Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1908-07-16

Oh MlC0lSdn university IN 1869. HE
Election upon the great body of our
citizens to assume that they lack re-
spect for the courts.
1t is the function Of the courts to
interpret laws which the people Gre
ate, and if the laws appear to work
social or political injustice it is our
duty to change them. The only basis
upon which the integrity of the courts
can stand is answering justice and
protection of life, personal liberty and
property. If judicial processes may
be abused, we should guard them
against abuses.
Experience has proven the neces-
sity of modification of the present law
relating to injunCtions, and we reiter-
ate the pledge of our national plat
forms of 1896 and 1904 in favor of
the measure which passed the United
States senate in 1896, but which the
republican congress has ever since
refused to enact, relating to con
tempts in federal courts and providing
for trial by jury in cases of Indirect
contempt.
Partially in Injunctions.
Questions of judicial practice have
arisen especially in connection with
industrial disputes. We deem that
the parties to all judicial proceed
ings should be treated with rigid i'm
Partially, and that injunctions should
not be issued in any case in which
injUnctiOns would not issue if no in
dustrial dispute were involved The
expanding organization of industry
makes it essential that there should
be no abridgement Of the rights of
wage eaners and producers to or
ganize for the protection of wages
and Improvement of labor cnditiOns
to the end that such labor rganiza-
lions and their members should not
be regarded as illegal combinations
in restraint Of trade.
DEPARTING of Labor.
We favor an eight-hour day On all
| government work.
We pledge the democratic party to
the enactment of law by congress, as
far as federal jurisdiction extends, for
general employ rs' liability act COW
ering injury to body of loss of life
of employees.
We pledge the democratic party to
the enactment of a law creating a
department of labor, represented sep
arately in the presidents cabinet,
which department shall include the
subject of mines and mining.
More Railroad Regulation.
We assert the right of congress to
exercise complete control over inter
state commerce and the right of each
state to exercise like control over the
commerce within its borders.
We demand such enlargement Of
the powers of the interstate COM
merce commission as may be neces-
sary to compel the railroads TO per
form their duties as common car
riers and prevent discrimination and
extortion.
For Physical Valuation.
We favor efficient supervision and
rate regulation of railroads engaged
in interstate commerce and TO this
end we recommend the valuation of
railroads by the interstate commerce
commission, such valuation to take
into consideration the physical value
of the property, the original cost of
reproduction and all elements of
value that will render the valuation
fair and Just.
Against Passes and Rebates.
We favor such legislation DIS will
prohibit railroads from engaging in
business which brings them into com
petition with their shippers, also leg
isIation which will assure such reduc-
ton in transportation rates as con-
ditions will permit, care being taken
to avoid reductions that would com
pei reduction of wages, prevent ade-
quate service or do injustice to legit-
innate investments. We heartily ap-
prove the laws prohibiting passes and
rebates, and favor any further neces-
sary legislation to restrain, control
and prevent such abuses.
We favor such legislation as will
increase the power of the interstate
commerce commission, giving to it
the initiative with reference TO rates
and transportation charges put into
effect by railroad companies, and per-
hitting the interstate commerce com
mission, on its own initiative, to de-
clare a rate illegal and as being more
than should be charged for such
service. The present law relating
thereto is inadequate by reason of
the fact that the interstate commerce
commission is without power 10 fix
or investigate a rate until complaint
has been made to it b. shipper.
We further declare that agreements
Of tariff or other associations Of rail-
way agents affecting interstate rates,
service or classification, shall be I'M
lawful. unless fled with and approved
by the interstate commerce commits
sion
We favor the enactmen. Of law