Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1907-12-12

tHan 60 iine the corporation, with {:
the attendant damage to stock {:
:: holders. /:
Accidents.
The loss "f life and limb from rail-
road accidents in this country has be-
come appalling. 1t is n subject of
which the national government should
take supervision. 1t might be well to
begin by providing for a federal in
spector of interstate railroads some
where along thu. ines of federal inspec-
ton of steamboats,. although not going
30 far: perhaps at first all that it
would be necessary to a YOU be
To investigate all accidents on interstate
railroads and report in detail the
causes thereof.
Employers Liability.
Congress should adopt legislation pro-
viding limited but definite compensa-
tion for accidents to all workmen with
in the scope of the federal power, in
~arsenals. In other words. a model en-
pioyers' liability act. far reaching and
thoroughgoing, should be enacted
which should apply to all positions.
public n private. over which the ma
tional government has jurisdiction.
The law should be made such that
the payment for accidents by the en-
ptoyer would be automatic instead of
being Il matter for lawsuits. Workmen
should receive certain M definite COM
peTsstion for all accidents in industry
irrespective Of negligence.
by the proposed law. employers
would gain u desirable certainty of OBJ
legation and get rid of litigation to
determine it. While the workman and
his family wou be relieved from IA
crushing load.
h constitutionality of the employ
Org liability act y,DCcad Inv, fha v,vao1l
Ing congress has been carried before
the courts. In the event that the
court should affirm the constitutional
lty of the act. l urge further legislation
along the lines advocated in my mes
sage to the preceding congress-. Since
1896 practically every country of Eu-
rope. together with Great Britain, New
Zealand. Australia, British Columbia,
and the Cape of Good Hope has enacted
legislation embodying in n form or
another the complete recognition of the
principle which places upon the en-
ployer the entire rade risk in the
various lines of industry. :.
Eight-Hour Law.
The principle of the eight-hour day
Mould as rapidly and as far as prac-
ttcable be extended to the entire work
carried on by the government: and
the present law should be amended to
embrace contracts on those public
NAAS CSO NOL0itl VI ltiS
act has been construed to exclude.
Investigation Of Industrial Disputes.
Strikes II iockouts. with their at
tendant loss and suffering, continue to
Increase. For the five years ending
December II. 1905. the number of strikes
was greater than those in any previous
ten a and was double the number
In the preceding five years. These fig
ures Indicate the increasing need of
providing some machinery to deal with
this class of disturbances in the inter
est alike of the employer. the employee,
and the general public. I renew my
previous recommendation that the con-
gress favorsbly consider the matter of
creating the machinery for compulsory
Investigation of such Industrial contro-
versies AS are of sufficient magnitude
and OF sufficient concern to the people
of the country as a whole to warrant
the federal government In taking ac-
ton.
1. =, ,5ioyment Of Women and Children.
A thorough and comprehensive meas
ure should be adopted at this session
of the congress relating to the employ
ment Of women and children in the
District of Columbia and the terri
tories. The investigation into the
condition of women Inc children
-wage-earners recently authorized and
directed by the congress is now being
carried on in the various states, and l
made last year for the beginning of this
work be renewed, in order hat we may
have the thorough and comprehensive
investigation which the subject de-
mands. The national government has
as an ultimate resort for control OF
child labor the use of the interstate
commerce clause to prevent the prod
H. -ANN R-- -As