Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1905-12-06


venting wfllful violations Of the law 1t
would not be necessary for them to ex-
anime into the accounts of any railroad
unless for good reasons they we've direct
ed to do so by the interstate commerce
commission. 1t is greatly TO be desired
that some way might be found by which
an agreement as TO transportation with
in a state intended to operate as fraud
upon the federal interstate commerce
laws could be brought under the juris-
diction of the federal authorities. At
present it occurs that large shipments of
interstate traffic are controlled by con-
cesSions on purely state business, which
OF course amounts to an evasion of the
law. The commission should have power
to enforce fair treatment by the grea;
trunk lines of lateral and branch lines
Immediate Action Urged.
1 urge upon the Congress the need of
providing for expeditions action by the
interstate commerce commission in all
these matters. whether in regulating
rates for transportation or for storing
or for handling property or commodities
in transit. The history of the cases liti-
gated under the present commerce act
shows that its efficacy has been to a great
degree destroyed by the weapon of delay.
almost the most formidable weapon in
the hands of those whose purpose it is
to violate the law.
The president asks for legislation COM
pelling railroads to install block systems on
their lines, and also calls the attention of
congress to the excessive hours of labor
of train service employees of the railroad
companies are often subjected to. He rec
ommends that a commission be appointed
to study Of employers liability with the OBJ
1eet Of the enactment Of law covering the
subject and applicable to all industries
within the scope of the federal power.
The Labor Question.
The labor question is treated of at con-
siderable length and in this connection the
president says:
There has been demand for depriving
courts of the power to issue injunctions
in labor disputes. Such special limita-
ton of the equity powers of our courts
would be most unwise. 1t is true that
some judges have misused this power;
but this does not justify denial of the
power any more than an improper eXer-
else of the power to call 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 hear
ing to be ex parte If the adverse party
does not appear at the time and place
ordered What Is due notice must depend
upon the facts of the case; it should not
be used as a pretext to permit violation
of law, or the jeopardiZing of life or
property Of course this would not au-
thoriZe the issuing of a restraining order
or Injunction in any case in which it is
not already authorized by existing law.
1 renew the recommendation I made
in my last annual message for an in
vestigation by the department of COM
merce and labor of general labor condi-
IN ha mai TO he
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. 1t
is true that these problems can be actu-
ally met in most cases only by the states
themselves, but it would be we'll for the
nation to endeavor to secure and publish
comprehensive information to the con-
ditiens of the labor of children in the diff
ferent states, so as to spur up those that
are behindhand, and to secure approx
imately uniform legislation of a high
character among the several states. In
such a republic as ours the one thing
that we cannot afford 10 neglect is the
problem of turning out decent citizens
The future of the nation depends upor
the citizenship of the genera tons tc
come; the children of to-day are those
who tomorrow will shape the destiny
| lect them. The legislature of Colorado
has recommended that the national gov.
eminent provide some general measure
| for the protection from abuse of children
and dumb animals throughout the United
States. I lay the matter before you fol
what l trust will be your favorable con.
sideration
The department of commerce and labo,
should also make a thorough investiga
| ton of the conditions of women in in
dustry. Over 100000 American womer
| are now engaged in gainful occupa lions
yet there is an almost complete deartl
| of data upon which to base any trust
| worthy conclusions as regards a subiec
| as important as it is vast and compl.
| Gated. There is need of full knowledg,
| on which to base action looking toward
state and municipal legislation for tn:
| protection of working women. The in
| PRODUCTION of women into industry l.
working change and disturbance in tn,
| domestic and social life of the nation
| The decrease in marriage and especial IL,
| in the birth rate, has been coincident Will
| it. We must face accomplished facts
and the adjustment to factory condition:
| must be made: but surely it can be mad,
with less friction and less harmful effect
| on family life than is now the case
This whole matter in reality forms on,
| of the greatest sociological phenomen:
| OF our time; it is a social question O
the first Importance, of far greater i'm
portance than any merely political O.
| economic question can be; and to solv,
1t we need ample data, gathered in
sane and scientific spirit in the cours,
of an exhaustive investigation.
In concluding with the subject of labor
the president says:
| In any great labor disturbance not onl.
| are employer and employee interested, Blu
also a third party-the general public
| Every considerable labor difficulty il
| which interstate commerce is involved
| should be investigated by the govern
| ment and the facts officially reported I,
| the public.
Equal Rights for All.
| The question of securing a healthy
| self-respecting and mutually sympathetic
| attitude as between employer and EN-
ploye, capitalist and wage worker, is
difficult one. All phases of the labo
problem prove difficult when approached
But the underlying principles, the roo
principles. in accordance with which tn,
problem must be solved are entirely sim
IylTn