Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1908-02-06
SPECIAL MESSAGE
President Roosevelt Asks Congress
to Pass a New Employer
Liability Law.
THE NEED OF MORE POWER
The 0raveIy Significant Attitude
Adopted BY Certain Heads Of Great
Corporations Toward Law En-
forcsment Requires Attention.

forcsment Requires Attention.
Washington, Feb. 1.-The special
message of the president to congress
on the subject Of the employers liabil-
ity act and injunctions in labor cases
was presented in the senate few
minutes after / o'clock Friday. The
following are extracts from the docu-
ment which contained ~ printed
pages:
The recent decision of the supreme
court In regard to the employers
liability act, the experience of the
interstate commerce commission and
OF the department of justice in enforc-
ing the interstate commerce and anti
trust laws, and the gravely significant
attitude toward the law and its admin
istration recently adopted by certain
heads of great corporations, renders
1t desirable that there should be ad-
ditional legislation as regards certain
of the relations between labor and
capital, and between the great corpora
tions and the public.
The supreme court has decided the
employers liability law to be unconsti-
tutional because its terms apply to
employees engaged wholly In interstate
commerce as well as to employees en-.
gagged in interstate commerce. BY a
substantial majority the court holds
that the congress has power to deal
with the question In 80 far as inter-
state. commerce is concerned.
AS regards the employers liability
law, l advocate its immediate re-enact-
ment, limiting its scope so that 1t
shall apply only to the class Of cases
as to which the court says 1t can con-
stitutionally apply, but strengthening
its provisions within this scope.
also very urgently advise that a
comprehensive act be passed provid-
ing for compensation by the govern
ment to all employees injured in the
government service.
/ again call your attention to the
need of some action in connection
with the abuse of injunctions In labor
cases.
l do not know whether 1t Is possible
but If possible, 1t is certainly desirable
that in connection with measures to
restrain stock watering and over
capitalization there should be meas
ures' taken to prevent at least the
grosser forms of gambling in securi-
ties and commodities, such as making
large sales of what men do not pos
sess and "cOrnering" the market. Lee
climate purchases Of commodities
and of stocks and securities for In
vestment have no connection what
ever with purchases Of stocks or other
securities or commodities on margin
for speculative and gambling pur-
poses.
It is especially necessary to secure
the representatives Of the national
government full power to deal with
the great corporations engaged in in
terstate commerce, and above all, with
the great interstate common carriers.
Our people should clearly recognize
that while there are difficulties in any
course Of conduct to be followed in
dealing with these great corporations,
these difficulties must be faced, and
one of three courses followed.
The first course is to abandon all
effort to oversee and control their &C
lions in the interest of the general
public and to permit return to the |
utter lack of control which would OBJ
tain II they were left to the common
law. l do not for one moment. be-
lieve that our people would tolerate
this position.
The second and third courses are to
have the regulation undertaken either
by the nation or by the states.
After telling Of the efforts Of the
opponents of the policies Of the adj
to block the work laid
out, the president concludes:
In the work we of this generation
are in, there is, thanks be to the Al
mighty, no danger Of bloodshed and
no use for the sword; but there is
grave need of those stern qualities
shown alike by the men Of the north
and the men Of the south in the dark
DAYS when each valiantly battled for
the light as It was given each to see
the light. Their spirit should be our
spirit, as we strive to bring nearer
the day when greed and trickery and
cunning shall be trampled under feet
BY those who fight for the righteous
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