carrying out
the purposes of their organization. Wher
they confess themselves unable to do this
because of q lack of confidence on tho
TO satisfactorily adjust the question OF
wages, they become subject to the vista
tion of the commonwealth. 1t has beer
well said: "The state Is bound in the enc
TO interpose; and If the state is to come
in at the finish with the bayonet 1t may a:
well come in at the start with the bal
ances."
The frequent abject surrender of tho
duly constituted civil authorities to the
turbulent and disorderly-the failure e
summon and successfully to organize tn,
sheriff's posse comitatus-and the too
frequent unwillingness Of representtativ,
to support the civil, while they Justify cal
for the military, branch of the govern
ment-are not at all creditable to sys
TEN which depends upon the peaceful au
thority of law rather than the arbitrary
exercise Of force. The spectacle of a sher
iff cringing before mob Is piteous one
and the executive should be vested Will
the authority promptly to remove any on
who shows himself unwilling or unfit tC
perform his official functions and to Al
his place with a qualified successor.
In association with this thought l re
gret the necessity Of calling to your at
tention the fact that during the past tw,
years brutal lynching stained the sol
of Monroe county, and of this state: jus
tice was travestied and the forms of Law
superseded by a most dangerous anC
shocking crime. Despite the charge q
the grand jury by the court to fully inves
tigate this notorious affair. none of the of
IenuerS mas DeeH DTOuSnI "
Strikes.
Nothing could more vividly illustrate
the unproftableness of labor strikes an,
the resulting disadvantages to those VIII,
direct them than the statistics of the de
partment of internal affairs, accordin:
to which the loss In wages In 1899 1,
Pennsylvania, incurred by the strikln;
employees in fifty-three strikes, was 81, ,395,
423.75, while the loss of the employer
was estimated at S13l $50 The riot o
In, Atnn G.ll -,
resulting in the burning and destruction
of property. and in the loss of at least on
life, was largely due to the impulses o
a population alien to our laws and Ian
guage to destroy life and property. Xix
Influences inspired the spirit of destruc
tiveness which permeated the strike o
the coke workers in the Connellsvllle re
conspicuous, too in the June $3.50 strik
in jefferson county, to check which tw
regiments and a troop of cavalry of TIL