The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1908-03-27


haken IN one or Another OF These.
Measures al Present Session--Sead-
ing OF Document Given Close At
texltiOn in Both Houses.
Washington, March 25.-A special
message from the president was read
In both houses of congress soon al
ter convening today and in both it
was closely followed. In the house
the presidents declaration that the
time had come for a revision in the
tariff elected hand-clapping on the
part of democratic members.
Democratic approval also was given
by way of pounding desks to the sug-
gestion that congress could with ad-
vantage forwith remove the tariff on
wood pulp, with a corresponding re-
duction upon paper made of the wood
pulp.
: The republicans waited and con-
fined the applause to the message as
a whole.
In the senate the message was re-
ceived without comment of any kind
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
TO the Senate and House OF Repre-
sentatives:
call your attention to certain
measures as to which l think there
should be action by the congress be-
fore the close of the present session
There is ample time for their con-
sideration. AS regards most if not all
of the matters, bills have been intro
duced into one or the other Of the
two houses, and it 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 present session,
and, indeed, in various mes: ages to
previous congresses, l have repeated
ly suggested action on most of these
measures.
Child labor should be prohibited
throughout the nation. At least a
model child-labor bill should be pass
ed for the District of Colum bia. It is
unfortunate that in the one place
aDlely dependent upon congress for
Its legislation there should be no
law whatever to protect chdildren by
forbidding or regulating their labor.
renew my recommendation for
the immediate reenactment of an
employers liability law, drawn to
conform to the recent decision Of the
supreme court. Within the limits in
dicated by the court, the law should
be made thorough and comprehensive,
and the protection it affords should
embrace every class of employe to
which the power of the congress can
extend
In addition to liability law pro-
tecting the employees of common car
riers, the government should show
its good faith by enacting further
law giving compensation to it's own
employees for injury or death incurred
in its service. 1t is reprOach to us
as a nation that in both federal and
state legislation we have afforded less
protection to public and private en-
ployes than any other Industrial
country of the world.
I also urge that action be taken
along the line of the recommended
tions / have already made concerning
injunctions in labor disputes. No
temporary restraining order should be
issued by any court without notice;
and the petition for a permanent in
junction upon which such temporary
restraining order has been issued
should be heard by the court Issuing
the same within a reasonable time
say, not to exceed a week or there
about from the date when the order
was issued. 1t is worth considering
whether it would not give greater
popular confidence in the impartial
fty of sentences for contempt if it
was required that the issue should be
decided 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.
] again call attention to the ur-
gent need of amending the interstate
commerce law and especially the an
thrust law along the lines indicated
in my last message. The interstate
commerce law should be amended SO
as to give railroads the right to make
traffic agreements, subject to these
agreements being approved by the
interstate commerce commission and
published In all of their details. The
commission should be given the pow
er to make public and to pass upon
the issuance OF all securities hereaf-
ter issued by railroads doing an in
terstate commerce business.
A law should be passed providing
in effect that when a federal court
determines to place q common car
rfer or other public utility concern