The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-03-31

Washington, March z6.-Represen-
,tative John Sharp Williams, or Mis-
,sissippi, as leader OF the minority IN
the house OF representatives. tonlght
issued to the press written state
ment defining precisely the attitude
of the democratic party in the house
toward legislation urged by .Presi-
dent Roosevelt in his messages to
congress at the present session.
The statement describes what re-
publican legislation the democratic
party will support, what they oppose
and what concessions they demand
ON the part of majority as the price
Of refraining from an organized fill
buster throughout the remainder OF
the session.
Mr.. Williams notes the following
measures as ones which will com
mand virtually the solid democratic
vote within constitutional limits"
To compel publication OF campaign
contributions.
Prohibition of child labor in the
District of Columbia and the terri
tories
An employers liability law, drawn
to conform to the recent decision OF
the supreme court.
Federal liability to government en-
ployes.
A law to prohibit the issuance 'of
injunctions without notice to the
parry enioined.
Removal of the tariff on wood pulp
and printing paper.
Imposition of federal charge for
every water-power right granted on
a navigable stream.
Those principles and measures urg-
ed by the president with which Mr..
Williams, as minority leader takes
issue are enumerated as follows:
The penaliZing Of the boycott.
The right of the attorney general
to nominate receivers when a com
mon carrier is thrown into the hands
Of a receiver.
The modification Of the Sherman
antitrust aaW so as to permit within
Limitation the maintenance Of trusts
and the making of trade agreements
between combinations of capital
The appointment of a commission
to prepare data for a revision Of the
tariff.
Mr.. Williams frankly states that he
does not know whether a majority
of the minority favors the creation
OF a permanent waterways commits
sion.
Referring to the presidents decIa-
ration that child labor ought to be
prohibited throughout the nation,
and his recommendation that at
least model child labor bill should
be passed for the District of Colum-
bia Mr. Williams said: Child labor
ought TO be Jprohibited throughout
the nation, but the states are sole au-
thorities having constitutional power
to prohibit it If those who wOuh
protect the children oE the land and
through them the generations to come
would waste less of their time in the
useless agitation for invalid and un-
constitutional federal legislation and
would devote more of their time in
the several states, it would be bet
ter for all But the president is right
in saying that we can act for the
District of Columbia and for the ter
ritories as well and that we ought to
do it,
Commenting the president for his
recommendation for the Immediate
re-enactment of an employers liabi-
lity law, Mr.. Williams says: There
is no excuse for the delay on the
part of the republican members of
the house judiciary committee to re-
port an employers liability law.
Their delay at least arouses, if it
does not justify a suspicion that they
are having a lot of useless hearings
simply for the purpose Of using that
bin as buffer to prevent the serious
consideration of other bills before the
committee For example the Claxton
ibn to put an end to temporary re-
straining orders of courts invali-
dating state laws, and the various
bills there pending to recognize the
police powers of the states in deal
ing with alcoholic stimulants when
introduced into prohibition territory
I have given notice in the house that
no legislation shall be enacted by
unanimous consent until an employ
ers' liability bill is at last report
ed for the consideration Of the
house.
Respecting pending bills to prevent
the issuing of injunctions without
prior opportunity for the enjoining
party to be heard the minority lead
er says: "Of course I take it that no
body will understand the president or
me to mean that there should be any
limit upon territory restraining or
ders, when intended to prevent the
immediate destruction of property,
life or limb. When I say property /
do not mean judicially construed,
property rights.
One of the most vigorous portions
of MFR. Williams statement regards
A a