Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1905-12-08

Uutc Ill any OtIleT Why.
There should be publicity of the ac-
counts of common carriers. Only in
his way can violations or evasions %
the law be surely detected. \ system
Of examination of railroad accounts
should be provided similar to that now
conducted into the national banks by
the bank examiners. \ few first class
railroad accountants, If they had prop
er direction and proper authority to in
spect books and papers. could accom-
plish much in preventing willful VIOLA
lions of the law.
EmplOycrs' Liability Law.
In my annual message to the Fifty
eighth congress ut its 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
Its second session and further suggest
Ell the appointment OF commission to
make comprehensive study of en-
ployers' liability with 4 view to the ell
actment of wise and constitutional
law covering the subject. applicable to
oil industries within the scope of the
federal power I hope that such n law
will be prepared and enacted as speed
lily as possible
There has been demand for depriving
courts of the power to issue injunctionS
in labor disputes. Such special limita-
tion Of the equity powers Of our courts
would be most unwise. 1t Is true that
Eome judges have misused this power,
cut this does not Justify denial of the
power any more than an Improper ex-
ercise Of the power to call n 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 OK parte IL the adverse
party does not appear ut the time and
place ordered. What Is due notice must
depend upon the facts of the case. 1t
should not be used as 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 1t Is not already author
lied by existing law.
l renew the Recommendation l made
In my last annual message for an in
vestlgatiOn 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 one thing that we cannot 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-
tiOn from abuse Of children and dumb
animals throughout the United States.
lay the matter before you for what I
trust will be your favorable consider
alton.
A to Women Who Work.
The department Of commerce and Ia
Dor should also make thorough inves-
fiOOtiOD NJ tho conditions ~ xro,nn,, a.,
industry. Over 100000 American wo-
men are now engaged In gainful occu-
patiOns, yet there Is an almost complete
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 wo-
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 cOincident 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 eff
fects on family life than is now the
case. This whole matter in reality
forms one Of 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 as 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-
tons In insurance." Recent events
have emphasized the importance Of an
early and exhaustive consideration of
this question. to see whether 1t is not
possible to furnish better safeguards
than the several states have been able
to furnish against corruption of the
fragrant kind which has been exposed.
1t has been only too clearly shown
that certain of the men ut the head of
these large corporations take but small
note Of the ethical distinction between
honesty and dishonesty. They draw
the line only this side of what may be
called law honesty. the kind of honesty
necessary In order to avoid falling into
the clutches Of the law. OF course the
only complete remedy for this condi-
ton must be found In an aroused pub
lie conscience, higher sense Of ethical
conduct in the community at large and
especially among business men and In
the great profession Of the law, and In