The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-12-05

phatically come in the category of those which affect in the. most far reaching way the home life of the nation. The horrors incident to the employment of young children in fac tories or at work anywhere are 8 blot of our civilization It is true that each tion in its own way; but . thorough official investigation of the matter, with results published broadcast, would greatly help toward arousing the pub lie conscience and securing unity of State action in the matter. There is. however, one law on the subject which should be enacted immediately, because there is no need for an investigation in reference thereto, and the faiure to enact it is discreditabie to the national going child labor law should be enacted for the District of Columbia and the territories.
 EmpIOyers' Liability.
 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 nn the statute books; but the law did not go far enough, Tn spite of all pre- cautions exercised by employers there unavoidable accidents and even deaths involved in nearly every line of busi- ness connected with the mechanic arts This inevitable sacrifice of life may not be completely eliminated. It is a great social injustice to compel the em- ploye, 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 it's duty by laying. the whole cost on the vic what may be called the legitimate risks of the trade. Compensation for accidents 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. If the entire trade risk Is placed upon the employer he will promptly and properly add it to the legitimate cost ately upon the consumers of his com modity. It Is therefore clear to my mind that the law should place this entire risk of trade" upon the em- ployer 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 in- clude employees in navy yards. arsenals and the like
 Labor Disputes.
 The commission appointed by the President October IS, 1902, at the re. quest of both the anthracite coal op- orators and miners, to inquire into, consider and pass upon the questions strike in the anthracite regions of Pennsylvania and the causes out ot which the controversy arose, In their report, findings, and award expressed the belief that the State and federal governments should provide thA ma chinery for what may be called the compulsory investigation of controver- sies between employers and ep'pIoye, when they arise.' This expression of belief is deserving of the favorable consideration of the Congl ess and the enactment of its provisions into law. A bill has already hGen introduced to this end.
 Records show that during the twen ty years from January 1, 1881, to Do- cember 31. 1900, there were strikes af- fecting 117,509 establishments. and G. l05.694 employees were thrown out of employment During the same period there were 1,0O5 lockouts. involving nearly 10000 establishments. throwing over one million people out of employ ment. These strikes and lockouts in volved an estimaSsl loss to employees of s307 100000 and to employers of S143,00o, 900, total of S45O.O00,O 900. The
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