The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1906-12-07


young children In factories or at work
anywhere are blot on our civilixa-
ton. 1t is true chat each state must
ultimately settle the question in its
cation Of the matter, with the results
published broadcast, would greatly
help toward arousing the public con-
science and securing unity of state
ever, one law on the subject which
should be enacted Immediately, be-
cause there is no need for an investi-
cation in reference. thereto, and the
failure to enact 1t is discreditable to
the national government. A drastic
and thorogoing child-labor law should
be enacted for the District of Column
bia and the territories
Employer Liability.
Among the excellent laws which the
congress past at the last session was
employers liability law. 1t was =,
ognition of employers liability on the
statute books; but the law did not go
far enough. In spite Of all precau-
lions exercised by employers there are
involved in nearly every line OF bust.
ness connected with the mechanic arts.
This inevitable sacrifice of life may be-
reduced to a minimum, but 1t cannot
be completely eliminated. It is great
social injustice to compel the employee,
or rather the family of the killed or
disabled victim, to bear the entire bur-
den of an inevitable sacrifice. In other
words. society shirks is duty by laying
the whole cost on the victim whereas
the injury comes from what may be
called the legitimate risks of trade.
Compensation for accidents or deaths
due in any line of industry to the actual
conditions under which that industry is
ton OF the community for the benent
or which the industry Is carried on
that is, by those who profit by the In
dustry. II the entire trade risk y
promptly and properly add it to the.
legitimate cost of production and as
sess 1T proportionately upon the con-
sumers Of his commodity. It Is there
should place this entire risk of a,
trade" upon the employer. Neither the
federal law, nor. as far as | am IN
formed, the state laws dealing with
law should of course include en-
ployees in navy-yards, arsenals, and
the like.
Investigation of Disputes.
The commission appointed by the pres-
both the anthracite coal operators and
miners to inquire into, consider, and pass
upon the question in controversy in con-
nection with the strike. in the anthracite
TtSlOHS Ol feHISylVdHld anu Tie CduScS
out of which the controversy arose, in
their report, findings, and award exprest
the belief that the state and federal
governments should provide the ma
pulsory investigation of controversies be-
tween employers and employees when
they arise" This expression of belief
Is deserving of the favorable considera-
of it's provisions into law. A bill has
already been introduced to this end.
Records show that during the 20
years from January |, 1881, to December
500 establishments, and s,1o5,694 employees
were thrown out of employment. Dur
ing the same period there were zoos
lockouts, involving nearly 10000 estab-
oS Of empoymen OYER These spIe pee and
lockouts involved an estimated loss to-
employees of 1907, 100000 and to employers
of $143, 100000, a total of $450,000000. The
probably as great additional loss, But
the money loss, great as 1t was, did not
measure the anguish and suffering en-
dured by the wives and children of en-
%olf sop wh0o og Pa s fa Mhe effect the Of
the strike or lockout upon the business
of employers, or the increase in the cost
of products and the inconvenience and
loss to the public.
would not have occurred had the parties
to the dispute been required to appear
before an unprecedented body representing
the nation and, face to face, state the
reasons for their contention. In most
instances the dispute would doubtless be
found to be due to misunderstanding
by each of the others rights, aggravated
by an unwillingness of either party to ac-
cept as true the statements of the other
as to the justice or injustice of the mat
tiers in dispute. The exercise of a ju-
dicial spirit by a disinterested body
such as would be provided by commits
sion on Cancellation and arbitration
would tend to create an atmosphere Of
friendliness and Cancellation between con-
tending parties; and the giving each side
an equal opportunity to present fully it's
case in the presence of the other would
prevent many disputes from developing
into serious strikes or lockouts, and in
other cases, would enable the commits
sion to persuade the opposing parties to
come to terms.
In this age of great corporate and la
Dor combinations, neither employers nor
the mercy of the stronger party to dis
pute, regardless of the righteousness Of
their respective claims The proposed
measure would be in the line of securing
strikes the public has itself an interest
which cannot wisely be disregarded; an
interest not merely of general conven-
fence, for. the question of a just and
proper pupilC pOllCy must also De con-
sidered. In all legislation of this kind
1t Is well to advance cautiously, testing
each step by the actual results; the step
proposed can surely be safely taken, for
the decisions Of the commission would
not bind the varties in legal fashion, and
yet would give a chance for public opin-
ion to exert its full force for the right.
Withdrawal Of Coal Lands.
It is not wise that the nation should
ahenate It's remaining coal lands. 7
have temporarily withdrawn from settle-
ment all the lands which the geological
survey has indicated as containing, or in
all probability containing, coal. The
question, however, can be properly set
tied only by legislation, which in my
Judgment should provide for the with
drawal of these lands from sale or from
entry, save in certain especial circum-
stances. The ownership would then
remain in the United States, which
should not, however, attempt to work
them, but permit, them to be worked by
private individuals under a royalty sys-
tenn, the government keeping such
control as to permit it to see that no
excessive price was charged consumers.
1t would OF course be as necessary to
the rates charged by the COM
mon carriers to transport the product as
the rates charged by those who mine it;
and the supervision must extend to the
conduct OF the common carriers, so that
they shall in no way favor one compete
tor at the expense of another. The with
draWal of these coal lands would consti-
tute policy analogous to that which has
been followed in Withdrawing the forest
lands from ordinary settlement. The
coal, like the forests, should be treated
as the property of the public and its dis,