The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-12-07


federal law, nor, as far as | am in
formed, the state laws dealing with the
question of employers liability are suf-
fciently thorogoing. The federal law
should of curse include employees N
n~avy-yards, arsenals, and the like.
INVESTIGATION OF DISPUTES BE-
TWEEN CAPITAL AND LABOR.
The commission appointed by the
president October 16, 1902, at the re-
quest of bottle the anthracite coal Cp-
orators n miners, to inquire into.i
consider, and pass upon the QuestioEsI
in controversy in connection with the
strike in the anthracite regions OF
Pennsylvania and the causes out of
which the controversy arose. in their
report, findings and award eXprest the
belief that the state and federal Ov-
ernments should provide the mack;n-I
cry for what may be called the ccmDul-
sorry investigation Of controversies BEL
tween employers and employees when
the arise" This expression of belief
is deserving OF the favorable consider
alton of the congress and the enact
mem Of it's provisions into law Al
bill has already been introduced to this
end.
Records show that during the twentyI
years from January /, 1881, to Decem-I
Der 81. 1900, there were strikes affecting
III, 500 establishments, and CLOS. G94I
employees We're thrown OF en-
plCyment. During the same poriOdI
there were 1905 lOckOuts, involvin"I
nearly 10000 establishments, throwing.
over one million people Out of en-
plOFmet :. These strikes and IOckOutsl
involved IN estimated loss to employees
Of &3yi 100000 and to employers Of.
SLAB coo 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 net
measure the anguish and suffering en-
dured by the wives and children Of EN-
plOyees whose pay stOpt when their
the strike O lockout upon the business
of employers, or the increase III the
cost Of products and the inconvenience
and loss to the public.
Many of these strikes and lockouLS
would not have occurred had the par
ties to the dispute been required to ap-
pear before an appropriated body rep
~resenting the nation and, face to face,
state the reasons for their contentious.
In most instances the dispute would
| doubtless be found to be due to a mis-
| understanding by each of the others
! rights, aggravated by an unwillingnesS
| of either party to accept as true the
! statements Of the other as to the JUS
tice or injustice of the matters in dis
pute. The exercise of o judicial spirit
by a disinterested body representing
the federal government, such as would
De provided by a commission on CON
citation and arbitration would tend to
create an atmosphere of friendliness
| and Cancellation between conteniiEE
parties; and the giving each side On
equal opportunity to present fully its
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 COM
, mission to persuade the opposing
parties to come to terms.
in this age of great corporate and
labor combinations, neither employers
nor employees should be left completely
at the mercy Of the stronger party to
Il dispute, regardless Of the righteous
ness 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 can not wisely be
disregarded; an interest not merely Of
general convenience, for the question
Of Il just and proper public policy must
also be considered. In all legislation Of
this kind it is well to advance cautious
ly. testing each step by the actual re-
c,lltS- tho ctnn nrO1lNcoH pan cI1pAlv hA
safely taken. for the decisions OF the
commission would not bind the parties
in legal fashion. and yet would give d
chance for public opinion to crystalline
and thus t O exert it's full force for the
right.
WITHDRAWAL OF COAL LANDS.
Ii is 0 wise that the nation should
ALLEVIATE It's remaining coal lands. ]
nave temporarily withdrawn from set
Element all the lands which the geoiCg-
zeal survey has indicated as cCntaininG
or in all probability containing, coal
The question, however can be properly
settled only by legislation, which. in
my judgment, should provide for Lbe
withdrawal of these lands from sale OF
from entry. save in certain especi i
~ IL -" IL h'Ai
then remain with the United Sta'es
which should not, however, attempt &c
work them, but permit them 10 Re
worked by private individuals under :
royalty system, the government keep
ing such control a. to permit it 10 see
that no excessive price was charged
consumers. It would, of course, be as
necessary to supervise the rates chlrg.
ed by the common carriers to trans or
the product as the rates charged By
those who mine it; and the supervisor
must extend to the conduct of he
common carriers, so tina they 81 Il IN
way favor competitor at h X,
pense Of another. The withdraw .
these coal lands would cons i &c :
policy analogous to hat whi"h lt
been followed in withdrawing tie o.
est lands from ordinary settlement
The coal, like the forests. shc"i5 =
treated as the property Of tie q BIZ
and it's disposal should be und~~ -: