Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-12-10

join With theft ri JrIdnZarrons. They
have legal right. which, according
to circumstances. may or may not be
a moral right. to refuse to work In COM
pany with men who decline to Join their
organizations. They have under no
circumstances the right to commit yio-
lence upon those, whether capitalists
or wageworkers. who refuse to support
their organizations or who side with
those with whom they are at odds, for
mob rule is intolerable in any form.
Employers Liability Law.
The wageworkers are peculiarly enti-
tied to the protection and the encour-
agement of the law From the very
nature of their occupation railroad
men, for Instance, are liable to be
MANNED IN doing the legitimate work
OF their profession unless the railroad
companies are required by law to make
ample provision for their safety. The
administration has been Jealous in en-
forcing the existing law for this pur-
pose. That law should be amended
and strengthened. Wherever the ma
uonal government has power there
should be stringent employers liabil-
1ty law, which should apply to the gov
eminent itself where the government
Is an employer of labor.
In my message to the Fifty-seventh
congress at its second session | urged
the passage of an employers liability
law for the District of Columbia. l
now renew that recommendation and
firth
appoint commission to make a COM
prehensive study of employers Iiabili-
ty with the view of extending the pro-
visions of great and constitutional
law to all employments within the
scope of federal power.
Medals of Honor
The government has recognized hero
ism upon the water and bestows med
ais of honor upon those persons who
by extreme and heroic daring have en-
dangered their lives in saving or en-
deavoring to save lives from the perils
of the sea in the waters over which the
United States has Jurisdiction or upon
an American vessel. This recognition
should be extended to cover cases of
conspicuous bravery and self sacrifice
In the saving Of life In private employ
ments under the jurisdiction of the
United States, and particularly in the
land commerce Of the nation.
Prevention of Railroad Accidents
The ever increasing casualty list up
on our railroads Is matter of grave
public concern and urgently calls for
action by the congress. In the matter
of speed and comfort of railway travel
our railroads give at least as good
service as those of any other nation.
and there is no reason why this serv-
Ice should not also be as safe as hui
man ingenuity can make it, Many of
our leading roads have been foremost
in the adoption of the most approved
safeguards for the protection Of travel
crs and employees, yet the list of clear
" avoidable accidents continues I'M
duly l2,ct The passage of a law re-
euar' doption of block signal
IS oeen proposed to the con-
truestly concur In that rec
tion and would also point out
nwress the urgent need of leg
lsiauon 50 TIE Interest OF the pupiIc
safety limiting the hours Of labor for
railroad employees in train service up
on railroads engaged In interstate COM
merce and providing that only trained
and experienced persons be employed
in positions of responsibility connect
cd with the operation Of trains. OF
course nothing can ever prevent acct
dents caused 10y human weakness or
misconduct, and there should be dras-
tic punishment for any railroad en-
ployee. whether oiiccr or man, who by
Issuance Of wrong orders or by disoNe-
dicncc of orders causes disaster. The
law of 1901 requiring Interstate rail
roads TO make monthly reports of all
accidents 10 passengers and employees
on duty should also Ice amended SO as
to empower the government 10 make n
personal investigation through proper
officers of all accidents involving loss of
life which seem 10 require Investigation.
with requirement that the results of
such investigation be made public.
The safety appliance law, as amend
ed by the act of March =. 1903 has
proved beneficial to railway employees.
and in order that its provisions may be
plOl}tlIN CdITitNl out tue force OF IN
spectors provided for by appropriation
Should he largely Increased. This serv-
ice is analogous To the steamboat in
spection service ana deals with even
more important interests. 1t has passed.
the experimental stage and demon
strated its utility and should receive
generous recognition by the congress
Unions of Government Employees.
There is no objection TO employees of
the government forming or belonging
to unions, but the government can nei-
Their discriminate for nor discriminate
against nonunion men who are in its
employment or who seek to be EN-
ployed under it. Moreover. II is very
grave improperly for government en-
ployees to band themselves together
for the purpose of eXtorting improperly
high salaries from ele government
Especially is this true of those within
the classified service. The letter carri-
ers, both municipal and rural, are as n
whole an excellent body of public serv-