East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1908-03-25

Washington, March 25.-President
Roosevelt today sent what will prob
ably be his last message to the pres
ent term of the 60thc ongress. In 1t he
urges congress to renewed activity
during the few remaining weeks of
the session and outlines the legislation
which he believes should be pushed
through before adjournment. The
document is free from denunclations
or radicalsm and the president con-
fines himself strictly TO the recon-
mendations of the legislation he de-
sires, He urges:
The abolition of child labor
throughout the country.
A model child labor law for the
District of Columbia.
An employers liability law.
An amendment to the interstate
commerce law.
Legal sanction for legitimate bus
mess combinations.
Government liability for injuries to
employees.
Legislation to limit injunctlons.
A postal savings bank.
Substitution of arbitration for
strikes.
Legal recognition of the right OF
employers to unite to form labor
agreements, and of employees to strike.
Outlawing Of blacklist and boy
colt.
Financial legislation.
Collection of facts and data to en-
able next congress to reform the
tariff.
Forest preservation.
Wood pulp on the free list, and
Right OF the government to charge
for water rights.
Following is the message in part:
'yTo the United States Senate and
House of Representatives:
81 wish to call your attention to
certain matters on which I think
there should be action taken before
this congress closes its present ses-
sion.
Child labor should be prohibited
throughout the nation. At least. a
model child labor bill should be pass
ed for the District of Columbia.
81 renew my recommendation for
legislation on the question of the en-
ployer's liability and again call your
attention to the urgent need OF
oO,andfnm III iotareto+a oon,r,o,oo
law, especially the antitrust law,
along lines indicated in my last mes
sage
The interstate commerce law
should be amended to give railroads
the right to make traffic agreements
subject to approval by the interstate
commerce commission. The COM
mission should be given power to
make public and pass upon the issu-
ence of all security hereafter issued
by railroads doing an interstate COM
merce business. In the modern in
dustrial world, combinations are alb
solutely necessary. 1t is mischievous
and unwholesome to keep upon the
statute books until modified laws like
the antitrust law, which, while in |
practice is only partially effective
against the vicious combinations, has, |
nevertheless, in the ordinary, been |
construed to prohibit every combina-
tion in the transaction of modern |
business.
Following his recommendation in |
relation to the child labor law and |
the amendment OF the interstate COM
merce law, giving roads the right to |
make tariff agreement subject to
the approval OF the interstate COM !
merce commission. the president took
up the subject of labor organizations
and the present laws.
He said 1t is uncertain just how |
far the unions conflicted with the |
antitrust law. He urged legislation |
to be enacted in order to conform
with the recent supreme court de.
cisions.
"No temporary restraining order
should be granted by the court with
out due notice." he said. "It is inn
portant that agreements between the
employer and employe should be Just
and fair, The strike is clumsy
weapon used in adjusting the wrongs
done to labor, but strikes should be
recognized as entirely legal.
"The right of employers to combine
and contract with each other and of
the employe should be recognized.
Nothing should be done to legalize
The hlack list or bovcott that would