The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1908-02-06
PRESIDENT SCORES
CORPORATE ABUSES
IN SPECIAL MESSAGE
Calls for Legislation Against Ills
to Which Country Is
Heir.
NOT TO BLAME FOR a N
policies of Administration Are Earnest
ly Defended Against crities-Doeu.
ment One Of Most Striking
State Papers of History.

washington, Feb. g. President
Roosevelt today sent to congress a
special messa=e In which he vigor-
ously defencs the course of the ad-
. m~inistration in its correction of cor
porate abuses, n recommends legis-
iation along various lines. The mes
sage. which is in many respects one
Of the most remarkable state papers
ever submitted, follows:
The recent decision of the supreme
court in regard to the employers liability
Ynerce commission and OF the department
OF justice in enforcing the Interstate com
merce and antitrust laws, and the grave
It's administration recently adopted by
certain heads of great corporations, rem
der II desirable that there should be adj
t a5t,0 Teiat Hssisiibs efRee es f fsSor ana eer eaDits e
and between the great corporations and
! advocate its immediate re-enactment.
limiting its scope so that Ii shaI apply
only TO the class OF cases as to which the
Suqr strengthenins its nrovish1onsy w aPIfPh,ig;
this scope, Interstate employment being
thus covered by an adequate national law,
the aeld OF intrastate employment win
with this clear definition OF responsibility
the states viii undoubtedly give the per-
Torrance OF their duty within their field
tiO aAS AAP 0hS Va thS
subject demands.
/ also very urgently advise that a COM
pTshensive act be passed providing for
compensation by the government to all
employees injured in the government SER
vice. Under the present laws an injured
workman in the employment of the gov
eminent has no remedy, and the entire
burden OF the accident falls or the help
less ms his wife, and his young chill
dren. This Is an outrage. It Is a matter
Of humiliation to the nation that there
should not be on our statute books pro-
vision to meet and partially to atone for
cruel misfortune when It comes upon a
faithfully serving the public.
The same broad principle which
should aREtPISSately 70 be the made SSveT appflot
able to ali private employers
where the nation has the power it should
enact laws to this effect. Where the
enact the laws. II Is to be observed that
an employers liability law does not really
mean mulcting employers In damages. 1t
den Of accident insurance against injur-
les which are sure to occur.
As to i~njunctions.
I again call you attention to the need
Of some action in connection with the
abuse of %injupctions In labor cases. AS
and capital, from blacklisting to boycott
ting, the whole subject Is covered in ad-
mirable fashion by the report Of the
anthracite coal strike commission, which
report should serve as a chart for the
guidance of both Legislative Inc executive
officers. AS regards hjunctions, 7 can do
little but repeat what I nave said in my
though II were possible, I should consider
II most unwise TO abolish the use of the
process of Injunction. 1t is necessary in
order that the courts may maintain their
own dignity n in order that they may
in effective manner check disorder and
violence. The judge who uses 1t cautious
ly and ~conservatively, but who, when the
need arises, use 1t fearlessly, confers the
greatest service upon our people, n his
pre-eminent usefulness as a public serv-.
ant should be heartily recognized. But
there is no question I'm my mind that II
has sometimes been used heedlessly and
untustly, and that some of the injunc-
tons issued infict grave and occasionally
This matter is daily becoming OF graver
Importance and l can not too urgently
recommend that the congress give careful
way OF remedylng the abuses is not
found the feeling of indignation against
them among large numbers of our
to produce a revolt against the Whole
use of the process of Injunction. The
ultra conservatives who object to cutting
G that 'h if the popH Tai 'd fee Meni az does re% Seco%e
strong many of those upon whom they
rely to defend them will be the first to
n TSTn a fsatns e t tTast ~ ne anS Sf hRSSp s 3 f she
spirit OF justice n fair play; for those
very public men who. while II is to their
interest, defend all the abuses committed
by capital and pose as the champions OF
conservatism, will, the moment they
think their interest changes. take the
pander to what they esteem popular feel
Ing by ~endeavoring, for instance, effec-
lively to destroy the power of the courts
seek to render nugatory the power to
punish for contempt. upon which power
me very existence of the orderly admin
istration of Justice depends.