The weekly herald. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 1906-19??, 1908-12-10
WAGEWORKERS

WAUEWUnkLnO
The above II the merest sketch
hardly even a sketch In outline, OF
the reforms for which we should
work, But there Is one matter with
which the Congress should deal at
This session, There should no longer
| be any paltering with the question
OF taking care OF the Wageworkers
who, under our present industrial
system, become killed, crippled, or
worn out as part OF the regular in
cdents OF given business
The majority OF wageworkers must
have their rights secured for them
by state action; but the national gov
eminent should leglslate In thor
oushgolng and iar-reaching fashion
not only for all employees OF the ma
iional government, but for all per-
sons engaged in interstate commerce.
The object sought for could be
achieved 10 q measurable degree, as
far as those killed or crippled are
concerned, by proper employers liza
bllity laws.
As far as concerns those who have
been worn out, call your attention
to the fact that definite steps toward
providing old-age pensions have
been taken in many OF our private in
dustrles, These may be indefinitely
extended through voluntary associa-
ton and contributory schemes, or
through the agency OF sayings banks
as under the recent Massachusetts
plan, y
To strengthen these prac teal meas
ures should be our immediate duty:
it Is not at present necessary to con-
slider the larger and more general
governmental schemes that most Eu-
ropean governments have found
themselves obliged TO adopt.
PRESENT SYSTEM ONLY
GOOD FOR LAWYERS.
Our present system, or rather no
system, works dreadful wrong, and
is OF benefit 10 only one class OF peo-
ple--the lawyers. When work
man Is Injured what he needs is not
an expensive and doubtful lawsuit,
but the certainty OF relief through
immediate administrative action. The
number of accidents which result in
the death or gripping OF wagework-
ers, j. the Union at large, is simply
appalling; in a very few years it
runs UP total far in excess of the
aggregate OF the dead ana wounded
Ia any modern war.
No academic theory about free
dom OF contract" or constitutional
liberty to contract" should be per-
mtted to interfere with this and
similar movements. Progress in
civilization has everywhere meant q
limitation and regulation OF contract.
call your especial attention to the
bulletin OF the Bureau OF Labor
which gives a statement Of the meth
DDS of treating the unemployed in
European countries, as this Is a sub
iect which in Germany, for instance,
Is treated IN connection with MAX
ing provision for worn out and Grip
pied workmen,
Pending a thoroughgoing lnvesti-
cation and action there is certain
egislation which should be enacted
II once, The law, passed at the last
session OF the Congress, granting
to certain classes OF
employees OF the government, should
% extended to include all employees
u the government and should be
made more liberal in its terms.
There is no good ground for the
distinction made in the law between I
hose engaged in hazardous occupa- {
ions and those not so'engaged. If
/ man Is injured or killed in any line
II work, It was hazardous in his
,ase Whether per cent or 10 per
'ent OF those following a given oc-
'upStion actually suffer injury or
Ieath ought not to have any bearing {
IN the question OF their receiving I
compensation. 1t is grim logic G
which says to an injured employee or I
o the dependents of one killed that '
re or they are entitledFto no COM l
'ensation because very few people c
'ther than he have been injured or '
,illed In that occupation. is