Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-12-06

true. 1t is II complicated and delicate
problem. and all kinds of difficulties are
sure to arise in connection with any
plan of solution, while no plan VIII
bring all the benefits hoped for by its
more optimistic adhercntS. Moreover,
under any healthy plan, the benefits
will develop gradually and not rapid
ly. Finally, we must clearly under
stand that the public servants who are
tn 90 this peculiarly responsible and
delicate work must themselves be of
the highest type both as regards in
tegrity and efficiency. They must be
we'll paid, for otherwise able men can
not in the long run be secured; and
they must possess lofty probity
which will revolt as quickly at the
thought of panderng to any gust of
popular prejudice against rich men as
at the thought of anything even re-
motley resembling subserviency to rich
men. But while l fully admit the
difficulties in the way. do not for IA
momcnt4 admit that these difficulties
warrantVus in stopping in our effort to
secure u wise and just system. They
should have no other effect than to
spur us on to the exercise of the reso-
fertility of resource. which we like to
| think of as typically American, and
which will in the end achieve good re-
suits in this as in other fields OF activ-
ity. The task is great one and I'M
derlies the task of dealing with the
| whole Industrial problem. But the
| fact that it is a great problem does not
warrant us in shrinking from the at
| tempt to solve it. At present we face
| such utter lack of supervision. such
| freedom from the restraints of law,
| that excellent men have often been
| literally forced into doing what they
| deplored because otherwise they We're
left at the mercy of INSCRIPTIONS COM
| pctitors To rail at and assail the men
| who have done as they best could un-
der such conditions accomplishes little.
| What we need to do is to develop an
orderly system: and such a system can
| only come through the gradually in
| creased exercise of the right of efficient
government control.
| SAFETY APPLIANCES.
| In my annual message to the Fifty
| eighth Congress, at its third session,
| called attention to the necessity for
| legislation requiring the use of block
| signals upon railroads engaged in ill.,
| terstate commerce. The number OF
serious collisions upon unblocked roads
that have occurred within the past yeaI
| adds force to the recommendation then
| made. The Congress should provide
| by appropriate legislation. for the in
| PRODUCTION of block signals upon all
| railroads engaged in interstate COM
| merce at the earliest practicable date
! as a measure of increased safety to the
travelling public.
Through decisions of the Supreme
court of the United States and the low
| err Federal courts in cases brought be-
fore them for adjudication the safety
appliance law has been materially
| strengthened, and the government has
been enabled to secure its effective ell
| forcement in almost all cases. with the
| result that the condition of railroad
equipment throughout the country is
| much improved and railroad employees
| perform their duties under safer con-
| ditions than heretofore. The govern
ment's most effective aid in arriving at
this result mas been its inspection SER
vice. and that these improved coudi-
l
! insufficient number of inspectors en-
ployed. The inspection service has
| fully demonstrated its usefulness, and
in apprOpriating for its maintenance
the Congress should make provision for
all Increase in the number of inspec-
tors.
HOURS OF LABOR OF RAILROAD
EMPLOYEES.
| The excessive hours OF labor to
which railroad employees i'll train SER
| vice are in many cases subjected is also
Il matter which may we'll engage the
| serious attention of 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 i'll any
other industry, and if there are any
reasons for limiting by law the hours
| of labor in any employment. they cor
| tanly apply with peculiar force to the
| employment of those upon whose
vigilance and alertness in the perform
ance 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 it's second session,
l recommended the passage of an en-
ployers' liability law for the District
| of Columbia and in our navy-yards. l
| renewed that Recommendation in my
message to the Fifty-eighth Congress,
| at its second session, and further sug-
gested the appointment of Il commits
| sion to make a comprehensive study of
employers liability. with a view to the
| enactment of 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
| speedily as possible.
LABOR.
| The national government has as a
| rule but little occasion to deal with the
formidable group of problems connect
| ed more or less directly with what is
| known the labor question, for in the
| great majority of cases these problems