The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1904-12-08
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
Mr.. Roosevelt Transmits the Customary
Recommendations to ConSress

lence upon those, whether capitalists
c: wage-workers. who refuse to support
their organizations, or who side with
those with whom they are at odds; Tor
mob rule is intolerable in any form.
EMPLOYERS LIABILITY. LAW.
The >wage-workers are peculiarly en-
titled TO the protection and the encour-
asement of the law. From the very ma
ture OF their occupation railroad men,
Tor instance, are liable to be manned In
Going the legitimate work of their pro-
fession, unless the railroad companies
are required by law to make ample
provision for their safety, The Admin
iStration has been jealous In enforcing
the existing law for this purpose. That
law should be amended and strength
cned. Wherever the National Govern
ment 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.
PREVENTION OF RAILROAD Acc.:
DENTS.
The ever-increasing casualty list
upon 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 ser
vice as those of any other nation, and
there is no reason why this service
should not also be as safe as human in
genuity can make it. Many OF our lead
ing roads have been foremost in the
adoption Of the most approved safe-
guards for the protection OF travellers
and employees. yet the list OF clearly
avoidable accidents continues unduly
large. The passage of a law requiring
the adoption of a blocksignal system
has been proposed to the. Congress.
earnestly concur in that recommenda"
ton, and would also point out to the
Congress the urgent need Of Legislation
in the interest Of the public safety Inn
iting the hours Of labor for railroad
employees in train service upon rail-
roads engaged in interstate commerce,
and providing that only trained and
experienced persons be employed in po-
s:tions of responsibility connected with
the operation of trains. Of course moth
ing can. ever prevent accidents caused
by human weakness or misconduct;
and there should be drastic punish
ment for any raliroaod employee,
whether officer or man. who by ;ssu-
ance OF wrong orders or by dlsoDeoi-
ence of orders causes disaster. The
law of 1901, requiring interstate rail-
roads to make monthly reports OF all
accidents to passengers and employees
cp duty, should also be amended so as
TO empower the Government to make
tcrsonal investigation. through proper
officers. of all accidents involving loss
OF life which seem to require investlga-
ton. with a requirement that the re-
suit of such Investigation be mace
public. "a.
PLOYEES.
There is no objection to employees
of the Government forming or belong
ing to unions; but the Government can
neither discriminate for nor dlscrlml-
nate against nouunion men who are In
its employment, or who seek to be en-
ployed under It. Moreover, it is very
grave impropriety for Government EN-
,:loyees to band themselves together tor
the purpose of extorting empropery
high salaries from the Government. Es-
pecially is this true Of those within the
classified service. The letter carriers,
both municipal and rural. are as
whole an excellent body Of public ser
wants. They should be amply paid. But
their payment must be obtained by
arguing their claims fairly and hon
trably before the Congress. and not oy
handing together for the defeat OF
those Congressmen who refuse to give
nromises which they can not in con-
science give. The Administration mas
already taken steps to prevent and
runish abuses of this nature: but 1t
will he wise for the Congress to sup
element this action by legislation.
BUREAU OF. LABOR.
Much can be done by the Government
in labor matters merely by giying pub
licity to certain conditions. The Bureau
of Labor has done excellent work OF
this kind In many different directions.
shall shortly lay before you IN spe-
cial message the full report OF the IN
vestigation of the Bureau Of Labor into
the COlOTduO mlulhS oIA'hS'
is a a strike in which certain very evil
forces. which are more or less at Work
under the conditions OF
modern industrialism. became start
l:ngly prominent. 1t is greatly to be
wished that the Department of Com
r,erce and Labor, through the Labor
bureau. should compile and arrange Tor
The Congress list of the labor laws OF
the various States. and should be given
the means to investigate and report TO
the Congress upon the labor conditions
IN the manufacturing and mining re-
g:ons 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 of immigration from abroad. IN
this investigation especial attention
should be paid to the conditions OF
child labor and child-labor legislation
in the several States.
CORPORATIONS
When we come to deal with great
CORPORATIONS the need for the Govern
ment to act directly is far greater than
ir the case of labor, because great cor
,orations can become such only by en-