Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-12-03
INJUNCTEONS.
Abuses of This Judicial Institution
 Should Be Stopped.

Instances of abuse in the granting of injunctions in labor disputes continue to occur, and the resentment in the minds of those who feel that their rights are being invaded and their lib erty of action and of speech unwar- rantly restrained continues likewise to grow. Much of the attack on the use of the process of injunction is wholly without warrant, but 1 am constrained to express the belief that for some of it there is warrant This question Is becoming more and more one of prime importance, and unless the courts will themselves deal with it in effective manner 1t is certain ultimately to de- mand some form of legislative action. It would be most unfortunate for our social welfare if we should permit many honest and law abiding citizens to feel that they had just cause for re- garding our courts with hostility. 1 earnestly commend to the attention of the congress this matter, so that some way may be devised which will limit the abuse of injunctions and protect those rights which from time to time it unwarrantably invades. Moreover, discomfort is often expressed with the use of the process of injunction by the courts, not only in labor disputes, but where state laws are concerned. I re- frain from discussion of this question, as I am informed that it will soon re- ceive the consideration of the supreme court.
 The federal courts must of course decide ultimately what are the respec- tive spheres of state and nation in con- nection with any law, state or national, and they must decide definitely and finally in matters affecting individual citizens, not only as to the rights and wrongs of labor, but as to the rights and wrongs of capital, and the na- donal government must always see that the decision of the court is put into effect The process of injunction is an essential adjunct of the courts doing it's work well, and as preventive measures are always better than reme- dial the wise use of this process is from every standpoint commendable. But where 1t is recklessly or unneces- sarily used the abuse should be cen sured. above all by the very men who are properly anxious 10 prevent any ef- fort 10 shear the courts of this neces- sary power The courts decision must be final. The protest is only against the conduct of individual judges in need lessly anticipating such final decision or in the tyrannical use of what Is nominally a temporary injunction to accomplish what is in fact permanent decision.
 Accidents.
 The loss of life and limb from rail road accidents in this country has be come appalling. It Is a subject of which the national. government should take supervision. It might be well to begin by providing for a federal in- spcctiOn of interstate railroads some what along the lines of federal inspec- tiOn of steamboats. although not going So far. Perhaps at first all that it would be necessary to have would be some officer whose duty would be to investigate all accidents on interstate railroads and report in detail the causes thereof Such an officer should make 1t his business to get into close touch with railroad operating men. so as to become thoroughly familiar with every side of the question. the idea being to work along the lines of the present steamboat inspection law.