The Washington herald., 1907-12-04
DISTRICT RECOMMENDATIONS.

DISTRICT RECOMMENDATIONS.
Legislation during the present
session of Congress TO regulate
woman and child labor In the Dis
trict and the Territories.
Legislation placing trust COM
panies in the District and the Ter
Titories under the same Federal
national banks. (This supervision
now exists in the District)
The establishment OF a National
Gallery OF Art in Washington I'm
accordance with the plan OF the
Smithsonian Institution, and the
abolition OF the tarifr on works OF
art.
would, OF course, be worse than no tax
at all; as the least desirable of all taxes
Is the tax which bears heavily upon the
honest as compared with the dishonest
man. Nevertheless. a graduated income
tax OF the proper type would be Il desira-
bic feature Of Federal taxation, and II Is
10 be hoped that one may be devised
which the Supreme Court will declare
constitutional The Inheritance tax, how
ever, Is both a far better method of tax
alton, and far mere important for the
purpose of having the fortunes OF the
country bear in proportion TO their in
crease In size a corresponding increase
and burden of taxation. The government
has the absolute right to decide as 10
the terms upon which a man shall receive
bcquest or devise from another and
this point in the devolution OF property is
especially appropriate for the imposition
of a tax"
The President quotes instances to show
that many civilized countries including
Great Britain. France and Germany. en-
force such laws. Great Britain particular
ly eXacting almost one-fifth of an estate
through the Inheritance tax when the
estate exceeds 81. GOO. 000
Dealing with the subject OF punishment
Tor corporate crimes. he declares that the
indlsposition Of juries 10 send wealthy
malefactors 10 prison is the result Of a
tendency 10 accept corporate dishonesty
as a normal condition of modern affairs.
Continuing. he says:
The two great evils in the execution OF
our criminal laws to-day are sentimental
lty and teChnicality For the latter the
remedy must come from the hands OF the
legislatures. the courts and the LAWYERS.
The other must depend for its cure upon
the gradual growth of a sound public opin-
ION which shall insist that regard for the
law and the demands Of reason shall con-
trol an other influences and emotions in
the jury box Both of these evils must
be removed or public discomfort with the
criminal law will continue"
Abuses OF Injunction.
TIE abuse OF the injunction process in
labor disputes is recommended for inves-
tigation. and practical threat is made
that II the courts do not mend their wavs
in this particular Congress will be asked
TO provide a way Of compelling them 10
do so. The use of injunctions against
State lzws is mentioned but not discussed
owing 20 the fact that this question s
shortly TO be considered in the Suprerne
Court An unqualified pronouneement
that the Federal courts must dominate
in all questions affecting individual rights /
Is made. and II is stated that the na- /
uonal government must see that the de- |
cision Of the court Is put into effect"
Owing TO the appalling loss OF life and /
limb on the ra' roads Of the country. Il \
IS suggested that a Federal inspection OF /
interstate railroads. similar 10 that in 4
force respecting steamboats,. be put into /
effect. but not going so far as in the lat /
ter instance. Legislation is urged 10 pro- |
vide limited but deffnite compensation for
All accidents TO wOrkmen within the scona
of the Federal power. including emrIoves
of navy yards and arseuals. In other
words model employers liability act. 1
-ar-reaching and thorough-going. shouN
be enacted. which should apply 70 an
positions. public and prpivate. over which
ne national government has Jurisdiction
The President advocates "adecuate com
for all injuries 10 empIoves
Irrespective Of negligence" All existing
employers liability acts. he recommends
should be strengthened wherever thew
have shown weakness.
Snouid the employers liability act
passtd ny the last Congress be upheld
oy the supreme Court in the forthcoming
-est case, the President urges that fur
,her legislation along the same lines he
enacted, in accordance with the terr,.
recommended in his former message
Consideration OF the extension Of he
eight-hour law Is also recommended
The great increase In disputes batu,ea,
,apital and labor is referred 20. and the
recent telegraphers strike is used as q
ext Tor the recommendation. also made
10 the last Congress, that favorable CON
'ideration be given 70 the question of
treating machinery for the compuIsor,,
investigation, under Federal auspices Of
al such disputes affecting the public wei
ARE. '-''''e WEI
Woman and Child Labor.
The President discusses az length the
evils attendant upon the employment
n women and children. with Its e4fec+
lpon the home life Of the people and the
uture citizenship OF the nation, and de-
'laring that THE national government Is
Tot up 10 the notch with the more nro-
'ressive States in this particular. II &c
recommended that legislation be- pro- Is
'ided at this session of Congress 10
egulate this eyn in the District of Co
umbia and Territories. 1t = also ad.
Used that further appropriation he
made for the continuance Of the Federal
Investigation now being carried on in the
'arious States and reversion is made +o
he recourse which the government has
the right 10 exclude the products of
mid labor from interstate commerce
High tribute is paid by the President
o the efficiency and usefulness of .ho
department Of Agriculture in its reIa-
ION TO the farmer and the science of
griculture, and il is recommended
trongly that the national govern
nent lend unstinted aid to its activi-
les in fostering the large farming in
erests OF the country. and raising the
tatus OF the farmer from both the
cientlfc and the economic standpolnts.
ne Department of Commerce and Labor
also given an unstinted need of praise
OF us accomplishments during its short :
eriod OF life and the President. in CON