Crittenden press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1879-1907, 1906-12-06


young children in factories or at work
anywhere are . blot on our civiliEat
tion. II IL tr1e that each state must
ultimately settle the question in Itn
own way; but thoro ofIiclai investi-
Sltion Of the matter, with the results
published broadcast would greatly
science and securing unity OF staIs
sction in the matter. There is. hove
ever one law on thu subject which
should be enacted Immediately be-
cause there is no need for an investi-
gation In reference thereto. and the
failure TO enact IL IL discredita Bile TO
the national government A drastic
and thorogoing child-labor law should
be enacted for the District Of Coluua-
bia and the territories.
Employer Liability.
Among the excellent laws which the
congress past at the last session was
employers liability law. IL was .
marked step in advance TO get the rec
ognition OF employers liability on the
statute books; hut the law did not 20
far enough. In spite OF all precau-
tons 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
reduced To a minimum, but II cannot
De completely eliminated. IL is great
social injustice TO compel the employee.
or rather the family Of the killed or
disabled victim. to bear the entire bur-
zen or an inevitable sacrifice. In other
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 actuaI
conditions under which that industry Is
carried on, should be paid by that por-
ton of the community for the bcnefit
OF which the industry is carried on
that is, by those who profit by the in
dustry. II the entire trade risk 10
placed upon the employer he will
PROMPTLY and nTnpprlV add II n thu
legitimate cost Of production and as
sess II proportiOnately upon the con-
sumers of his commodity. IL is there
fore clear to my mind that the law
should place this, entire risk of
trade upon the employer Neither tho
fedora law, nor as far as / am in
the question OF employers liability are
sufficiently thorogoing. The federal
ployees in navy-yards arsenals, ana
the like.
investigation of Disputes.
The commission appointed by the presi-
dent October l6, 1902, at the request Of
both the anthracite coal operators ana
miners to inquire into, consider. and pass
upon the question in controversy in con-
nection with the strike In the anthracits
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 COM
pulsory investigation Of controversies be-
tween employers and employees when
Is deserving OF the favorable considera-
ton of the congress and the enactment
OF it's provisions into law. A bin has
already been introduced to this end.
Records show that during the -
years from January !. 1881. to December
81. 1900, there were strikes affecting ILL.,
$40 establishments. and 6.l0S. s94 employees
were thrown out OF employment Dur
ing the same period there were Les
Iockouts, INVOLVING nearly 1900 estse-
out Of employment. These strikes ana
lockouts involved an estimated loss -
employees or $50. 900, 900 and to employers
public suffered directly and indirectly
probably as great additional loss. BW
measure the anguish and suffering en-
dured by the wives and children OF em-
ployees whose pay ,stopt when thief.
the strike or lockout upon the busineSs
of employers. or the Increase In the cosa
of products and the Inconvenience ana
loss to the public.
Many OF these strikes and lockouts
would not have occurred had the parties
TO the dispute been required to appear
before an unpre JUDGED body representing
the nation and, face to face, state tho
reasons for their contention. In most
instances the dispute would doubtless be
round to he due to Il misunderstanding
by each Of the Others rights. aggravated
by An uuwilliuEucss o. either party To ac-
rept as true the statements Of the other
as To thu justice or Injustice Of the mat
ters IN dispute. The exercise Of a jul
d'cial spirit by a. disntercsted body
rrpr"s"nt'uG The fcdcr' government.
such as would hr provided 10y a commits
Sl'n "n toHci,lhlor tud arbitration
would tend to create an atmosphere Of
ticndliuess and conciliation between con-
tending parties. and the giving each side
an cqu.u opportunity To present fully it's
case i'm the presence OF the other would
prevent many disputes from developing
q to #.F'. Hsf
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
employees should be left completely az
the mercy of the stronger party to dis
their respective claims. The proposed
measure would be in the line of securing
recognition Of the fact that in many
strikes the public has itself an interest
which cannot wisely be disrcgarded; an
interest not merely OF general COnven-
ience, for the question Of just ana
proper public policy must also be con-
sidered In al legislation of this kind
II 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 woula
not bind the parties in legal fashion, ana
Ion TO exert its fun force for the right.
Withdrawal OF Coal Lands.
II is not wise that the nation SHOULD
ALLEVIATE its remaining coal lands.
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 he 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-
lem. the government Keeping such
control as To permit ii TO see that no
price was charged consumers
1t would Of course he as necessary to
supervise the rates charged by the conn
non carriers to transport the product IS
he rates charged by those who mine IT,:
and the supervision must extend 10 the
OnduCt Of the common carriers, So mat
hey shall In no way favor one competi-
or at the expense Of auotuci. The WITH
travail Of these coal lands would consti-
ute policy analogous To- that which has
Deen followed In Withdrawing the forest
ands from ordinary settlement. The