The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1906-12-08

"" M"HN saw 3H $50 AENAAAAH ~ A0N-
rors incident to the environment Of
young children in factories or at work
anywhere are a blot on our civiliza-
ton. II Is true that each state must
ultimately settle the question in its
own way; but a thoro official investi-
cation Of the. matter. with the results
published broadcast. would greatly
help toward arousing the public con-
action In the matter, There is. how
ever, one law on the subject which
should be enacted Immediately, ~
u there is no need for an investi-
cation in reference thereto, and the
failure TO enact II Is discreditable to
the national government. A drastic
and thOrogoing child-iabor 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 waa
q employers liability law 1t was d
marked step Ia advance to get the rec
ignition Of employers liability on the
statute books; but the law did not 60
far enough. In spite Of all precau-
dons exercised by employers there are
unavoidable accidents and even deaths
involved in nearly every line Of busi-
ness connected with the mechanic arts.
This inevitable sacrifice Of life may be
be completely eliminated. II Is a great
social injustice TO compel the employee,
or rather the family Of the Killed OF
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
carried on, SHOULD be paid by that por-
ton OF the community for the benefit
OF which the industry is carried On
that is by those VIC profit by the In
dustry. II the entire trade risk is
placed upo the employer he will
promptly and properly add Ii to the
Legitimate cost of production and as
sess 1t proportionately upon the con-
sumers of his commodity. 1t is there
fore clear to my mind that the law
should place this entire risk Of q
trade upon the employer. Neither the
federal law, nor, as far as l am In
formed, the state laws dealing with
the question OF employers liability are
sufficiently thorogoing. The federal
law should of course include EN-
ployees In navy-yards. arsenals, and
the like.
investigation of Disputes.
The commission appointed by the presi.
dent October l6, 1902, at the request OF
both the anthracite coal operators and
miners to inquire into, consider, and pass
ape the question in controversy in con
nection with the strike In the anthracite
regions Of Pennsylvania and the cause
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
chinery for what may be called the coma
pulsory investigation of controversies be-
tween employers n employees when
~ 80. IHis oApTcssion OF Denox
Is deserving Of the favorable considera-
ton of the congress and the enactment
| Of itG nFOViSiOnQ into law A hill has
already been introduced to this end.
Records show that during the %
years from January !, 1881, to December
81, 1900, there were strike affecting ILL.,
100 establishments, and 6,105,6 A employees
were thrown out OF employment. Dur
ing the same period there were 1908
l~ockouts. involving nearly 10000 eStab-
lishments, throwing over 100000 people
bckouts involved an estimated loss to
employees OF 1907, 900, 900 and to employers
OF yl4S,00O,0o, a total OF $50, 900, 900. The
public suffered directly and indirectly
probably as great additional losa But
the money loss. great az It was, did not
measure the anguish and suffering en-
dured by the wives and children OF en-
ployees whose pay stopt when their
work stopt, OF the disastrous effect 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.
MANY VI Ln6Se SlTlkeS ana lOCkOuIu
would not have occurred had the partiea
to the dispute been required to appear
before an unpreJudiced body representing
the nation and. face to face, state the
reasons for their contention; In most
found to be due to q misunderstanding
by each OF the others rights, aggravated
by an u~nwiffingness Of either party to &C.
cept as true the statements OF the other
as to the justice or Injustice Of the mat
ters in dispute. The exercise Of a tv-
representing the federal government.
such as would be provided by a commis-
Sion on cancellation and arbitration
would tend to create an atmosphere OF
frIsndllness and Cancellation between con-
tending parties: and the giving each aide
an equal opportunity to present fully itl
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 Ia
Dor combinations, neither employers mol
employees should be left completely al
the mercy OF the stronger party to a dis.
pute, regardless Of the righteousness o.
their respective claims. The proposed
measure would be in the line Of securing
recognition Of the fact that in mans
strikes the public has Itself an interesi
which cannot wisely be disregarded; ar
5000 hNA1A III GU 1OlNQNl
ienee, for the question Of a just anC
proper public policy must also be con
sidered. In all legislation Of this kinC
II Is well to advance cautiously, testing
each step By the actual results; the steI
proposed can surely be safely taken, FOL
the decisions of the commission woulC
not bind the parties In legal fashion, ans
yet would give q chance for public opln
ion to exert its fun force for the right.
Withdrawal of Coal Lands.
II is not wise that the nation Shout,
ALLEVIATE its remaining coal lands.
have temporarily withdrawn from settle
ment all the lands which the geological
survey has indicated as containing, or II
all probability containing, coal. TIL
question, however, can be properly set
tied only by legislation, which in M
judgment should provide for the with
drawal of these lands from sale or from
entry, save in certain especial circum
stances. Til ownership would thei
remain In the United States, whicI
should not, however, attempt to worl
them, but permit them to be worked b,
private individuals under a royalty sys
tenn, the government keeping sucl
excessive price was charged consumers
1t would Of course be as necessary L
supervise the rates charged by the com
mon carriers to transport the product a
the rates charged by those who mine il
and the supervision must extend TO tn
, conduct Of the common carriers, so tina
they shall in no way favor one competl
, tor at the expense of another. The with
drawal of these coal lands would consti
; tute a policy analogous to that which ha
: been followed in Withdrawing the fores