Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1905-12-12

The best possible regulation OF rates
would, of course, be that regulation Sc
cured by an honest agreement among
the railroads themselves to carry out the
law. Such a general agreement would,
for instance, at once put a stop to the
efforts of any one big shipper or big rail-
road to discriminate against or secure
advantages over some rival; and such
agreement would make the railroads
themselves agents for enforcing the law.
The power vested in the government to
put a stop to agreements to the detri-
ment of the public should, in my judg-
ment, be accompanied by power to per-
nit, under specified conditions and care
full supervision, agreements clearly in the
interest of the public. All private-car
lines, industrial roads, refrigerator
charges, and the like should be expressly
put under the supervision of the inter-
state commerce commission or some SIM
liar body so far as rates, and agreements
practically affecting rates, are concerned.
The private-car owners and the owners
of industrial railroads are entitled to a
fair and reasonable compensation on
their investment, but neither private cars
nor industrial railroads nor spur tracks
should be utilized as devices for securing
preferential rates. A rebate in icing
charges, or in mileage, or in a division
of the rate for refrigerating charges is
just as pernieious as 4 rebate in any
other way.
There should be publicity of the ac-
counts of common carriers; no common
carrier engaged in interstate business
should keep any books or memoranda
other than those reported pursuant to
law or regulation. and these books or
memoranda should be open to the inspec-
tioD of ha OovarnO1aOt Only in thiS
way can violations or evasions of the
law be surely detected A system of eX-
animation of railroad accounts should
be provided similar to that now conduct
ed into the national bands by the bank
examiners; a few first-class railroad ac-
countants, if they had proper direction
and proper authority to inspect books
and papers, could accomplish much in
preventing willful violations of the law.
| urge upon the Congress the need of
providing for expeditions action by the
interstate commerce commission in all
these matters.
The question of transportation lies at
the root of all industrial success. and the
revolution in transportation which has
taken place during the last half century
has been the most important factor in
the growth of the new industrial condi-
TONS Most emphatically we do not
wish to see the man of great talents
refused the reward for his talents. Still
less do we wish to see him penalized
but we do desire to see the system of
railroad transportation so handled that
the strong man shall be given no advan-
tage over the weak man. We wish to
insure as fair treatment for the small
town as for the big city; for the small
shipper as for the big shipper. What
i =, Il ,1N,N al
system: and such a system can only
come through the gradually increased ex-
ercise of the right of efficient govern
ment control.
The Congress should provide, by APP
propriate legislation, for the Introduction
of block signals upon all railroads en-
gagged in interstate commerce at the
earliest practicable date, as Il measure of
increased safety to the travelling public.
The excessive hours of labor to which
railroad employees in train service are
in many cases subjected is also a matter
which may well engage the serious at
tention of the Congress.
Labor and Capital.
The national government has as a rule
but little occasion to deal with the formid-
able group of problems connected more or
less directly with what is known as the
labor question, Tor IN the great majority of
cases these problems must be dealt with
by the state and municipal authorities and
not by the national government. The ma
tional government has control of the Dis
trict of Columbia, however, and it should
see to it that the city of Washington is
made q model city in all respects.
There has been demand for depriving
courts of the power to issue injunctiOns in
labor disputes. Such special limitation of
the equity powers OF our courts would be
most unwiSe. 1t is t. de that some judges
have msused this power; but this does not
justify denial Of the power any more than
an improper exercise of the power to call
a strike by a labor leader would justify
the denial of the right to strike. The rem
edy is to regulate the procedure by requir-
ing the judge to give due notice to the adj
verse parties before granting the writ, the
hearing to be OK parte if the adverse party
does not appear at the time and place or
dered.
l renew the recommendation l made in
my last annual message for an investiga-
zion by the department of commerce and
labor of general labor conditions, especial
attention to be paid to the conditions of
child labor and child labor legislation in
the several States. Such an investigation
should take into account the various prob
lens with which the question of child labor
is connected.
In such a republic as ours the one thing
thar we cannot afford to neglect is the
problem of turning out decent citizens. The
future of the nation depends upon the citi-
zenship OF the generations to come; the
children of to-day are those who tomorrow
will shape the destiny Of our land, and we
cannot afford to neglect them.
The department of commerce and labor
should also make a thorough investigation
of the conditions of women in industry.
Over 100000 American women are now
engaged in gainful occupations; yet there
Is an almost complete dearth of data upon
which TO base any trustworthy conclusions
az regards subject as important as 1t Is
vast and complicated, There Is need OF full
knowledge on which to base aciion looklnS
toward State and municipal legislation for
the protection Of working women The in
PRODUCTION of NOmen into industry is work
ing change and disturbance in the domestic
and social life of the nation. The decrease
in marriage, and especially in the birth
rate, has been coincident with it. We must
face accomplished facts and the adjust
ment to factory conditions must be made,
but surely it can be made with less frlc-
ton and less harmful effects on family life
than is now the case.
In any great lambOr disturbance not only
are employer and employe interested, but
also third party-the general public Ev-
cry considerable labor difficulty in which
Interstate commerce is involved should be
investigated by the government and the
facts officially reported to the public.
The question of securing a healthy, self
respecting and mutually sympathetic atti-
tude as between employer and employe,
capitalist and wage worker, is a difficult
one But the underlying principles, the
root principles, in accordance with which
the problem must be solved are entirely
simple. We can get justice and right
dealing only If we put as of paramount
importance the principle Of treating Il man
on his worth as a man rather than with
reference to his social position. his occu-
patton, or the class to which he belongs.
There are selfish and brutal men in all
ranks of life. If they are capitalists their
selhShneSS and brutality may take the
form of hard Indifference to suffering,
greedy disregard of every moral restraint
which interferes with the accumulation of
wealth, and cold-blooded exploitation of
the weak; or, if they are labOrers the form
or lazlnesS of sullen envy OF the more
fortunate, and of willingness to perform
deeds of murderous violence. Such CON
duct is just as reprehensible in one case
as In the other, and all honest and fat-
seeing men should join in warning against
1t wherever it becomes manifest. Individ-
ual capitalist an. individual wage worker,
corporation and union, are alike entitled
to the protection of the law and must
alike obey the law. Moreover in addition
to mere obs Ience to the law. each man.
If he be really a good citizen, must show
broad sympathy for his neighbor and GEM
inc desire TO look at any question arising
between them from the standpoint OF that
netghbor no less than from his own: and
TO this end ii is essential that capitalist
and wage worker should consult freely one