The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-12-08

way Of commerce. whether hy water or
BY q road On land. WAS open to all. IL
belonged TO the public and re traffic
along It was free. At present the rail-
2 II this highway. Ind we must do
our best TO see that It Is kent open to
all on equal terms. Unlike the old
highway il Is 8 very difficult and COM
nlex thing to manage. and 1t Is far bet
ter that IL should be managed Nv pri-
vate individuals than hv the Govern
snent. But il can only be so managed
on condition nat justice Is done the
| public. II Is because. In NV Judgment.
public ownership OF railroads is highly
undesirable and would probably in this
country entail f~ar-reaching disaster.
that / wish to see such supervision and
| regulation OF them In the interest OF
the public rs will make it evident that
there Is no need for public ownership.
The opponents Of Government regula-
ton dwell uuon the difficulties I be
encountered and the intricate and in
volved nature Of the problem. Their
| contention is true. tt Is n complicat-
ed and delicate problem. and all kinds
of difficulties are sure to arise in con-
nection with any plan of solution.
while no plan will bring all the benefits
hoped for by its more optimistic adher-
ents. Moreover. under n healthy
plan. the benefits will develop gradu-
e~fAS GIN E&oA W AA&S~A
| clearly understand that the public SER
wants who are to do this peculiarly re-
snonsihle and delicate work must
themselves be Of the highest tvpe both
as regards integrity and efficiency.
They must be we'll paid. for otherwise
able men can not in the long run be
secured: n they must nossess Il lofty
probitv which will revolt as o1icklv at
the thought IF wandering to any gust
of popular prejudice against rich men
as at the oug of ANYTHING even re-
motelv resembling subservinencv To
rich m"n. But while / fully admit
the difficulties In the way. I do not
for a moment admit that these Difficult
ties warrant us in stopping In our effort
to secure a wise n Just system They
should have no other effect than to
| spu us on to the exercise of the reso-
luton. the e~Nen-handed justice. and
the fertility of resource. which we like
to think of as tyDically American. and
| which will in the end achieve rood re-
| suits IN this as in other fields of activi-
/ ty. n task is a great n and un-
derlies the task Of dealing with the
whole industrial problem. But the
fact that it is a great problem does not
warrant us in shrinking from the at
| tempt to solve it. At present We face
utter lack of supervision. such freedom
from the restraints of law. that excel
lent men have often been literally fore
ed into doing what thew deplored be-
cause otherwise they We're left at the
mercy of unscrunulous competitors.
To rail at and assail the men who have
done as they best could under such
conditions accomp1ishes little. What
we need to do is to develop an orderly
system: and such a system can only
come through the gradually increased
exercise of the right of efficient Gov
nme control.
Safety Appliances.
In my annual Message to the Tirty-
| eighth Congress, at it's third sess on. ]
called attention to the neceSSitv for
legislation recurring the use of block
signals upon railroads engaged in in
t~erstate commerce. The number of Sc
rious collisions u unblocked roads
that have occurred within the past
year adds force to the recommends
ton then made. The Congress should
provide, by appropriate legislation. for
the introduction of block signals. upon
all railroads engaged in interstate
at the earliest practicable
date, as a measure of increased safety
to the travelling public.
Through decisions of the Supreme
court of the United States and the low
err Federal courts in cases brought be-
AOAN y - IN E1ASIH
appliance law has been materially
strengthened. and the Government has
been enable to secure its effective en-
fOrcement in almost all cases, with the
result that the condition Of railroad
equipment throughout the country is
much improved and railroad employees
perform their duties under safer con-
ditionS than heretofore. The Govern
ment'S most effective aid in arriving
/ at this rpC1Itf has hpan ifS inGnaafinn
| service. and that improved conditions
are not more general is due TO the in
sufficient number of inspectors en-
ployed. The inspection service has full
" demonstrated its usefulness. and in
~apDrOpriating for its maintenance the
Congress should make provision for an
increase in the number of inspectors.
Hours Of Labor of Railroad Employees.
The excessive hours of labor to
| which railroad employees in train ser
vice are in manv cases subjected is
also a matter which NAV we'll engage
the serious attention of the Congress.
h strain. both mental and physical,
| upon those who are engaged in the
movement and operation Of railroad
trains under mo fern conditions is per-
haps greater than that which exists in
n other industry. and if there are
any reasons for limiting by law the
hours of labor in any employment. thev
certainly apply with peculiar force TO
the employment Of those upon whose
vigilance and alertness in the perform
ance Of their duties the safety Of all
who travel by rail depends.
Employers Liability Law.
In my annual Message to the Fifty
seventh Congress-. at it's second session.
| recommended the passage of an En-
DiOyers' Liability Law for the District
of Columbia and in our n~avy-yards. 7
eneve that recommendation in my
Message to the Fifty-ighth Congress.
at its second session. and further sug-
gested the appointment Of n commits
sion to make a comprehensive study
Of EMPLOYERS liability. with n view to
the enactment of a wise and constitu-
tioEal law covering the subject. aDpli-
cable to all industries within the scope
Of the Federal power. I hope that
such a law will be prepared and enact
ed as speedily as possible.
Labor.