Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1908-02-01
Acts Bearing on Control of Great Cor
porations Need Attention.
OVER OF COMMERCE COMMISSION
Employers Liability and Injunotions
Are Fully Discussed.
LETTERS FROM MEN IN CONTROL
Chief Executive Reiterates Diahone.t
Buainess Men Must he Curbed,
No Matter How Powerful
They May be.


WASHINGTON. Jan. a-The special
message OF the president to congress on the
subject OF the employees liability act. in
functions in labor cases and power Of the
Interstate Commerce commission was pre-
sented in tho senate a few minutes after
Il o'clock today.
The vice president handed il to the As
sistRnt secretary OF the senate. who i'm
mediately began its reading Printed
copies Of the message were distributed 10
the senators present Many OF them an
peared to satisfy themselves concerning
the nature OF the message by scanning the
printed document. that before its read
ing was first half finished they very gen
orally took other matters and only fol-
lowed the reading carefully until It's CON
cusion
When the striking passages were reached
many Of the senators looked around the
chamber ana exchanged smiles. Mr.. TN
man seemed especially pleased with the
document.
The reading Of the message in tho house
was listened to with intense interest by the
members Of whom there was an unusually
large number IN attendance.
on the conclusion Of the reading NJ IN.
message. Senator Davis Of Arkansas
message be printed as a public document.
1T is the best democratic doctrine that
have ever heard emanating from a repub-
hcan sourLe," said Mr. Davis.
The motion was agreed To and without
turther comment the message was referred
TO the committee ON Interstate commerce.
Loud Applause I'm House,
As the reading e the message progressed
IN the HOuaA
heard audibly to explain. Most unusual.
This is red hot" etc. The presidents
vigorous denunciation of wrongdoers WAS
greeted with loud applanses as was his de-
Tense OF federal- guIEes who punish oG-
lenders for violatiqns of ne law
The frequency of applaasp Increased as
the reading proeealed The dunn " con
versatiou 9Fer the naessAga + eedeed ana
the memhers folio@ed eye1e unra l'sslf It's
climax earHe when tlo roaai,e was COM
cluded.
Without regard to party the members
loudly applauded cheered. thiImped their
desks and gave other evidence OF their an
proval Of the document. After a momen
tary silence the applause broke out again.
several members including many democrats
rising from their seats and clapping their
hands.
"N iiISSS'se lhen' on motion OF Mr.,
Payne IN. ", was referred to the conn
mittee on the state Of the union
Mr Ollie James CKy) produced laughter
and democratic applause when no tsunt-
ingly inquired Of Mr.. Payne: How many
additional thousand copies do YOU desirs ,.,
circulation
Mr. Payne replied aughingIy.
Oh the usual number"
The MessaEe in Full.
The president said.
The recent decision of the sunrer,a s,,,r,
in regard to the employers liability act, the
experience OF the Interstate Commercs
commission and of the Department OF
Justice in enforcing the interstate com
merce and antitrust laws. and the gravelv
significant attitude toward the law and IL
administration recently adopted by certain
heads OF great corporations render il de-
siraole that there should be additional
legislation as regards certain OF The rela
uons between labor and capital, and De-
tween the great corporations and ths
public.
The supreme court has decided the en-
ployers' liability law to be unconstitu.
uonal because its terms Apply 10 emplov,s
engaged wholly in intrastate commerce a,
well as 10 employees engage IN interstate
commerce BY substantial majority thg
court holds that the congress has power
to deal with the question insofar a. inter-
state commerce is concerned
As regards the employers liability law
advocate its immediate re-enactment.
limiting its scope so that It shall apply only
TO the class Of cases as to which the court
says II can constiiutionslly apply. but
strengthening It's provisions within IT,
Iuf a#.
covered by an adequate nationa. law. the
field Of intrastate employment will be left
to the action Of the several states. win
this clear definition of responsibility t1e
states Will undoubtedly give to the pcr
formance Of their duty within their fiald
the consideration the importance OF ths
subject demands
Compensation for Injuries.
Il also very urgently advise that com
prehensive act be passed providing Tor
compensation by the government to an en-
ployes injured IN the government
service. Under the present law an
injured workman in the employ
ment Of the government has n,
remedy, and the entire burden OF the st-
cident fails on the helpless man, his wife
and his young children. This Is an out
rage. II Is matter Of humiliation 10 tbs
nation lhat there should not be- on our
statute books provision 20 meet and "a.
tally 20 atone Tor cruel misfortune when
it comes upon a man through no fault Of
MS own while faithfully serving the pub
Lc In no other prominent Industrial coun-
try in the world could such gross injustice
occur, for almost all civilized nations have
enacted legislation embodying the complete
recognition OF the principle which places
the entire trade risk for Industrial acct
dents teNclucing, of course. accidents due
10 Wliful misconduct by the employer on
the Industry as represented by the en-
ployer' which in this case rs the govern
neni- In all these countries the principle
NPPfes 10 the government Just as much as
10 the private employer. Under no c-.
'umstanees shogld the injured employs Or
his surviving dependents he reql--cd %
bring suit against the government, nor
sN0uld there be the requirement. taAt -