Gilpin observer., 1907-12-05

Il again urge on the congress the need
of immediate attention to this matter.
We need a greater elasticity in our cur
rency; provided. of course. that we recog
nize the even greater need of n safe and
secure currency. There must always be
the most rigid examination by the ma
tional authorities. Provision should be
made for an emergency currency. The
emergency issue should, of course, be
made with an effective guaranty, and up
on conditions carefully prescribed by the
government. Such emergency issue must
be based on adequate securities approved
by the government and must be issued
under a heavy tax. This would permit
currency being issued when the demand
for 1t was urgent. while securing its re-
tirement the demand fell off. 1t is
worth investigating to determine whether
officers and directors of national banks
should ever be allowed TO loan to them
selves. Trust companies should be sub
5ect to the same supervision as banks:
legislation to this effect should be en-
acted for the District of Columbia and
the territories.
yet we must also remember that even
the wisest legislation the subject can
only accomplish a certain amount. No
legislation can by any possibility guar
antee the business community against the
results of speculative folly any more than
Ii can guarantee an individual against the
results of his extravaganza. When an in
mortgages ms mouse TO BUY an
automobile he invites disaster; and when
wealthy men. men who pose as such,
or are unscrupulously or foolishly eager
to become such. indulge in reckless spec
ulation-especially If II is accompanied by
dishonesty-they jeopardiZe rot only their
own future but the future of all their in
nocent fellow-citizens. for they expose
the whole business community to panic
and Distress"
He advises against any general tariff
legislation this session of congress. and
says:
I'm a country of such phenomenal
growth as ours 1t is probably well that
| every dozen years or so the tariff laws
| should be carefully scrutinized so to
see that no excessive or improper bene-
fits are conferred thereby that proper
revenue is provided, and that our
foreign trade is encouraged There
must always be minimum
tariff which will not only al
low for the collection of an ample rev.
enue but which will at least make
good the difference in cost of production
here and abroad; that is. the difference in
the labor cost here and abroad for the
well-being of the wage worker must ever
be cardinal point of American policy.
The question should be approached pure
ly from business standpoint: both the
time and the manner of the change being
such as to arouse the minimum of agi-
tation and disturbance in the business
world. and to give the least play for
selfish and factional motives. The sole
consideration should be to see that the
sum total of changes represent the pub
lie good. This means that the subject
cannot with wisdom be dealt with in the
year preceding presidential election be-
cause as a matter of fact experience has
| conclusively shown that at such time
1t is impossible to get men to treat it from
the standpoint of the public good In my
| judgment the wise time to deal with the
matter is Immediately after such cleo
ton"
He asks for the repeal of the tariff on
paper and wood pulp.
He reviews and enlarges upon his pre-
vious recommendations for the enact
| ment of federal Inheritance and income
tax laws.
Attention is called to the prosecution of
wealthy offenders against the national
laws. and in this connection he asks that
the laws under which these prosecutions
are brought be strengthened and made
more definite.
| The Use and the
| Abuse of Injunctions.
Instances of abuse in the granting of
injunctions in labor disputes continue to
occur. and the resentment in the minds
of those who feel that their rights are
being invaded and their liberty of action
and of speech unwarrantably restrained
on the use of the process of injunction is
wholly without warrant but 1 am con-
strained to express the belief that for
some of 1t there is warrant. This uues-
ton is becoming more and more of prime
Importance, and unless the courts will
themselves deal with it in effective man.
ner. II is certain ultimately to demand
some form of legislative action. 1t would
be most unfortunate for our social well
fare IL we should permit many honest
and law-abiding citizens to feel that
they had just cause for regarding our
courts with hostility. l earnestly COM
mend to the attention of the congress
this matter. SO that some way may be
devised which will limit the abuse of in
| functions and protect those rights which
from time to time 1t unwarrantably in
vades. Moreover. discomfort is often ex-
pressed with the use of the process of
injunction by the courts. not only in la
Dor disputes but where state laws are
| concerned. refrain from discussion of
this question as / am informed that 1t
will soon receive the consideration OF the
supreme court"
OF other legislation in the interest of
labor he favors federal inspection of rail-
roads; providing limited but definite COM
pensation for accidents to all workmen
employed in any way by the government
and says:
THE constitutionality OF the employers
| liability act passed by the preceding con-
| gress has been carried before the courts
| In two Jurisdictions the law has been de-
| clared unconstitutional. and in three juris-
dictions its constitutionality has been ar
| firmed. The question has been carried to
tue supreme court, the case has been
heard by that tribunal. and decision is
expected at an early date. In the event
| that the court should affirm the consti-
tutionalty of the act. I urge further leg
| islation along the lines advocated in my
message to the preceding congress. The
practice of putting the entire burden OF
| loss of life or limb upon the victim or
the victims family is n form of social in
| justice in which the United States stands
In unenviable prominence. In both our
| federal and our state legislation we have.
| with few exceptions, scarcely gone
farther than the repeal of the fellow
servant principle OF the old law OF iiabil-
ity. and in some of our states even this