Arizona republican., 1907-12-04

fore the courts. In two jurisdictions the law has been declared unconstitu- tional, and in three jurisdictions it's constitutionality has been affirmed. The question has been carried to the Supreme Court. the case has been heard by that tribunal. and a decision is expected at an earls date. In the event that the court should affirm the constitutionality of the act, l urge fur tker legislation along the lines advo- cated in my Message to the preceding Congress. The practice of putting the entire burden of loss to life or limb upon the victim or the victims family is a form of social injustice in which the United States stands in unenviable prominence. In both our Federal and our State legislation We have with few exceptions. scarcel,- gone farther than the repeal of the fellow servant prin- ciple of the old law of liability, and in some of our States even this slight modification of completely outgrown principle has not ret been secured. The legislation Of the rest of the in dustrial world stands out in striking contrast to OFT backwardness in this respect Since lIS95 practically every country of Europe, together with Great Britain. New Zealand Australia, Brit ish Columbia, and the Cape of Good Hope has enacted legislation embody- ing ir-one form or another the com plete recognition of the principle which places upon the employer the entire trade risk in the various lines of in dustry. I urge upon the Congress the enactment ofNa law which will at the same time bring Federal legislation up to the standard already established by all the European countries. and which will serve as a stimulus to the va rious States to perfect their legislation in this regard.
 The Eight Hour Law.
 "The Congress should consider the extension of the eight-hour law. The constitutionality of the present law has recently been called into question. and the Supreme Court has decided that the existing legislation is unques- tionably within the powers of the Congress. The principle of the eight hour day should as rapidly and as far as practicable be extended to the en- tire work carried on by the Govern ment; and the present law should be amended to embrace contracts on those public works which the present word ing of the act has been construed to exclude. The general introduction of the eight-hour day should be the goal toward which we should steadily tend, and the Government should set the ex- ample in this respect.
 Government Arbitration.
 Strikes and lockouts, with their at tendant loss and suffering. continue to increase. For the five years ending December 31, 1905, the number of strikes was greater than those in any previous ten years and was double the number in the preceding five years. These figures indicate the increasing need of providing some machinery tO deal with this class of disturbances in the interest alike of the employer. the employe. and the general public I renew my previous recommendation that the Congress favorably consider the matter Of creating the machinery for compulsory investigation of such industrial controversies as are of suf ficient magnitude and of sufficient concern to the people of the country as a whole to warrant the Federal Government in taking action.
 "The need for some provision for