The sun., 1906-12-05

dren. Let me again urge that the Congress
provide for q thorough investigation OF the
conditions OF child labor and OF the labor OF
women In the United States. More and
more our people are growing TO- recognize
the fact that the questions which are not
merely OF industrial but Of social impor-
tance outweigh all others; and these two
questions most emphstically come In the
category OF those which afeot in the most
ISr-rsaching far way the home NE o. the na.,on ~
young children in factories or at work any
where are q blot or our civilization. It is
true that each State must ultimately settle
the question In Its own way; but a thorough
Official investigation OF the matter, with the
results published broadcast, would greatly
help toward arousing the public couscience
and securing unity OF State action In the
matter. There is, however, one law on the
subject which should be enacted tmfne-
diately, because there is no need for an iu-
vestigation In reference thereto, and the
failure 20 enact Il il discreditable to the
national Government drastic and thor
oughgoing child-labor law should be enacted
for the District OF Columbia and the Terri
tories.
KAPLoYERs' LrABILrTY. 4
Among the excellent laws which the
Congress passed at the last session was an
employers liability law. It was a marked
step in advance TO get the recognition OF
employers liability on the statute books,
but the law did not 60 far enough. In
spite Of all precautions exercised by en-
ployers there are unavoidable accidents
and even deaths involved In nearly every
line OF business connected with the mechanic
arts. This inevitable sacrifice OF life may
be reduced to q minimum, but Il cannot be
completely eliminated. II Is great social
injustice 70 compel the employee, or rather
the family Of the killed or disabled victim,
20 bear the entire burden OF such an inevi-
table sacrifice. In other words, society
shirks Its duty by laying the whole cost on
the victim. whereas the injury comes from
what may be called the legitimate risks of
the trade. Compensation for accidents
or death due m any line OF industry to the
actual conditions under which that industry
b carried on should be paid by that portion
Of the community for the benefit of which
the industry is carried on-that u, by those
who profit by the industry. II the entire
trade risk Is placed upon the employer he
will promptly and properly add It to the
legitimate cost OF production and assess IL
proportionately upon the consumers OF his
commodity. IL is therefore clear to my
mind that the law should place this entire
risk OF a 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 thor
oughgoing. The Federal law should OF
course include employees In navy yards,
arsenals and the like.
INNhbTIOATION OF DISPUTES BETWEEN CAR
ITAL AND LABOR.
The commission appointed by the Presi-
dens Oct. 10, 1902, at the request Of both
the anthracite coal operators and miners
to inquire into, consider and pass upon the
questions in controversy In connection with
the strike in the anthracite regions OF Penn
sylvania, and the causes out OF which the
controversy arose, in their report, findings
and award expressed the belief that the
State and Federal governments should
provide the machinery for what may be
called the compulsory investigation OF con-
troversiss be:Seen employer and .sIIr EN-,
Of belief is deserving Of the favorable con-
s'deration OF the Congress and the enact
ment of its provisions into law. bill has
already been introduced to this end.
Records show that during the twenty
years from Jan. I, 1881, to Dec. 81,
1900, there were strikes affecting 500
establishments, and 6,lO5,6e4 employees
were thrown out OF employment. During
the same period there were 1,OC5 lockouts,
involving nearly 10000 establishments,
throwing throwing over % i,oOo4oG & people out oi EN-, m
involved an estimated loss to employees OF
t3O7, 900 900 and to EMPLOYERS Of $i430 600 900,
a total Of $3.50 600 900. The public suffered
directly and indirectly probably as great
additional loss: But the money loss, great
as it was, did not measure the anguish
and suffering endured by the wives and
children Of employees whose pay stopped
when their work stopped, OF the disastrous
effect Of the strike OF lockout upon the busi-
ness Of employers. or the increase IN the
?ost OF products and the Inconvenience and
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
unprejudioed body representing the nation
and, face to face, state the reasons for their
cCnfaptirx, In iua "a tha rtS.
would doubtless be found to be due to q
misunderstanding by each OF the others
rights, aggravated by an unwillingness OF
either party TO accept as tpae the state
ments OF the other as to the Justice or in
justice Of the matters in dispute. The
exercise Of a judicial spirit by a disinter-
ested body representing the Federal Gov
ernLpent, such as would be provided by a
commission on oonciliation and arbitration,
would tend TO create an atmosphere of
fTiendliness 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 commission
to persuade the opposing parties to come
TO terms.
In this age Of great corporate and labor
combinations, neither employers nor en-
ployees should be left completely at the
mercy. OF the stronger party to a dispute,
regardless OF the righteousness Of 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 disregarded: an interest not merely OF
general convenience, for the question OF a
just and proper public policy must also be
considered. In all legislation Of this kind
1t Is well to advance cautiously, testing each
step by the actual results: the step pro-
posed can surely be safely taken, for the
decisions of the commission would not bind
the parties In legal fashion. and yet would
give q chance for public opinion to crys-
tallize and thus to exert its full force for
the right.
WITHDRAWAL OF COAL LANDS.
It is not wise that the nation should alien
ate its remaining coal lands. | have tenn
porarily withdrawn from settlement all
the lands which the Geological Survey has
indicated as containing, or in all proba-
bility containing, coal. The question, how
ever, can be properly settled only by legis-
lation, which in my judgment should pro-
vide for the withdrawal Of these lands from
sale or from entry save in certain espe cial
The ownership would then
remain in the United States, which should
not, however, attempt to work them, but
pc rmit them to be worked by private in
dividuals under a roy atty sy stem, the Gov