Weekly Arizona journal-miner., 1905-12-13

standard Of honor, that puts an nor dinate value on mere wealth, that makes a man ruthless and conscience less in trade and weak and eowardly in citizenship, is not a good thing at all, but a very bad thing for a nation. This government stands for manhood first and for business only as an ad- junet of manhood,
 The question of transportation lies at the root of all industrial success, and the revolution in transportation which mas taken place during the last half century has been the most important factor in the growth of the new in dustrial conditions. Most emphatieal- ly we do not wish to see the man ot 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 transporta' tion so handled that the strong man shall be given no advantage 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. In the old days the highway of commerce, whether by water or by road on land, was open to all it belonged to the public and the traffic along it was free. At pres ent the railway is this highway, and we must do our best to see that it is kept open to all on equal terms. The task is a great one and underlies the task of dealing with the whole indus trial problem. But the fact that 1t is a great problem does not warrant us in shrinking from the attempt to solve it. At present we face such utter lack of supervision, such free dom from the restraints of law, that excellent men have often been literally forced into doing what they deplore because otherwise they were left at the mercy of interruptions competitors. To rail at and assail the men who have done as they best could under such conditions aeeomplishes little. What we need to do is to develop an orderly system; and such a system can only exercise of the right of efficient gov ernment control.
 Safety Appliances.
 In my annual message of the fifty eighth congress, at it's third session, l called attention to the necessity for legislation requiring the use of block signals upon railroads engaged in in- terstate commerce. The number Of serious collisions upon unlocked roads that have occurred within the past year adds force to the recommendation then made. The congress should pro vide, by appropriate legislation, for the introduction of block signals upon all railroads engaged in interstate commerce at the earliest practicable date, as a measure of increased safety to the travelling public.
 Hours of Labor of Railroad Employees.
 The excessive hours of labor to which railroad employees in train ser vice are in many cases subjected IS also a matter which may well engage the serious attention of the congress. The strain, both mental and physical, upon those who are engaged in the move ment and operation of railroad trains under modern conditions is perhaps greater than that which exists in any other industry, and if there are any reasons for limiting by law the hours of labor in any employment, they eer- tainly apply with peculiar force to the employment of those upon whose vlgl- lance and alertness in the performance 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 its second session, I recommended the passage of an em- ployers' liability law for the District of Columbia and in our navy yards. I renewed that recommendation in my message to the ffty-eighth congress, at it's second session, and further sug- gested the appointment of eommis- sion to make a comprehensive study ot employers liability, with view to the enactment of a wise and constitutional law covering the subject, applicable to all industries within the scope of the Federal power. I hope that such a law will be prepared and enacted as speedily as possible.
 Labor.
 The national government has as rule but little occasion to deal with the formidable group of problems con, nected more or less directly with what is known as the labor question, for IT the great majority of cases these problems must be dealt with by tho state and municipal authorities anC not by the national government.
 There has been demand for deprlv ing courts of the power to issue in functions in labor disputes. Suei special limitation of the equity powers of our courts would be most unwise It is true that some judges have mis used this power; but this does no justify a denial of the power any more than an improper exercise of the powe to call a strike by a labor leade would justify the denial of the righ to strike. The remedy is to regulate the procedure by requiring the judg to give due notice to the advers parties before granting the writ, tn hearing to be ex parte if the advers party does not appear at the time ant place ordered. What is due notie must depend upon the facts of tn case; it should not be used as a pre- text to permit violation of law, O