The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-02-01
Il Deals With Employers Liability
Act and Panders to the Labor
Vote. Received With Applause
and Copies Ordered Printed.

&&AN O&Ee~@ @%~%~ - =
washington, Jan., si--The special
messaue 81 the president to Congress
on the subject Of the employers iia-
biiity act and injunctions in labor cases
was presented In the Senate lew
minutes after ~ o'clock today
when Mr. Latta,. Assistant secre.
tary to the President. entered tne
chamber there was but handful o.
Senators present The vice-Presidenf
at once tore open the big enveiope
containing the message and HANDED ~
to the Assistant Secretary VINO I'M
mediately began its reading.
TO the Senate and House OF Represen-
The recent decision Of the Supreme
Court in regard to the empioyerg Ia
state Commerce Commission and OF the
Department of Justice in enforcing the
Interstate commerce and anti-trust
tuSe ,toWard the law and its adminis-
tration recently adopted by certain
heads OF great corporations, render y
fionai iekisiafion as regards certain Of
the relations between capital and labor,
and between the great corporations
ah The s1s Supreme naons; Court has decided the
stitutional because its terms apply to
employs esagsd Wholly s N ln,rss' s
gagged in Interstate commerce. BY
substantial majority, the court holds
that the Congress has power % dea!
state commerce Is concerned
As regards the employers liability
law, ADVOCATE ia. immeaiaie te - n,
anply only TO the class OF cases as 70
which the court says It can ccnstftu-
s;onally apply but STRENGTHENING .s irs
state employment being thus covered
by an adequate national law, the neld
OF iptrastate employment VIII es lett
With this clear definition of RESPONSE
biiity the States will undoubtedly give
to hsspsrsorInance Of their duty within i,II
portance OF the subject demands.
Compensation for Tnjurtes.
I also very urgently advise that
comprehensive act be passed proyiding
TO all employees injured in the Govern
ment service. Under the present law.
an injured workman IN the employment
the entire burden Of the accident fails
on the helpless man, his wife, and MIS-
young children. This is an OUTRAGE; Y
that there should not be on our statute
books provision to meet and partially
TO atone for cruel misfortune when u
his own while faithfully serylng the
public. In 20 other prominent lnGus-
trial country n the world could such
civ.iized nations nave enacted Isgisia-
tion eInb odytn9 the complete recogni-
tion OF the prineiple which places the
denss tsSci1dinss. Of course, accidents
due to willfui misconduct by the en-.
pioye) On the industry a. represented
tie Govsrnmssrt. In eli these countries
the principle applies to the GoveruEnent
Just as much a. to the private EN-
Undsr no. circnmstauoss- should the
injured ernploye or his suryiyins DC.
pendents be required 70 bring suit
there be the requirement that IN order
FORM aSo on the isss part u the Go aovsrpmsRf
n SaGu 70 S e sn0Mh right of Sefios upo
the Government employee. but TO secure
him suitable provision against irturies
ment rhe bnrd STlr 81 the trade risk
should be placed upon the Government.
Exactly as the workingman Is entitled
to Indemnity for the irjuries sustained
sn the natural course OF his labor The
rates Of compensation and the regula-
s sS fG ssa ltS he n for
determining the amount 70 be paid
should In each case be provided ~ such
manner
represented without expense to hiTns n
other words. the compensation should
be paid automatically, while the appl-
sSeSa e e the law u IN the rs
apply to ali laborers. mechanics, and
Ssssr s 81 tss n nRoyes e e the
those In the service OF the Panama
Canal Commission and Of the insuiar
m. 4 ~ 1890 hroad nr,nein,a which
should apply to the Government should
ultimately be made applicable 70 All
private empioysrs: Where the n a.. p
this effect. Where the States alone
have the power they should enact the
Laws Il ia e ,, ns onssrvsd tn9 rssi az
mean mulcting employers In damages.
i merely thrqws upon the employer
TIE nHrd d.st, of s ScSldsnt Insurance ~
cur. It requires him either to bear or
70 To-. distribute S thrcngh Insurance - the
bears with frightfni hardship upon upon
the unfortunate victim of accident. IN
the@oTry y,v'1 EHgss were ere. alwayS freely
risk of injury. Jtist as certainly aa the
rate Of interest for money includes an
risk Of loss In theory, II employee
were all experienced business men,
they would employ that part OF their
wages which IL received because OF the
risk Of injury to secure accident IN
eurancs. But as q matter OF fact, IL
Is not practical to expect that this will
be done by the great body OF employees.
An employer liability law makes 1t
certain that II will be done, in erect,
by the employer, and II viii ultimately
impose no real additionaI burdsn upon
him.
There is . special bill to which I call
your attention. Secretary Taft has ur-
sage OF q law providing for cornpensa-
tion to employees OF tn p Government in
Jured In the work of the Isthmian Ca.
for this purpose each year. / earnestly
hope this win be done; and that 4 spe.
Of Yardmaster Banton, who was ii
jured nearly two years ago while doing
his duty He tg now helpless to sup
port his wife aaa his three little boys.
Goodies labor Umlens.
again call yauf afkanffnY. IN ina