Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1906-12-04

where are a blot on our civilization.
1t is true that each state must ulti.
mately settle the question in lls own
way; but a thorough official investi-
cation Of the matter, with the results
published broadcast, would greatly
help toward arousing the public con.
science and securing unity OF State
action in the matter. There Is, how
ever, one law on the subject which
should be enacted Immediately be.
cause there Is no need for an lnvesti-
cation in reference thereto, and the
failure to enact 1t is discreditable to
the National Government. A drastic
and thorough-going child-labor law
should be enacted for the District of
Columbia and the Territories.
Employers Liability.
Among the excellent laws which the
Congress passed at the last session
was an employers liability law. 1t
was a marked step in advance to get
the recognition of employers liability
on the statute books; but the law did
not go far enough. In spite of all
precautions exercised by employers
there are unavoidable accidents and
even deaths involved in nearly every
line of business connected with the
mechanic arts. This inevitable sacr-
fee of life may be reduced to a mini
mum, but it can not be completely
eliminated. 1t Is a great social injus-
tice to compel the employe, or rather
the family of the killed or disabled
victim, to bear the entire burden of
such an inevitable sacrifice. In other
words, society shirks its duty by lay
ing the whole cost on the victim,
whereas the injury comes from what
may be called the legitimate risks of
the trade. Compensation for acci-
dents or deaths due in any line of
industry to the actual conditions un-
der which that industry is carried on,
should be paid by that portion of the
community for the benefit of which
the industry is carried on-that is, by
those who profit by the industry. II
the entire trade risk is placed upon
the employer he will promptly and
add it to the legitimate cost
of production and assess II proper
tionately upon the Consumers of his
commodity. 1t is therefore clear to
my mind that the law should place
this entire "risk Of trade" upon the
employer. Neither the Federal law,
nor, as far as am informed, the
State laws dealing with the question
of employers liability are sufficiently
thoroughgoing. The Federal law
should of course include employees in
navy yards. arsenals, and the like.
Investigation Of Disputes Between
Capital and Labor
The commission appointed by the
President October l6, 1902, at the re.
1uest of both the anthracite coal op-
orators and miners, to inquire into,
and pass upon the questions
in controversy in connection with the
strike in the anthracite regions of
Pennsylvania al the causes out of
which the controversy arose, in their
'eport, findings, and award expressed
he belief that the State and FEEDER
N governments should provide the
machinery for what may be called the
investigation of contro-
rersies between employers and en-
Dloyes when they arise" This ex-
preston of belief is deserving of the
favorable consideration of the Con-
,ress and the enactment of its provi-
;ions into law. A bill has already been
Introduced to this end.
Records show that during the TWEEN
Y years from January |, 1891, to De-
,ember 81, 1900, there were strikes
1850 establishments, and
;,105,694 employees We're thrown out
VI employment. During the same
,eriod there were 1,005 lockouts, in.
yolving nearly 10000 establishments,
hrowing over one million people out !
If employment. These strikes and
ockouts involved an estimated loss
o employees of $3O7,O0O,O0O and to
Employers of $143,0O0,0OO, total of
450 100000. The public suffered d.
ectly and indirectly probably as great
additional loss But the money loss,
,reat as it was, did not measure the
nguish and suffering endured by the
vives and children of employees whose
ay stopped when their work stopped,
r the disastrous effect of the strike
II lockout upon the business of en-
loyers, or the increase in the cost
I products and the inconvenience and
oss to the public.
Many of these strikes and lockouts
,ould not have occurred had the par
les to the dispute been required to
ppear before an unprejuliced body
the nation and, face to
ace, state the reasons for their con-
ention. In most instances the dis
ute would doubtless be found to be
lie to a misunderstanding by each of
he others rights, aggravated by an
Willingness of either party to ac.
ept as true the statements of the
ther as to the justice or injustice of
ne matters In dispute. The exercise
T a judicial spirit by disinterested
ody representing the Federal Gov
such as would be provided
Y commission on conciliation and
would tend to create an
of friendliness and con-
lliation between contending parties;
nd the giving each side an equal op-
ortunity to present fully it's case in
le presence of the other would pre-
ent many disputes from developing
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