Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-01-31
Put in Same Class as BIackmaiIer, Bribe Taker
and Other Human vuItures and Held Up
to Scorn OF Decent Citizens.
POINTS NEED OF FURTHER LEGISLATION
Urging Among Other Things Law Providing for Payment OF
Damages to Civil Employees of Government and Act
10 Curb Power of Judges to Enjoin.

Washington, Jan. 31.-President
Roosevelt submitted a message to
congress today which, while urging
certain legislation as chiefly notable
as a defense of the administrations
course in the prosecution of the GRIM
inal rich. The president specifically
denies responsibility for the recent
financial panic. In treating of the all
legged efforts to discredit him he en-
ploys perhaps the strongest language
he has used in any public document
Legislation Needed.
The leading features of the message
are given:
ITO the Senate and House OF Repre-
sentatives: The recent decision of
the supreme court in regard to the EN-
ployers liability act, the experience OF
the interstate commerce commission
and of the department of justice in
enforcing the interstate commerce
and antitrust laws, and the gravely
significant attitude toward the law and
its administration recently adopted
by certain heads of great corporations,
renders it desirable that there should
be additional legislation as regards
certain of the relations between labor
and Capital, and between the great cor
porations and the public.
should Fix Liability.
"The supreme court has decided the
employers liability law to be uncon-
stitutional because its terms apply TO
employees engaged wholly in intrastate
commerce as well as to employees en-
gagged in interstate commerce. By a
substantial majority the court holds
that the congress has power TO deal
with the question in SO far as inter
state commerce is concerned.
''As regards the employers liability
law, | advocate its immediate reenact-
ment, limiting its scope SO that it shall
apply only TO the class of cases as to
which the court says it can Constitu-
tionally apply, but strengthening its
provisions within this scope. Inter
state employment being thus covered
by an adequate national law, the field
of intrastate employment will be left
to the action of the several states
With this clear definition of RESPONSE
bility, the states will undoubtedly give
to the performance of their duty with
in their field the consideration the i'm
portance of the subject demands
For Injured Government Employees.
81 also very urgently advise that q
comprehensive act be passed provid
ing for compensation by the govern
ment to all employees injured in the
government service. Under the pres
ent law an injured workman in the
employment the government has NJ
remedy. and the entire burden of thf
accident falls on the helpless man, hi:
wife, and his young children. This is
an outrage. 1t is matter OF humilia
tioH to the nation that there shoulC
not beJon our statute books no provis
ion to meet and partially to atone foI
cruel misfortune when it comes upor
man through no fault of his owl
while faithfully serving the public.
"In no other prominent industria
country in the world could such gros
injustice occur; for almost all civil
lied nations have enacted Legislation
embodying the complete recognition o
the principle which places the entir