Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1908-03-26


received without comment of any
kind.
To the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives:
| call your attention to certain
measures as to which | think there
should b action by the congress be-
iole the close of the ,tesent session.
There is ample time for their con-
sideration. AS regards most If not
all of the matters, bills have been
/ introduced into one or the other of
| the two houses, and IL is not too
much to hope that action will be
/ taken one way or the other on these
| bills at the present session. In my
message at the opening Of the pres
ont session, and. indeed, in various
messages to previous congresses, I
have repeatedly suggested action on
mot of these measures.
CHILD LABOR.
Child labor should be prohibited
throughout the nation. At least a
model childIabor bill should be
passed for the District of Columbia.
/ 1t is unfortunate that in the one
+ place solely dependent upon con-
gress for its legislation there should
| be no law whatever to protect chill
dren by forbidding or regulating
their labor.
EMPLOYERS LIABILITY.
renew my recommendation for
the immediate re-enactment OF an
employers liability law, drawn to
conform to the recent decision of
the supreme court. Within the linn
its indicated by the court, the law
should be made thorough anal COM
prehensive, and the protection 1t af-
fords should embrace every class of
cmploye to which the power of con-
Gress can extend.
In addition to a liability law pro-
tecting the employees of common
carriers the government should
show its good faith by enacting a
further law giving compensation to
its own employees for injury or death
incurred in its service. IL is a re-
proach to us as nation that in both
federal and state legislation we have
AFFORDED less protection to publiV
and private employees than any other
Industrial country Of the world.
TNJUNCTIONS IN LABOR DIS
PUTES.
also urge that action be taken
along the line Of the reccmmenda-
lions ! have already made concern
ing injunctions in labor disputes.
No temporary restraining order
should be issued by any court with
out notice: and the petition for a
permanent injunction upon which
such temporary restraining order
has been issued should be heard
by the court issueing the same with
in reasonable time-Bay. not to
exceed week or thereabouts from
the date when the order was issued
II IS worth considering whether IL
would not give greater popular con-
fdence In the impartiality of SEN
fences for contempt II IL was re-
CURED that the issue should be de-
cided by another Judge than the
one issuing the injunction. except
where the contempt is committed in
the presence Of the court. or in
other case Of urgency.
ANTITRUST LAWS.
again call attention 10 the ur-
gent need Of amending the inter
state commerce law and especially
the antitrust law along the lines
indicated fin my last message. The
interstate commerce law should be
amended so as 10 give railroads
The right to make traffic agree
ments. subject 70 these agreements
being approved by the interstate
commerce commission and published
in adj ~ their details The com
mission should also be given power
10 make public and 20 pass ppoD
inc issuance OF an securities here
after issued by railroads doing an
interstate commerce business
a Ia~ should De- passed providing
10 effect that when federal coprt
determines 10 place a common oar.
rifr or other public utility concern
under The control OF a rocclvorsbip.
me Attornoy-Goncral should have