Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-12-06

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visions Of a 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 a 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 hu-
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
ers and employees, yet the list Of clear
" avoidable accidents continues un-
duly large. The passage Of a law re-
curing the adoption Of a block signal
system has been proposed to the con-
gress. I earnestly concur in that rec
ommendation and would also point out
to the congress the urgent need Of leg
fslation in the interest Of the public
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 acci-
dents caused by human weakness or
misconduct, and there should be dras-
tic punishment for any railroad en-
ployee, whether officer or man, who by
issuance Of wrong orders or by disobe-
dience Of orders causes disaster. The
law Of 1901 requiring interstate rail-
roads to make monthly reports of all
accidents to passengers and employees
on duty should also be amended SO as
to empower the government to make q
personal Investigation through proper
officers OF all accidents involving loss Of
life which seem to require Investigation.
with a requirement that the results Of
such Investigation be made public.
The safety appliance law. as amend
ed by the act of March 2. 1908, has
proved beneficial to railway employees,
and in order that its provisions may be
properly carried out the force of in
spectors provided for by appropriation
should be largely increased. This serv-
ice is analogous to the steamboat In
spection service and 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-
ther discriminate for nor discriminate
against nonunion men who are in its
or who seek to be en-
ployed under it Moreover, 1t is a very
grave improperly for government en-
ployees to band themselves together
for the purpose of extorting improperly
high salaries from the government.
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-
ants. They should be amply paid. But
their payment must be obtained by
arguing their claims fairly and honor
ably before the congress and not by
banding together for the defeat Of
those congressman who refuse to give
promises which they cannot in con-
science give. The administration has
already taken steps to- prevent and
punish abuses Of this nature, but It
will be wise for the congress to sup
plement this action by legislation.
Bureau Of Labor.
Much can be done by the government
In labor matters merely by giving pub
licity to certain conditions. The bu-
reau of labor has done excellent work
Of this kind in many different direc-
tons. 1 shall shortly 10y before you In
a special message the full report Of the
Of the bureau Of labor
into the Colorado mining strike, as this
II a strike in which certain very evil
forces which are more or less at work
everywhere under the conditions OF
modern industrialism became startling
~ prominent 1t Is greatly to be wished
that the department of commerce and
labor. through the labor bureau. should
compile and arrange for the congress a
list Of the labor laws Of the various
states and should he given the means
to investigate and report to the con-
gress upon the labor conditions In the
manufacturing and mining regions
throughout the country both as TO
wages. as to hours OF labor, as to the
labor Of women and children and as to
the effect In the various labor centers