Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-12-06


fixed or originated by the roads upon
complaint and after investigation. A
heavy penalty should be eXacted from
any corporation which fails to respect
an order of the commission. l regard
this power to establish maximum
rate us being essential to any scheme
of real reform in the matter of railway
regulation.
1t is worth while considering whether
it would not lie wise to confer on the
government the right of civil action
against the beneficiary Of a rebate for
at least twice the value of the rebate.
This would help stop what is really
blackmail. Elevator allowances should
be stopped, for they have now grown
to such an extent that they are demon
alizing and are used as rebates.
Private Car Lines.
All private car lines. Industrial roads,
refrigerator charges and the like
should be expressly put under the su.
pervisiOn of the interstate commerce
commission or some similar body so
far as rates and agreements practical
ly affecting rates are concerned. A re-
bate in icing charges or in mileage or In
division of the rate for refrigerating
charges is just as pernicious as re-
bate In any other way
There should be publicity of the ,c-
counts of common carriers. Only in
the law be surely detected. A system
of examination OF railroad accounts
should be provided similar to that now
conducted into the national banks by
| the bank examiners. A few first class
| railroad accountants. if they had prop
err direction and proper authority to in-
spect books and papers, could accom-
plish much in preventing willful viola
tons of the law
| Employers 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. l re-
newed that recommendation in my
message to the Fifty-eighth congress at
it's second session and further suggest
ed the appointment of a commission to
make n comprehensive study of en-
ployers' liability with view to the en-
actment of wise and constitutional
law covering the subject, applicable to
oil industries within the scope Of the
federal power, hope that such law
will he 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
some judges have misused this power,
but this does not justify denial of the
power any more than an improper ex-
ercise of the power to call strike by a
labor leader would justify the denial of
the right to strike The remedy is to
lregulate the procedure by requiring the
Judge to give due notice to the adverse
parties before granting the writ. the
hearing to be eX parte IL the adverse
party does not appear at 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 q
restraining order or injunction in an!
case in which it is not already author
lied by existing law.
renew the recommendation l made
in my last annual message for an in
1,,, @Jo 80
merce and labor Of general labor condi
tons, especial attention to be paid Il
the conditions of child labor and child
labor legislation in the several states
Such an investigation should take init
account the various problems witt
which the question Of child labor I.
connected. In such Il republic as our.
the one thing that we cannot afford t.
neglect is the problem of turning on
decent citizens. The future Of the ma
ton depends upon the citizenship O
the generations to come The children
Of today are those who tomorrow will
shape the destiny of our land, and w,
cannot afford to neglect them. The leg
fslature of Colorado has recommended
that the national government provide
some general measure for the protec
ton from abuse of children and duml
animals throughout the United States
lay the matter before you for what
trust will be your favorable consider
alton.
As to Women Who Work.
The department of commerce and la
/ hDr chnlJlI nIc nj-n
tigation of the conditions of women ii
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 ;
subject as important as it is vast ant
complicated. The introduction of wo
men into industry is working chang,
and disturbance in the domestic ant
social life of the nation. The decreas,
in marriage, and especially in the brit
rate, has been coincident with it. w,
must face accomplished facts, and til,
adjustment to factory conditions mus
be made but surely it can be mad,
with less friction and less harmful eff
fects on family life than is now til,
case. This whole matter in realit,
forms one of the greatest sociological
phenomena of our time. 1t is socia
question Of the first Importance, of ia
greater Importance than any merely pc
litical or economic question can be-
In any great labor disturbance no
only are employer and employee inter
ested, but also Il third party-the gen
cral public. Every considerable labo
difficulty in which interstate commerce
is involved should be Investigated b,
: the government and the facts ofiiciall!
reported to the public.
Insurance.
The great insurance companies affort
striking examples of corporation
whose business has extended SO fa
,, beyond the jurisdiction of the state
. Which created them as to preclud,
strict enforcement Of slnnryision onf