The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1905-12-08
EMPLOYERS LIABILITY LAW.

HIElllN tiNElfNN Nl llN 0ffnllt N'NNiph
recommended the passage of an en-
ploycrs liability law for the District Of
Columbia and in our navy yards. | re-
newed that recommendation in my
message TO the Fifty-cighth congress at
it's second session and further suggest
cd the appointment Of a commission to
make a comprehensive study Of en-
ployers liability with a view to the en-
actment Of a wise and constitutional
law covering the subject. applicable TO
an industries within the scope Of the
federal power / hope that such law
will be prepared and enacted as speed
by as possible.
There has been demand for deprivlng
courts Of the power 90 issue iniunctlOns
i'm labor disputes. Such special limita-
tion Of the equity powers Of our courts
would be most unwise. II is true that
some Judges have misused this power,
but this does not Justify a 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
regulate the procedure by requiring the
Judge 90 give due notice TO the adverse
parties before granting the writ, the
hearing 20 be eX parte if the adverse
party does not appear at the time and
place ordered. What Is due notice must
depend upon the facts Of the case. II
should not be used as a preteXt TO per
nit violation Of law or the jeopardiz-
ing Of life or property. OF course this
would not authorize the issuing Of n
restraining order or injunction in any
case I'm which it is not already author
lied 10y existing law.
renew the recommendation l made
i'm my last annual message for an in
vcstigation by the department Of com
mcrce and labor Of general labor condi-
tions, 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 10
neglect is the problem Of turning ont
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-
ton from abuse of children and dumb
animals throughout the United States.
I lav the matter before you for what
trust will be your favorable consider
alton.
AS TO WOMEN WHO WORK
The department Of commerce and Ia
Dor should also make thorough lnves-
tigation Of the conditions Of women in
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 It 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
i'm 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 ef-
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 social
question Of the first Importance, Of far
greater Importance than any merely po-
ltical 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 fan
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
tions I'm insurance" Recent events
have emphasized the Importance Of an
early and exhaustive consideration OF
this question. TO see whether it is moi
possible TO furnish better safeguards
than the several states have been able
TO furnish against corruption Of the
fragrant kind which has been exposed.
II has been only too clearly showr
that certain Of the men at the head oi
these large corporations take but smal
note of the ethical distinction betweer
honesty and dishonesty. They draw
the line only this side Of what may b'
called law honesty, the kind Of honesty
necessary I'm order to avoid falling Int
the clutches Of the law. OF course thu
only complete remedy for this condi
ton must be found In an aroused pub
lie conscience, a higher sense Of ethica
conduct in the community at large anC
especially among business men and II
the great profession Of the law, and II
the growth Of a spirit which condemns
all dishonesty, whether in rich man ol
i'm poor man, whether It takes the shape
Of bribery or of blackmail. But mucl
can be done by legislation which Is mo-
only drastic, but practical. There Il
need Of a far stricter and more uni
form regulation Of the vast insurance