The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-01-07
Governor Stone Says Recent Dis
turbances Have Cost Pennsyl-
vania a Million Dollars.
CHILD LABOR LAW Inefficient.
Suitable Appropriation for Il State
Exhibit at st. Louis Worlds
Fair Recommended in Mes
sage to Legislature.

Harrisburg, Pa, Jan. 6.-The Pennsyi
vania Legislature organized to-day, the Re-
publicans having a majority on joint ballot
of IA. This assures the reelection OF
United States Senator Boies Penrose by the
joint convention of the Senate and House
on January u.
In the afternoon the Governors message
was presented.
Governor Stone devotes considerable
space to the recent anthracite coal strike.
He says the strike Of the anthracite miners
and their associate workmen was the most
important and far-reachinS event OF its
kind that ever occurred in the State and
that the expenses incurred by the State in
connection with the disturbances caused
by the strike Will exceed 81 .000,C coo.
The Governor urges the passage of a law
to prevent future Dor disturbances, as
follows:
IN my judgment, Vcompulsory law could
and should be passed for the settlement of
difficulties between employer and employee.
Such IL law is entirely constitutional and
feasible from u police standpoint, looking
on strikes as injurious to the public, HARM
ful to society and destructive to life and
property. They are generally settled after
all harm has been done. Why should they
not be settled before the harm Is done, and
before large losses occur to life and prop
erty?
We should recognize strikes as existing
evils ana as dangerous to the public goou,
ana While mindful Of the rights of both en-
ployer ana employe, ADJUST them from a
hlSner standpoint, namely, for the good OF
society. the preservation OF public peace
and life and property.
WILL OCCUR AGAIN.
When a large strike is settled We delude
ourselves with the thought that no more
VII! occur. We should contemplate them
as likely 10 again occur, with the same re-
suits as in the past. Without criticising
employers or employees, without blaming
either, we should SO iegisiate as to prevent
the recurrence of these disturbances
referring to the insurance OF children. he
says: Il heartily concur in the opinion OF
the Insurance Commissioner that a law
should be passed limiting the amount of in
surance ON children to a burial benefit, and
fixing an age under which they couid not
be accepted
The Governor recommends that some adj
ditional legislation be passed for the pro-
lection of children who, he says, are too
young to work in factories, but are en-
ployed In coal breakers. slate and stone
quarrIes. He says:
Il heartily concur In the opinion of the
Factory Inspector that it is Inconsistent to
prohibit a child of Il years OF age from
working in a factory or mercantile es;ab-
and allow MIN to secure employ
An appropriation for the Pennsylvania
exhibit at the st. Louis Worlds Fair is
as follows:
II we are to cooperate in an effort to
make this Exposition a success. and il
Pennsylvania is to have proper representa-
ton, II is important that the Legislature
should at once make an appropriation in
with the wealth, population and
comparative importance Of our State"