Los Angeles herald., 1907-12-31
DISCUSS BEST
LEGISLATION
FOR WORKERS
IMPORTANT GATHERING HELD
AT MADISON
American Economic Association and
Allied Body Plan for Better
ment Of Laborers'
Lot,
Rx Associated P-ess.

BY Associated Press
MADISON, Wis, Dec. 30.-At a joint
session of the American Economic asso-
citation and the American Association for
Labor Legislation here today the presi-
dent of the latter organization, DR.. Rich
ard E. Ely of the University of Wiscon-
sin, spoke on Economic Theory and La
Dor Legislation.
can examination of modern theories OF
population and wages reveals the exist
ence of no doctrine which in itself is an
tagonistic to labor legislation in itself,
he said, land as matter of fact, it would
be difficult to find such antagonism
among the leading economists of the
world today Undoubtedly these econ
omists would hold most of the proposals
for labor legislation impracticable and
even visionary, but on the other hand
they agree with substantial unanimity on
large number of proposed labor laws.
"The economic laws for labor legisla-
tion are argued against when the subject
Is approached from the viewpoint of
contract or the economic bargain, consid-
cred particularly in its legal aspect with
respect to underlying economic causes.
Contracts are static, not dynamic.
Through contract the actually existing
economic forces manifest themselves with
all their inequalities and injustice.
Contracts Should Be Regulated
Until recently economists were in
clined to limit regulation Of labor condi-
tions, and especially hours of toll for
children, young persons and women, leav-
ing adult men free to make their own
contracts But experience has shown
conclusively that while adult males as a
rule are In far better position in the
labor contract than the other classes
mentioned, unregulated contract does not
always conduce to freedom and fair OPP
portunity but frequently means bondage
and degradation. We must not take the
view of the state assuming external
powers and stepping In and interfering
with liberty. It's action is rather the re-
suit of the cooperative efforts of men
to determine the conditions of toll and
to enlarge their sphere of economic ac-
tion
Science can draw no arbitrary line be-
tween labor legislation for adults and
labor legislation for women and chill
dren; the cases must be judged sthey
arise, on their merits. Efficiency must
be an ever present test
PrOf CnHrleS H. I1eIlueTSOH oI lilc Oht-
yersity of Chicago spoke on working
mans Insurance in Illinois," which was
also discussed by President John r. Com
mons of wisconsin university. At ses-
sion Of the American Sociological So
ciety the question rs Race Friction Be
tween Whites and Blacks Growing and
Inevitableg' was considered by Prof. AL
fred II. Stone of Washington, d. O.,
prof. w. e. b. Durbers Of Atlanta and
others.
Before the American Political Science
association Prof Ernest Freund of the
University of Ohio delivered an address
on "The Problem of Intelligent Legis-
lation,"
"a Program for Social Legislation" !"
with special reference to the wage Garner,
was the subject of paper by Prof Henry
RI Seager of Columbia university at a
session of the American Association for
Labor Legislation. A paper by Labor
Commissioner Charles p Neill on "The
Employment Of Children and Women
was also heard.