The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-01-31
PRESIDENT URGES
ACTS TO HELP
- NWAGE-EARNERS


tCentinasa from First Page).
that In order TO insure recovery neg
Jigence In some form on the part oil
the government should be shown. Our
proposition is not TO confer right
OF action upon the govern
ment employee. but TO Sc
cure him suitable provision against
injuries received In the course OF LIS
employment. The burden OF the trade
risk should be placed upon the gov
eminent. Exactly as the workingman
Is entitled To his wages. so he should
be entitled TO indemnity for the In
juries sustained In the natural course
of his labor. The rates OF compensa-
ton and the regulations for it's pay
ment should be specified in the law,
and the machinery for determining the
amount 10 be paid should in each case
be provided In such manner that the
employe Is properly represented with
out expense to him. In other words,
the compensation should be paid auto
ymatically, while the application of the
law In the first instance should be
vested In the department of commerce
and labor. The law should apply TO
all laborers, mechanics, and other
civilian employees OF the government
of the United States, including those
In the service OF the Panama canal
commission and OF the insular gov
ernments.
The same broad principle which
should apply to the government should
ultimately be made applicable to all
%. waite employers. Where the nation
has the power it should enact laws TO
this effect. Where Stae states alone
have the power they should enact the
laws. It is TO be observed that an
employers liability law does not really
mean mulcting employers In damages.
II merely throws upon the employer
the burden OF accident insurance
against injuries which are sure to
occur. It requires him either TO bear
or to distribute through insurance the
soss which can readily be borne when
distributed, but which, IL undistribut'
ed. bears with frightful hardship upon
the unfortunate victim of accident. In
theory, IL wages were always freely
and fairly adjusted, they would always
Include an allowance as against the
risk of injury. just as certainly as the
rate of interest for money includes an
risk OF loss. In theory, IL employees
were all experienced business men,
they would employ that part OF their
ywages which Is received because or
the risk OF injury to secure accident IN
surance. But as matter or fact. IL
is not practical to expect that this Will
be done by the great body -ef en'-
ployes. An employers liability law
makes 1t certain that 1t will be done,
In effect, by the employer. and It Will
ultimately impose no real additional
3burden upon him.
VI There Is a special bill to which
|fcall your attention. Secretary Tart
lhas urgently recommended the fmme-
Idiate passage of a law providing for
compensation to employees OF the gov
ernment injured In the work OF the
isthmiap canal, and that 100000 be
appropriated for this purpose each
fyear. I earnestly hope this will be
hone: and that a special bill be passed
towering the case of Yardmaster Ban
ION, who was injured nearly two years
ago while doing his duty. He Is now
helpless TO support his wife and his
three little boys.
Abuse Of injunctions.
again call your attention to the
need OF some action In connection with
The abuse OF injunctions in labor
Eases. AS regards the rights and
wrongs OF labor and capital, from
Establishing to boycotting. the whole
Subject is covered In admirable fash
LON blythe report the anthracite
roal strike commission. which report
~ oh orf IN a IL
bnce OF both legislative and executive
officers. Az regards injunctions, can
10 little but repeat what have said in
my last message to the congress. Even
though ii were possible, should con-
sider Il most unwise to abolish the
use OF the process OF injunction. II Is
necessary In order that the courts may
kmaintain their own dignity and In
order that they may in effective man.
I Eer check disorder and violence. The
|Budge who uses Il cautiously and con-
sssrvatively, but who, when the need
lrises, uses It fearlessly. confers the
greatest service upon our people. and
his pre-eminent usefulness as public
servant should be heartily recognized.
But there Is no question In my mind
that 1t has sometimes been used heed
essly and unjustly. and that some OF
ne inJunctfons Issued fnfffct grave and
occasionally irreparable wrong upon
hose enjoined.
II Is all wrong to use the injunction
20 prevent the entirely proper and le-
Ultimate actions OF labor organizations
IN their struggle for Industrial better
ment, or under the guise OF protecting
property rights unwarrantably to in.
wade the fundamental rights OF the In
iividual. 1t Is futile to concede, as
we all do. the right and the necessity
&pf organized effort on the part OF
wage learners, and yet by injunctive
process to forbid peaceable action to
accomplish the lawful objects for
which they are organized and upon
which their success depends. The fact
that the punishment for the violation