Mexico Missouri message., 1908-04-02
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT IN BRIEF
MESSAGE TO CONGRESS URGES
NEEDED LEGISLATION.
FAVORS REVISION OF TARIFF
Passage Of Hepburn Bill, Amending
Sherman Antitrust Law, ProvId.
ing for Registry Of Trust Agree
msnts Urged at This session.

Roosevelt Wednesday sent to both
houses Of Congress his special mes
sage. announced several days ago.
calling attention to legislation which
he deems IL important should be pass
cd at this session.
A special plea IL made for the enact.
ment OF a child labor law for the Dis.
trict OF Columbia; the immediate re.
enactment OF the employers liability
law: a law providing for the payment
OF compensation for injury or death
received by employees OF the Govern.
ment: amendment OF the law govern
ing the Issue OF injunctions In labor
disputes: amendment Of the interstate
commerce and antitrust laws so as to
permit the formation OF combinations
not in conflict with public policy;
carly financial legislation along the
line proposed by the measure now be-
fore Congress. and the establishment
OF postal banks.
Text Of Presidents Message.
To tho senate and House Of Representa-
! call your attention 20 certain meas
urca as TO which ] think there should be
action by the Congress before the close
Of the present session. There II ample
time for their consideration, As regards
most N not all Of the matters, bills have
been introduced into one or the other OF
the two Houses. and II Is not too much 60
rope that action will be taken one way or
the other on these bills at the present
session. In my message at the opening or
the present session, and. Indeed. In va
have repeatedly suggested action on most
u these measures.
Child labor should he prohibited
throughout the nation. At least model
chlld-labor bill should be passed for the
District Of Columbia. Il r. unfortunate
that In tho one place solely dependent
upon Congress for Its LEGISLATION there
should be no law whatever TO protect
children by forbldding or regulating their
abor
renew my recommendation for the i'm
mediate re-enactment OF an employers
liability law, drawn TO conform to the re-
Within the limits Indicated by the court.
the law should be made thorough and
comprehensive. and the protection II nf-
lords should embrace every class OF en-
San extend.
In addition TO n liability law protect
ing the employees OF common carriers. the
Government should show It's good faith by
ton TO It's own employees for injury or
death Incurred In Its service. II Is n re-
proach to us as n nation that In both Fed
sral and State legislation we have AFFORD
I'd less protection TO public and private
employees than any other Industrial coun-
Try Of the world.
Curb on inIunetIons.
also urge that action he taken aleng
the line OF the recommendations I have
already made concerning injunetions In
labor disputes. No temporary restrain
ing order should be issued by any court
without notice: and the petition for a
permanent Injunction upon which such
temporary restraining order has been Is
sued should be heard by the Court issu-
Ing the same within reasonable time
say. not to exceed a week or whereabouts
from the date when the order was issued.
II Ii worth considering whether Il would
not give greater popular confidence In the
lmpartiality Of sentences for contempt II
q was required that the issue should be
decided by another judge than the one
issuing the Injunction. except where the
contempt II committed In the presence OF
the Court, or In another case OF urgency
again call attention to the urgent
need OF amending tho interstate COM
Merce law and especially the antitrust
law along the lines indicated In my last
message. The Interstate commerce law
should be amended so as TO give railroads
the right to make traffic agreements. sub
lect TO these agreements being approved
by the Interstate Commerce Commission
aud published In all OF their details. The
Commission should also be given the pow
er TO make public and to pass upon the
Issuance OF all securities hereafter issued
by railroads doing an interstate COM
merce business.
A law should be passed providing In
affect that when "A Federal court deter
mines TO place "A common carrier or other
public utility concern under the control
u a Teceivership. the Attorney General
ahn IA
ono OF the receivers; or else In some 9th
eE way the Interests OF the stockholders
should be consulted, so that the manage
ment may not be wholly redeiivered 10 the
man or men the failure Of whose policy
may have neceasitated the creation OF the
recelVership. Recelverships should be
used. not 70 operate roads, but as speed
lily as possible TO pay their debts and re-
turn them To the proper owners
some Lawful Combines.
In addition to the reasons ] have al
ready urged ON your attention, it has now
become Important that thore should be
an amendment OF tho antitrust law. be-
cause OF the uncertainty as TO how this
law Affects combinations among labor
men and farmers. II the combination has
any tendency to restrict interstate COM
while existing for and engaged ia the
promotion OF innocent and proper pur-
poses. should be recognized as legal. Al
have repeatedly pointed out, this anti
trust law was a most unwisely drawn
statute. II was perhaps inevitable that
IN feeling after the right remedy the firpl
attempts TO provide such should no crude
and Y waa absolutely imperative that
some legislation should be passed 70 con-
troll. In the interest Of the public. the bus
mess use Of the enormous aggreEations OF
corporate wealth that are 80 marked d
feature Of the modern industrial world
But the present antitrust law, In les con.
atructi0n and working, has oxempiinec
only too well the kind OF legislation which
under the guiae o. being thorough going
"a drawn up In such sWoepinE form az /,
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Burns 10 Death IN Hospital.
Gedalia. No, Charles Donahoe wa