Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1908-01-31
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT SENDS
SPECIAL MESSAGE TO CONGRESS
Urges Necessity of Remedial Legislation
Brought About by Recent
Occurrences
TOUCHES UPON FINANCIAL sTR|NGENCY ANO ITS CAUSES
Attention of National Law Making Body Called to Manv
Matters of Paramount Importance Which
Need Remedying.

comprehensive act be passed proyid.
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 Of the government has no
remedy, and the entire burden of the
accident falls on the helpless man,
his wife, and his young children. This
is an outrage. 1t Is matter of humil.
lation to the nation that there should
not be on our statute books provision
to meet and partially to atone for cruel
misfortune when II comes upon a man
through no fault OF his own while
faithfully serving the public In NO
other prominent industrial country in
the world could such gross injustice
occur, for almost all civilized nations
have enacted legislation embodying
the complete recognition of the prln-
ciple which places the entire trade
risk for Industrial accidents due to
Wlllful misconduct by the employee)
on the industry rs represented by the
employer, which in this case is the
government. In all these countries the
principle applies to the government
just as much as to the private employ
er. Under no circumstances should the
injured employee or his surviving de.
pendents be required to bring suit
against the government, nor should
there be the requirement that In order
to insure recovery negligence in some
form on the part Of the government
should be shown. Our proposition is
not to confer right Of action upon
the government employee, but TO Sc.
cure him suitable provision against
Injuries received in the course of his
employment. The burden Of the trade
risk should be placed upon the govern.
ment. Exactly as the workingman Is
entitled to his wages, so he should be
entitled to indemnity for the injuries
sustained in the natural course of his
labor. The rates Of compensation and
the regulations for its payment should
be specified in the law, and the ma
chinery for determining the amount to
be paid should in each case be pro-
vided in such manner that the EN-.
ployee is properly represented without
expense to him. In other words, the
compensation should be paid automat-
ically, while the application of the law
in the first instance should be vested
in the Department of Commerce and
Labor. The law should apply to all Ia
borers, mechanics and other civilian
employees of the government of the
United States, including those In the
service of the Panama Canal Commits.
sion and Of the insular governments.
Need Of Employers Liability Law.
The same broad principle which
should apply to the government should
be made applicable to all
private employers. Where the Nation
has the power 1t should enact laws to
this effect. Where the States alone
have the power they should enact the
laws. 1t Is to be observed that an en-
ployers' liability law does not really
mean mulcting employers in damages.
1t throws upon the employer the burd.
en- of accident insurance against
injuries which are sure to occur. 1t re-
quires him either to bear or to dis
tribute through insurance the loss
which can readily be borne when dis
tributed, but which, if undistributed,
bears with frightful hardship upon
the unfortunate victim Of accident. In
theory, If wages We're always freely
and fairly adjusted, they would always
include an allowance as against the
risk of injury, just as certainly as the
rate Of interest for money includes an
allowance for insurance against the
risk Of loss. In theory, II employees
we're all experienced business men,
they would employ that part Of their
wages which is received because Of
the risk of injury to secure accident
Insurance. But as matter OF fact,
It is not practical to expct that this
will be done by the great body of EN-.
ployees. An employers liability law
makes 1t certain that 1t will be done,
In effect by the employer, and 1t will
be done, in effect by the employer,
and 1t will ultimately impose no real
additional burden upon him.
There is a special bill to which |
call your attention. Secretary Taft has
recommended the immediate
passage Of a law providing for com.
pensation to employees Of the Govern.
ment injured In the work Of the 18th.
nian Canal, and that 100000 be ap.
propriated for this purpose each year.