The news & observer., 1905-12-06

ership of railroads is highly undesfr-
able and would probably in this coun-
try entail far-reaching disaster. that
wish to see such supervision and
regulation of them in the interest of
the public as will make it evident that
there is no need for public ownership.
The opponents of government regula-
ton dwell upon the difficulties to be
encountered and the intricate and in
volved nature of the problem. Their
contention is true. 1t is a complicated
and delicate problem, and all kinds
of difficulties are sure to arise in
connection with any pfan of solution,
while no plan will bring all the bene-
fits hoped for by it's more optimistic
adherents. Moreover, under any
healthy plan, the benefits will develop
gradually and not rapidly. Finally,
We must clearly understand that the
public servants who are to do this Pc
culiarly responsible and delicate work
must themselves be of the highest
type both as regards integrity and
efficiency. They must be well paid
for otherwise able men can not in the
long run be secured; and they must
possess a lofty probity which will re-
volt as quickly at the thought Of pam
dering to any gust OF popular pre-
judice against rich men as at the
sembling subserviency to rich men.
But while / fully admit the difficulties
in the way, | do not for moment ad-
nit that these difficulties warrant US
i'm stopping in our effort to secure q
wise and just system. They should
have no other effect than TO spur US
on to the exercise of the resolution,
the even-handed justice and the fer
tility of resource, which we like to
hi fr1l- of a. col llNy mo
which will in the end achieve good
results in this as in other fields Of ac-
tiyity. The task is q great one and
underlies the task Of dealing with the
whole industrial problem. But the
fact that it is Il great problem does
not warrant us in shrinking from the
attempt to solve it, At present we
face such utter lack of supervision,
such freedom from the restraints Of
law, that excellent men have Otter
been literally forced into doing what
they deplored because otherwise they
We're left at the mercy of unscrupulouS
competitors To rail at and assail the
men who have done as they best could
under such conditions accomplshes
little. What we need to do is to de-
velop an orderly system; and such q
system can only come through tGe
gradually increased exercise of the
Safety Appliances
In my annual message to - Fifty
eighth Congress, at its third session, /
called attention to tne necessity for
legislation requir use or DloCk
signals upon railroads engaged in
Interstate commerce. The nulnDer of
serious collisions upon un1IocKed
roads that have occurred within the
past year adds force 10 the recon-
mendation then nls.de. The Congress
should provide, by appropriate leglsia-
ton for the Introduction of block sig
nails upon all railroads engaged in
Interstate commerce at the earliest
practicable date, as measure OF in
creased safety TO the travelling pub
lie.
Through decisions Of the Supreme
Court of the United States and the
lower Federal courts in cases brought
before them for adjudication the safe
ty-appliance law has been materially
strengthened, and the government has
been enabled TO secure its effective
enforcement in almost all cases, with
the result that the condition of rail-
road equipment throughout the coun-
try is much improved and railroad
employees perform their duties under
safer conditions than heretofore. The
irving at this result has been it's in
epection service, and that these inn
proved conditions are not more gen.
eral is due to the insufficient number
of inspectors employed. The inspection
service has fully demonstrated its use
fulness, and - appropriating for its
maintenance the Congress should
make provision for an increase in
the number of inspectors.
Il nI, .Ng Pol
Employers Liability Law.
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
movement and operation of railroad
trains under modern conditions is per-
haps greater than that which exists
in any other industry, and if there are
any reasons for limiting by law the
hours in any employment they GER
tainly apply with peculiar force to the
employment of those upon whose vigil
lance and alertness in the performance
of their duties the safety of all who
travel by rail depends.
In my annual message to the Fifty
sion, | recommended tie passage Of
an Employers Liability Law for the
District of Columbia and in our navy
yards. | renewed that recommends
tion in my message to the Fifty-elghth
Congress, at its second session, and
further suggested the appointment OF
a commission to make a comprehen-
siye study of employers liability. with
a view to the enactment Of wise and
constitutional law covering the sub
|ject, applicable to all industries with
in the scope of the Federal power. /
hope that such law will be prepared
and enacted as speedily as possible.
Labor
The National Government has as a
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
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
National Government has control of
the District of Columbia, however, and
it should see to it that the City of
Washington is made model city in
all respects. both as regards parks,