Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-12-04

Legislation OF the rest Of the indus
trial world stands out In striking
contrast to Our backWardness In this
respect. Since 1895 practically ever,
country Of Europe, 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 employer the
entire risk In the various lines OF in
dustry. / urge upon the congress the
enactment of a law which VIII at the
same time bring federal legislation up
TO the standard already established
by all the European countries. and
which viii serve as a stimulus to the
various states TO perfect their legisla.
tion In this regard.
Eight-Hour Law.
The congress should consider the
extension Of the eight-hour law
const%itutionaIity Of the present
law has recently been called into
question. and the supreme cou has
decided that the existing legislation
IS unqucstionablv within the power of
the congress. The principle of the
eight-hour day should az rapidly and
as far as practicable be extended and
NiNt fANAAAf aOfh fh ia ny III
government: and the present law
should be amended to embrace con-
tracts on those public works which
the present wording Of the act has
been construed to exclude. The gem
eral Introduction Of the eight-hour
day should be the goal toward which
we should steadily tend. and the gov
eminent should set the example In
this respect
Compulsory Investigation OF Indus
dustrial Disputes.
Strikes and lockouts. with their at
tendant loss and suffering. continue
to increase. For the five years end
ing December 81, 1905. the number
Of strikes was greater than those IN
any previous ten years and was dOu-
the number in the preceding five
years. These figures indicate the in
crcasing need Of providing some ma
chinery to deal with this class OF
In the interest alike of
the general public. renew my
previous recommendation that the
favorably consider the
matter Of creating the machin-
ar" for compulsory investigation of
Industrial controversies as are of
sufficient magnitude and of sufficient
concern to the people Of the country
- - u q III III CT -
government IN taking action.
The need for some provision for
uch Investigation was forcibly Illus
rated during the past summer. A
itrike Of telegraph operators serious
y interfered with telegraphic COM
nunication. causing great damage to
business interests and serious incOn-
TO the general public. APP
were made 10 me from many
Of the country. from city coun-
ills. from boards of trade. from
Of commerce, and from la
organizations, urging that steps
~ taken to terminate the strike. EV-
~ be done by a representative Of
he government was done. without
vail. and for weeks the public stood
" and suffered without recourse OF
ny kind Had the machinery eX-
sted u had there been authority
or compulsory investigation OF the {
ispute, the public would have been {
In possession of the merits OF
controversy. and public opinion
could probably have brought about J
prompt adjustment {
Each successive step creating ma !
hinery for the adjustment OF labor I
i%fficulties must be taken with eau
ion, but we should %endeavor to make |
I'm this direction. =
" provisions Of the act Of 1898
the chairman Of the inter- !
commerce commission and the ]
ommissioner of labor a board Of me-
In controversies between In =
erstate railroads and their employees I
as. for the first time. been subjected y
, serious tests within the past year n
the wisdom Of the experiment =
has been fully demonstrated Tho II
-eHtion' of a board for compulsory =
~lVestlgation in cases where mediation 2
and arbitration is rfie ted ~ I
he next logical step In a prugre sive q
rOgram. v
Capital and Labor. \
II H. certain for some time to come h
lcre viii be a constant Increase alb h
'idtely. and perhaps relatively. ofli,
lose among our citizens who dwell q
cities or towns of some size and n
no work for wages. This means n
there VIII be an eV~er-incrPasing d
to consider the problems insepa- n
BILE from a great Industrial civiliza- n
Where an immense and COM T.
business. especially Ia those b.
.anches relating tn manufacture and e.
ansportatlon. Is transacted by "A large n
OF capitalists who employ a
Try much larger number of wage
the former tend moro and
ore TO combine into c-orporations
ld the latter into unions. The re- u
ions of the capitalist and wage -
orkcr TO one another and of each ri
the general public, are not always e'
90 adjust aud Go pat them ana e,
'rp them ON a satisfactory basis Is ~
of the most important and one Of a.
Ia most delicate tasks before our "
hole civilization Much ~ the work ~
~ the accomplishments of this end M
ust Doe done by tho individuals con ti
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