Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1905-12-14

There should be publicity Of the ac-
counts OF common carriers. Only In
this way can violations or evasions of
the law be surely detected. A system
of examination of railroad accounts
should be provided similar to that now
conducted into the national banks by
the bank examiners. A few first class
railroad accountants. II they had prop
er direction and proper authority to In
spect books and papers, could accom-
plish much in preventing willful viola
tions of the law.
Employers' Liability Law.
In my annual message to the Fifty
eighth congress at it's second session |
recommended the passage OF an en-
ployers' liability law for the District of
Columbia and In our navy yards. | re
newed that recommendation in my
message to the Fifty eighth congress at
it's second session and further suggest
ed the appointment Of IA commission to
make a comprehensive study of EN-
ployers' liability with a view to the en-
actment of a wise and constitutional
law covering the subject, applicable TO
all industries within the scope of the
federal power l hope that such a law
will be prepared and enacted as speed
lily as possible.
There has been demand for depriving
courts of the power to issue iniunctions
in labor disputes. Such special limita-
ton Of the equity powers of u courts
would be most unwise. 1t is true that
some judges have misused this power.
but this does not justify a denial Of the
power any more than an improper ex-
ercise of the power to call a strike by a
labor leader would justify the denial of
the right to strike. The remedy Is to
regulate the procedure by requiring the
judge to give due notice to the adverse
parties before granting the writ, the
hearing to be ex parte IL the adverse
party does not appear at the time and
place ordered. What is due notice must
depend upon the facts of the case. 1t
should not be used as a pretext to per-
NIT violation of law or the ~jeopardiz-
Ing of life or property. OF course this
would not authorize the issuing Of a
restraining order or Injunction in any
case in which it Is not already author
lied by existing law.
/ renew the recommendation / made
In my last annual message for an in
vestigation by the department Of com
merce and labor of general labor condi-
tons, 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 problems with
which the question Of child labor Is
connected. In such a republic as ours
the n thing that we canno afford to
neglect Is the problem Of turning out
decent citizens. The future of the ma
ton depends upon the citizenship of
the generations to come. The children
Of today are those who tomorrow will
shape the destiny Of our land, and we
cannot afford to neglect them. The leg
islature of Colorado has recommended
that the national government provide
some general measure for the protec-
ton from abuse Of children and dumb
animals throughout the United States.
I lay the matter before you for what I
trust will be your favorable consider
alton.
As to Wozaen Who Work.
The department of MINER and la
Dor should also make a thorough inves-
tigation of the conditions of women in
industry. Over 5,000,0 900 American wo-
men are now engaged in gainful occu-
pofinno rnt tInra io on oI,,,o 90 ~,plnk
dearth of data upon which to base any
trustworthy conclusions as regards a
subject as important as 1t Is vast and
complicated. The Introduction of We
men into industry Is working change
and disturbance in the domestic and
social life Of the nation. The decrease
In marriage, and especially in the birth
rate, has been c%oincident with 1t. We
must face accomplished facts, and the
adjustment to factory conditions must
be made. but surely It can be made
with less friction and less harmful ef-
fects on family life than Is now the
case. This whole matter In reality
forms one or the greatest sociological
phenomena Of our time. 1t Is q social
question Of the first Importance. of far
greater Importance than any merely po-
litical or economic question can be.
In any great labor disturbance not
only are employer and employee inter-
ested, but also a third party-the gen.
eral public. Every considerable labor
difficulty in which interstate commerce
Is involved should be investigated by
the government and the facts officially
reported to the public.
Insurance.
The great insurance companies afford
striking examples of corporations
whose business has extended SO far
beyond the Jurisdiction of the states
which created them Is to preclude
strict enforcement of supervision and
regulation by the parent states. In my
last annual message I recommended
that the congress carefully consider
whether the power Of the bureau Of
corporations cannot constitutionally be
extended to cover interstate transac-
lions In insurance" Recent events
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