Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-03-26

aotment of Employers Liability
Act Drawn TO Conform With Recent
Supreme Cour, Deoision-chld La
Dor Should 30 Prohibtod-Use Of
'njunctons In Labor Cases Must 30
Llmited-Dcclares For Tariff Re-
vision, Which Should Be Preceded
by Careful Investigation.
To the Senate and House OF Repre-
sentntives:
call your attention to certain
measures MS TO which think there
should he action by the congress before
the close of the present session. There
Is ample time for their consideration.
AS regards most IL not nll Of the mat
tiers, bills have been introduced Into
one or the other of the two houses,
and II Is not too much to hope that ac-
ton VIII be taken one way or the 9th.
er on these bills nj the present session.
In my message Mt the opening OF the
present session and. indeed. In various
messages to previous congresses have
repeatedly suggested action on most of
these measures
To Prohibit Child Labor.
Child labor should he prohibited
throughout the nation. At least n
mode. child lnbor bill should be passed
for the District OF Columbia u Is I'M.
fortunate that In the one place solely
dependent upon congress for Its leg
islation there should he no law what.
ever to protect children by forbldding
or regulating their labor.
Employers Liability.
renew my recommendation for the
immediate re-cnnctmcnt Of IN EN-
ploycrs liability law. drawn to con-
form to the recent decision of the sill
{. premc court. Within the limits ndl
Gated by the court the law should be
made thorough aud comprehensive.
j and the protection II affords should
embrace every class of employee to
which the power of The congress can
extend
In addition to n liability law protect
ing, the employees OF common carriers
the, government should show It's good
faith by enncting n further law giving
compensation to its own employees for
injury or death incurred in its service.
1t Is reproach to us as n nation that
In both federal and state legislation
we have afforded less protection TO
public and private employees than any
other Industrial country of the world.
Use of injunctions.
1 also urge that action he taken
along the line of the recommendations
have already made concerning In
functions In labor disputes. No tenn
porary restraining order should be is
sued by any court without notice, and
the petition for permanent Injunction
upon which such temporary restrain
s Ing order has been issued should he
heard by the court issuing the same
within reasonable time say. not TO
exceed week or thcrcabouts from the
date when the order wns issued. Ii is
worth considering whether II would
not give greater popular confidence In
the impnrtiality OF sentences for con.
tempt If II was required that the Issue
should be decided by another Judge
than the one issuing the Injunction.
except where the contempt Is commit
ted In the presence of the court or in
other case of urgency.
To Lesalizo Traffic Agreements.
again call attention TO the urgent
need OF amending the interstate com
merce law and especially the antitrust
law along the lines indicated In my
last message. Tie interstate com.
merce law should be amended so MS TO
give railroads the right to make traffic
agreements. subject TO these agree.
ments being approved by the inter
state commerce commission and pub.
iished in all of their details. The com.
mission should also be given the power
to make public and to pass upon the
issuance of all securities hereafter
issued by railroads doing an Interstate
commerce business.
Reform In Reeeiverships.
A law should be passed providing in
effect that when federal court de.
termines to place Il common carrier or
other public utility concern under the
control of receiyership the attorney
general should have the right to nom.
mate at least one of the receivers or
else In some other way the interests
OF the stockholders should be consult.
ed 80 that the management NAV not
be wholly redellvered to the man NJ
men the failure of whose policy NAV
have necessitated the creation OF the
3 receIyershlp. Receiverships should be
used, not to operate roads, but as
speedily as possible to pay their debts
and return them to the proper owners
Combinations of Farmers.
In addition to the reasons | have al
ready urged on your attention, Il has
now become important that there