The wageworker. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1904-????, 1904-12-09


ing the existing laws for this purpose.
That law should be amended nd
strengthened. Wherever the national
government has power there should
be stringent employers liability law.
which should apply to the government
itself where the government is an en-
ployer of labor.
I'm my message to the fifty-seventh
congress, at it's second session, urged
the passage Of an employers liability
law for the District OF Columbia.
now renew that recommendation and
further recommend that the congress
appoint commission to make a COM
prehensive study of employers liability
with the view of extending the provi-
sions of great and constitutional law
tC all employments within the scope of
federal power
The president says that medals of
honor should be provided to cover
cases of conspicuous bravery and self
sacrifice in the saving of life in pr-
vate emDloyments on something the
same order as the government recog-
nizes heroism, on the part of those
persons who endanger their lives in
endeavoring to save lite on the sea-
Referring to union labor in the fed
eral service. the president says: There
is no objection to employees of the
government forming or belonging to
unions; but the government can Meth
er discriminate FOR nor discriminate
against nOn-union men who are in it's
employment or who seek to be en-
ployed unde' it. Moreover it is a very
grave imprc-riety for government om-
ployes to band themselves together for
the purpose of eXtorting improperly
high salaries from the government:
Especially is this true of these within
the classified service. The letter car
riers, both municipal and rural, are as
a whole an excellent body of public
servants. They should be amply paid
But their payment must be obtained by
arguing their claims fairly and honor
ably before tn, congress, and not by
banding together for the defeat of
those congressman who refuse to give
promises which they can not in con-
science give. The administration has
already taken steps to prevent and
punish abuses of this nature: but il
will be wise for the congress to supple
ment this action by legislation.
Much can be done By the govern
n1ent in labor matters merely by Civ
ing publicity to certain conditions. The
bureau CT labor has done excellent
work OF this kind in many different di-
rections. | shall shortly lay before yo;,
in special message the full report of
the investigation of the bureau of Iaboi.
into the Colorado mining strike in
which certain evil forces which are
more or less at work everywhere under
the conditions of modern induStrialism
became startlingly prominent. 1t is
greatly to be wished that the depart
ment of commerce and labor, through
the labor bureau, should compile an1
arrange for the congress list OF the
labor laws of the various states. AMI
should be given the means to investi
gate and report to the congress upon
the labor conditions in the manufa :
turing and mining regions throughout
the country, both as to wages, as to
hours of labor. as to the labor of wom-
en- and children. and as to the effect in
the various labor centers of immigra
ton from abroad.
Referring to child labor, the presi-
dent says: I'm this investigation es
pecial attention should be paid to the
conditions oe child labor and child
labor legislation in the several states
Sucn all lnEoSllSdllOu lluSl necessarily
take into account many Of the prob
lens with which this question of child
labor IS connected These problems
can be actually met. in most cases, only
by the state themselves; but the lack
of proper Legislation in one state in
such a matter as child labor often rem
ders it excessively difficult to establish
protective restriction upon the work IN
another state having tha same indus
tries. SO that the worst tends to drag
down the better For this reason. it
would be well for the nation at lcast
to endeavor to secure comprehensive
information as to the conditions of Ia
Dor of children in the different states.
s"ch investigation and publication by
the national government would tend
toward the securing of approximately
uniform legislation of the proper char
acter among the several states.'