Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1906-12-07

localities such a restriction IS impractical.
He says an eight-hour day would be absurd
on the Isthmus of Panama, just as absurd
as to bother as to whether the necessary
work is done by alien black or alien yellow
men. The eight-hour day law is now rigidly
enforced by the government. He advocates
ment employees and urges frequent holidays
for those who labor with their hands as
We'll as for mental workers.
Labor of Women and Children.
The President advocates a drastic child
labor law for the District of Columbia and
the territories. He urges Investigation of
child and woman labor in all parts of the
country, the publications of the findings of
which would tend to the passage by the
many states of laws which would better
conditions. The horrors incident to the
employment OF young children in factories,
or at work anywhere, are a blot ON our
civilization says the President.
Employers Liability.
The employers liability bill passed by the
last Congress is praised by the President,
but he says it did not go tar enough. The
compensation for accidents OF deaths due in
any line of industry to the actual conditions
under which that industry is carried on,
should be paid by that portion of the com
munity for the benefit of which the in
dustry is carried on-that is by those who
profit by the industry. If the entire risk is
placed on the employer he will promptly
and properly add 1t TO the legitimate cost
of production and assess it proportionately
upon the consumers of his commodity. The
law should place the entire risk upon the
employer. The President does not think the
federal or state laws are sufficiently
thorough-going
Investigation of Disputes Between Cap
ital and Labor.
The President urges a law providing for
the machinery for what may be called the
compulsory investigation of controversies
between employers and employees when they
niC Il IN r.1-r r 1S1Ic+ to
low either employers or employees to be left
completely at the mercy of the stronger
party to the dispute. Strikes which affect
the public welfare and comfort should not
be allowed to continue. He urges cautious
legislation, but thinks the step proposed
can be safely taken as it would not bind
the parties in legal fashion but would give a
chance for public opinion to crystalline and
Withdrawal of Coal Lands
The President says it is not wise for the
government to ALLEVIATE it's remaining coal
lands. He suggests legislation which would
provide for the withdrawal of these lands
from sale or entry, save in certain special
circumstances He thinks the government
could permit them to be worked on roy
atty and control them so that excessive
prices could not be charged consumers. The
control of common carriers so that they
pense of another must also be provided for
in the bill.
Corporations.
The corporation laws-railroad rate law,
the pure food law and the packing house
regulations-should not be touched this SEES
sion, according to the President. They
should be given an opportunity to show
their merits and shortcomings He suggests,
however, that a law be passed providing for
the putting of date OH the label of pack
ing house products and the charging OF the
cost of inspection to the packers.
All the corporation laws have justified
their enactment. The President points out
that in the face Of predictions that the in
terstate commerce law would ruin the rail
roads, the last five months showed increased
earnings and unusual dividends and that
the mere taking effect of the law had pro-
duced an unprecedented number Of volun-
tary reductions in freight and fare rates.
The President favors the passage in the
near future of legislation giving the ma
t1Onal government control of corporations
doing interstate business. national IL
cense law " ould prevent the evils of over
capitalization and put stop to the Sc
curing of inordinate profits by favored in
dividHals at the expense whether of the
general public, the stockholders or the
wage workers. He does wish so much to
control SO that no harm is done, to the
people. The best way 20 avert the very
undesirable move for government owner
ship of railroads is to secure by the gov
eminent on behalf of the people as a whole
such adequate control and regulation OF
the great interstate common carriers as
will do away with the evils t which g eI,1e
effort to prohibit all combination, good or
bad, is noxious where it is not effective.
Combinations of capital like combinations
of labor, is a necessary element OF our
present industrial system. What is need
ed is control Of the combinations. 1t Is un-
fortunate that our present laws should
discriminating between the good and bad.
Often railroads would like to combine for
the purpose Of preventing big shipper
~, 1oyI nnmnQnV) from
maintaining improper advantage at the eX-
pense of small shippers and the gen
eral public. Such combination should be
favored not prohibited 1t is public evil
to have a law on the statute books incapa-
BILE Of full enforcement. The President
suggests that after careful Investigation
that Congress should amend the law so as
to obyiate the evils disclosed.
Inheritance and Income Tax.
A graduated inheritance and income tax
is recommended. The President says man
to the state, because he derives special ad-
yantages from the mere existence OF gov
eminent and should pay for the protection
he receives. He advocates distributing the
burden of taxation more equally than 1t is
at present. Treat the rich and poor on a
basis of equality. The President wishes to
encourage thrift and urges that the income
tax be made very small on moderate
amounts of property left and make it much
heavier when the gift goes to some remote
OF KIN. lie WOulu luCICdSS IllC puIuCh OA
the inheritance Of those swollen fortunes
which are of no benefit to this country to
perpetuate. He urges gradual progress to-
ward an inheritance tax.
The President wants an income tax and
says every effort should be made to enact
one without amending the constitution, but
If this fails he fayors a constitutional
amendment
Technical and Industrial Training
The establishment of technical and in
dustrial schools to encourage the fullest de-
velopment Of scholars in both commercial
and industrial training is urged for the Dis
trict of Columbia. The President wants the
District(to be model for the states to fol.
low. He strenuously combats the training Of
boys and girls in purely literary accomplish
ments and urges teaching of trades in the
public schools.
Agriculture.
The President makes a plea for the farm
err, whose welfare he says is vital to the
whole country. He urges provision for the
education of the farmer. He tells of the
good work of the agricultural department
and commends the formation of oranges in
norris of the country.