The semi-weekly messenger., 1907-12-06


legislative action. It would be most
unfortunate for our social welfare II
We should permit many honest and law
abiding citizens to feel that they had
just cause for regarding our courts
with hostility. I earnestly commend
to the attention of the congress this
mater, so that some way may be de-
vised which will limit the abuse of in
functions and protect those rights
which from time to time 1t unwar-
rantably invades. Moreover, discon-
tent 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. |
refrain from discussion of this ques-
ton as am informed that it will soon
receive the consideration of the su-
preme court.
The federal courts must Of course
decide ultimately what are the re-
spective spheres Of state and nation in
connection with any law, state or ma
ticnal, and they must decide definitely
and finally in matters affecting indiv1d-
ual citizens, not only TO the rights and
wrongs of labor but as to the rights
and wrongs Of capital; and the nation
a. 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 do
ing it's work we'll; and as preventive
measures are always better than rem
edial the wise use Of this process is
from every standpoint commendable.
But where it is recklessly or unnec-
essarily used, the abuse should be CEN
sured, above all by the very men who
are properly anxious to prevent any
effort to shear the courts Of this nee
essary power. The courts decision
must be final; the protest is only
against the conduct of individual
judges in needlessly anticipating such
final decision or in the tyrannical use
Of what is nominally q temporary in
junction to accomplish what is in fact
permanent decision.
ACCIDENTS.
The loss Of life and limb from rail-
road accidents in this country has be-
ccme appalling 1t ic subject of
which the national government should
take supervision. It might be we'll to
begin by providing fol a federal in
spection of interstate railroads some
what along the lines of federal inspec
tion Of steamboats,, although not going
SO far; perhaps at first all that would
be necessary to have would be some
CtEcer whose duty It would be to in
vestigate all accidents on interstate rail
roads and report in detail the causes
thereof Such an officer should make
it his business to get in 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.
EMPLOYERS LIABILITY.
The national government should
be a model employer It should de-.
mand the highest quality of service
from each of it's employees and it
should care for al Them properly in
return. congress should adopt legisla-
tiOn providing limited but definite COM
pensatiOn for accidents to all working
1nen within the scope of the federal
power, including employees Of the navy
yards and arsenals. In other words,
a model employers liability act, far
reaching and thoroughgoing, should be
enacted which should apply to all po-
sitions, public and private, over which
the national government has jusisdic-
tiOn. The number of accidents to
wage workers, including those that are
and those that are not.
has become appalling in the mechani-
cal, manufacturing and transportation
operations Of the day. 1t works grim
to the ordinary wage worker
and his family to have the eff
feet Of such an accident fall sOrely up
Oh him; and, en- the ether hand, there
are whole classes of attorneys who ex-
st only by melting men who may or
may not have been wronged to under
take suits for negligence. AS a matter
Of fact suit for negligence is gener-
ally an inadequate remedy for the per-
son injured, while it often causes al
-cgether disproportionate annoyance to
he employer. The law should be made
such that the payment for accidents
Dy the employer would be automatic
instead Of being matter for lawsuits.
Workmen should receive certain and
definite compensation for all accidents
Il, industry irrespective of negligence.
rhe employer is the agent of the pub
lc and on his own responsibility and
'or his own profit he serves the public
When he starts in motion agencies
which create risks for others, he
should take all the ordinary and ex-