The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1902-09-25

rS, U. s., 1s, it was held that an act
of the Legislature of the state oi
Tennessee, requiring the redemption
in cash Of store orders or other evil
dences Of indebtedness issued by
employers in payment OF wages due
employees, does not conflict with any
provisions of the constitution OF the
United States relating to contracts.
The court quotes extensively from
the opinion of the state court sustain.
ing the validity of this enactment, and
thereupon adds: "The supreme court
of Tennessee justified its conclusions
by so full and satisfactory reference
to the decisions Of this court as to
render it unnecessary for us to travel
over the same ground. 1t will be
sufficient to briefly notice two or
three of the latest cases;
"In Holden VS.. Hardy, ro9 U. s.,
400, validity of an act of the state OF
Utah, regulating the employment OF
workingmen in underground mines
and fixing the period of employment
at eight hours per day, was IN ques-
tion. There, as here, it was contend
ed that the Legislature deprived the
employers and employees Of the right
to make contracts in lawful way and
for lawful purposes; that 1t was class
legislation, and not equal or uniform
in It's provisions; that 1t deprived the
parties of the equal protection of the
laws, abridged the privileges and i'm
munities of the defendant, citizen
of the United States, and deprived
him of his property and liberty with.
out due process of law. But it was
held, after full review of the previous
cases, that the act in question was a
valid exercise of the police power of
the state, and the judgment of the
supreme court of Utah sustaining the
legislation was affirmed"
'In St. Louis, Iron Mountain, etc ,
railway VS.. Paul, I73 U. S., 4o4, a
judgment of the supreme court OF
Arkansas. sustaining the validity of an
act of the Legislature of that state
which provided that whenever any
corporation or person engaged in
operating a railroad should discharge,
with or without cause, any employs
or servant, the unpaid wages of such
servant then earned should become
due and payable on the date of such
discharge without abatement or de.
duction, was affirmed
1t is we'll to remember the language
of Chief Justice Fuller quoted in an
other connection: "The right to con-
tract is not absolute, but may be sub
jected to the restraint demanded by
safety and welfare of the state" Now
the question arises: Does the peace
and good order, the safety and welfare
of the state of Pennsylvania and the
inhabitants of the anthracite coal
region demand such legislation
In view of the long train of evils
following the present struggle between
the mine operators and mine workers
over the price of wages, would not the
proposed legislation come strictly with.
in the so.called, but never closely de-
hned, police powers of the state
Would not such legislation be as clear.
ly W hin the police powers as the
laws prohibiting or restricting the sale
of Intoxicating liquors, or laws making
illegal contracts for the purchase Of
"future delivery" cotton or grain2 A
sale is contract. The sale of wine
and beer Is restrained by law. Why
does government in this case interfere
with the liberty or freedom of con.
tracts
1t is not because the sale, by ITSELF
is wrong. But laws are made with a
view to human nature and the way
men are often inclined to act. Men
ought not to spend their earnings for
drlhk-ought not to quit all work and
allow their wives and children to come
to want and destltuiion-ought not to
fight and commit murder. The safety
and welfare OF the state::and its inhabi-
tants demand and justify the enact
ment of laws controlling the sale OF
Intoxicating liquors.
So in considering what would be
proper legislation for the preventation
or settlement of controversies between
corporations and miners, the wise
legislator will take into account human
nature as it is and has been for over a
quarter Of century in the coal fields.
The corporations own the mines, and
duly qualified miners own the labor.
They are dependent npon each other
for their earnings. Unworked mines
will rmain subject to taxes, and idle
miners will become subject to want
and destituton. The corporations
and miners differ as to the price OF
labnr The cornorot,onc ,of.,a.