Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1907-12-03

ton OF our criminal laws today are
sentimentality and technicality. For
the latter the remedy must come
from the hands OF tho legislatures,
the courts. and the lawyers. The
other must depend for It's cure upon
the gradual growth OF q sound pub
lie opinion which shall insist that
regard for the law and the demands
OF reason shall control al other In
fiuences and emotions In the Jury
box. Both OF these evils must be re-
moved or public discont mt with the
criminal law will continue.
INJUNcTloNs,
earnestly commend to the atten-
tion OF tho congress this matter, 90
that some way may be devised which
will limit the abuse OF injunctions
and protect those rights which from
time to time II unwarrantably in
vades.
EMPLOYERS LIABILITY.
Was the next subject to receive at
tention:
The national government should
be model employer II should de-
mand the highest quality OF service
from each of IT'S employees and It
should care for all of them properly
In return. Congress should adopt
legislation providing limited but
definite compensation for accidents
10 all workmen within the scope of
the federal power. including en-
ployees OF navy yards and arsenals.
The law should be made such that
the payment for accidents by the
employer would be automatic instead
OF being matter for lawsuits. Work
men should receive certain and def
mite compensation for all accidents
In industry irrespective of nesli-
gence.
The constbtutionality OF the en-
Dloyers' liability act passed by the
preceding congress has been carried
before the courts. In two jurisdic-
lions the law has been declared un-
constitutional. and in three juris-
fictions its constilutionality has been
affirmed. The question has been
carried 20 the supreme court, the
case has been heard by that tribunal.
and decision Is expected at an early
late. In the event that the court
should affirm the constitutionality
of the act. urge further legislation
along the lines advocated In my mes
sage TO the preceding congress. The
practice of putting the entire bsrden
of loss to life or limb upon the vic
tim or the victims family Is n form
Of social injustice In which the
United States stands In unenyiable
prominence.
The eight-hour law and compul.
sorry investigation of Industrial dis
putes received some notice.
The farmer and the wage worker
were alluded to as:
The two citizens whose welfare is
IN the aggregate most vital TO the
welfare of the nation, and therefore
to the welfare of all other citizens
re the wage-worker who does man
ual labor and the tiller OF the soil
the farmer.
No growth OF cities. no growth OF
vealth, can make up for any loss in
either the number or the character
Of the farming population We of
he United States should realize this
lbove almost all other peopels. We
began our existence as a nation OF
'armers, and in every great crisis OF
he past peculiar dependence has
bad to be placed upon the farming
Dopulation;sa an dthis dependence has
hitherto been justified But it can
not be justified in the future II agrl-
culture is permitted to sink in the
scale as compared with other en-
ployments.. We can not afford 20
'ose that pre-eminently typical Amer.
can, the farmer who owns his own
medium-sized farm.
The scheme for inland waterways
was likened to the extension Of our
coast line into the very heart Of the
country and recommendation made
that
RECLAMATION WORK
Of swamp lands 20 hand in hand with
the former undertaking.
PUBLIC LANDS
frauds were reviewed and preventive
legislation advocated.
FORESTS.
We have made n beginning in for
est preservation. but IL is only a be-
thinning. At present numbering Is
the fourth greatest industry in the
United states; and yet. so rapid has
been the rate OF exhaustion OF tim
Der In the United States in the past
and so rapidly is the remainder be-
ing exhausted, that the country II
pnquestionably on the verge OF a
timber famine which will be felt in
worry ho1echofd fn the land Thoro