Willmar tribune., 1908-02-12
PRESIDENT URGES
new LEGISLATION
IN HOT MESSAGE
BIG CORPORATIONS SCORED BE.
CAUSE OF ATTITUDE TO.
WARD GOVERNMENT.
EMPLOYERS LIABILITY LAW
Ch'ef Executive Declares Act Needs
Immediate Revision-Riehting
OF Injunction Abuses Is
Urged.

Of Injunction Abuses Is
Urged.
tatives: The recent decision Of the SUI
Preme court in regard to the employers
n,a,n napii'ty act. the experience of the Inter-
state Commerce Commission and of the
department Of justice in enforcing the in
, terstate commerce and antitrust laws.
the the sraysy aW and ttt1de
recently adopted by certain heads Of
great corporations. render it desirable
ina, that tn there should be additional legisla-
between labor and capital. and between
the great corporations and the public
me supreme court has decided the en-
tional because it's terms apply to en-
ployes engaged wholly in intrastate com
intrce.s merce as well as to employees engaged in
the enrt os BY tb,t S
sress has power to deal with the ques-
non in so far as interstate commerce
is concerned.
AS regards the employers liability law,
! advocate it's immediate reena actment,
uniting its scope SO that it shall apply
only to the class of cases as to which the
court says it can constitutionally apply.
put strengthening it's provisions within
TINS scope. Interstate employment being
thus thus covered by an adeq equate national
states. With this clear definition of
responsibility the states will undoubtedly
give to the performance Of their duty
within their field the consideration the
Importance of the subject demands.
Compensation for Employees
Hurt in Government Service
I also very urgently advise that a COM
prehensive act be passed providing for
a
employees injured In the government SER
vice Under the present law an injured
ernment has no remedy. and the entire
4 burden Of the accident falls on the help
less man. his wife. and his young chill
of humilia ton to the nation that there
should not be on our statute books pro-
vision to meet and partially to atone for
man no WaS1 aS Of it his so%ss
faithfully serving the public In no 9TH
er prominent industrial country In the
for amost such
acted legislation embodying the complete
recognition Of the principle which places
the entire trade risk for industrial acci-
due to willful misconduct by the en-
ploye). on the industry as represented
by the emrloyeer. which in this case is
the principle applies to the government
just as much as to the private employer
Under no circumstances should the in
ents be required to bring suit against the
government. nor should there be the re-
quirement that in order to insure re-
part of the government should be shown.
Our proposition is not to confer a right
of action upon the government employe.
Of his employment. The burden Of the
trade risk should be placed upon the
is entitled to his wages. so he should be
entitled to indemnity for the injuries sus-
tanned In the natural course of his labor
lations fer ITS payment should be speci-
fed in the law. ard the machinery for
determining the amount to be paid should
that the employe is properly represented
without expense to him. In other words,
the compensation should be paid auto
aw ia th at be OF
IN the department of commerce and labor
The law should apply to all laborers. me-
"s "a 1'es m 'H03 tha nteS f0Sfs Stste2
ircs1dins those in TIE service of the
Panama canal commission and of the in
suiar governments.
sh"d sh""d aTnH fHateS be- the maSs npe
cable to ,on all private tSo employers Where
enact laws to this effect. Where the
states alone have the power they should
thaft tat the laws It S;,,t is to- be observed
really mean mulcting employers in dam
ages. 1t merely throws upon the en-
ployer the burden of accident Insurance
against injuries which are sure to occur
1t requires him either to bear or to dis
tribute through insurance the loss which
can readily be borne when distributed
frightful hardship upon the unfortunate
victim of accident. In theory if wages
were always ,free'y and fairly adjusted
they would always include an allowance
certainly as the rate Of interest for mon
ey includes an allowance for insurance
employees were all experienced business
men. they would employ that part Of
their wages w hich is received because Of
the risk Of injury to secure accident
is not practical to expect that this will
be done by the great body of employees.
An employers liability law makes it
by the employer, and it will ultimately
impose no real additional burden upon
him.
There is special bill 70 which I call
your attention. Secretary Taft has ur-
gently recommended TIE immediate pas
sage of u law proyidins for compensation
in the work Of the lsthman canal, and
that 100000 be appropriated for this plr-
pose each year; I earnestly, hope this will
covering the case of YardmaSter Banton
who was injured nearly two years ago
while doing his duty. He is now help
less to support his wife and his three
little boys.
Action Urged TO Right
Abuses Of the Injunction
, I again call your attention to the need
OF some action in connection with the
abuse Of injunctions in labor cases As
regards the rights and wrongs Of labor
and capital. from blacl1listing to boycott
ting. the whole subject is covered in ad-
mrable fashion by the report Of the
which report should serve ss chart for
the guidance of both legislative and exec
utiye officers. AS regards injunctiOns, I
can do little but repeat what I have said
IN my last message to the congress. Even
,nouGh it We're possible, I should con-
slider it most unwise to abolish the use
OF the process Of injunction. 1t is neces-
s.lry in order that the courts may main
tain their own dignity and in order that
they may in effective manner chec.
disorder and violence. The judge who
uses it cautiously ard conservatively, but
who. when the need arises. uses it fear
!essly. cNnferS the greatest service upon
our people. and his preeninent useful
ness a pnhlic servant should be hearth
~ recognized. But there is no question