The Springfield herald., 1908-12-11

relief through immediate administra-
tive action. No academic theory
about freedom of contract" or "consti-
tutional liberty to contract" should be
permitted to interfere with this and
similar movements
renew my recommendation that
the principle of the eight hour day
should as rapidly and as far practi-
cable be extended to the entire work
being carried on by the government;
the present law should be amended to
embrace contracts on those public
works which the present wording of
the act seems to exclude.
Judges Too Poorly Paid.
Coupled with eulogy of the ju-
dietary of the nation the president
urges that, beginning with the su-
preme court, the judges should have
their salaries doubled.
AS was to be expected, the attitude
assumed by certain labor leaders dur
ing the recent election comes in for
bitter criticism. The president as
serts that demands made on congress
for legislation were unjust and i'm
practical and could but work harm to
the cause of labor. While declaring
that our judicial system is sound and
There are certain decisions by various
courts which have been exceedingly det-
rimental to the rights of workers
This Is true OF all decisions that decide
that men are. by the constitution, guar
anteed their liberty" to contract to enter
Il dangerous occupation. or to work an
undesirable or improper number of hours
or to work in unhealthy surroundings;
and therefore cannot recover damages
when MANNED in that occupation, and
legislature decides is an excessive num-
ber of hours. or to carry on the work
under conditions which the legislature
decides to be unhealthy.
There is also. l think, ground for the
belief that substantial Injustice Is often
suffered by employees In consequence of
the custom of courts issuing temporary
injunctions without notice to them and
Furnishing them for contempt of court in
Instances where. matter of fact
they have no knowledge of any proceed
ings. Organized labor Is chafing
under the unjust restraint which
comes from repeated resort to this
plan of procedure.
injunction Must Remain.
The power of injunction is great
equitable remedy, which should on no
account be destroyed. But safeguards
In substance, provision should be made
that no injunction or temporary re-
straining order issue otherwise than on
notice. except where irreparable injury
would otherwise result and in such case
n hearing on the merits of the order
should be had within short fixed pc
riod. and. II not then continued after
hearing. 1t should forthwith lapse. De-
cisions should be rendered Immediately.
and the chance of delay minimized in
every way. Moreover, believe that the
procedure should be sharply defined. and
the judge required minutely to state the
particulars both of his action and of his
reasons therefor. so that the congress
can II 1t desires examine and Investigate
the same.
Harm Worked by Law.
Discussing measures necessary for
the proper control of giant corpora
tions operating in defiance Of law, the
president says:
Real damage has been done by the
manifold and conflicting interpretations
OF the interstate commerce law. Con-
troll over the great corporations doing
Interstate business can be effective only
IL 1t is vested with full power in an
administrative department branch of
the federal executive. carrying out a
federal law; IL can never be effective IL
a divided responsibility is left in both
the states and the nation: 1t can never
be effective IL left in the hands of the
courts to be decided by lawsuits.
The courts hold a place of peculiar and
deserved sanctity under our form of gov
ernment. Respect for the law is essen
tial to the permanence of our ihstitu-
tions: and respect for the law is largely
conditioned upon respect for the courts.
1t is an offense against the republic to
say anything which can weaken this re-
spect. save for the gravest reason and in
the most carefully guarded manner. In no
other nation in the world do the courts
WELD such vast and far-reaching power
as in the United States. All that is nee
essary is that the courts as whole
should exercise this power with the far
sighted wisdom already shown by those
judges who scan the future while they
act In the present.
Forest Preservation.
The manifest necessity for forest
preservation Is pointed out as a duty
the present generation owes to its de-
scendants, and the president cites the
case of China, where reckless de-for-
estation has resulted in creating des-
erts, as an object lesson.
Inland Waterways.
Immediate action by the present
session of congress for the improve
ment of our inland waterways the
president declares to be imperative.
He recommends the creation of per-
manent commission authorized to CO.
ordinate the work of all the govern
ment departments relating to water
ways. and to frame and supervise the
execution OF a comprehensive plan.
Postal Savings Banks.
Urging the immediate institution of
postal savings banks, the message
says:
1 again renew my recommendation
for postal savings banks. for deposit
ing savings with the security OF the
government behind them. The object
is to encourage thrift and economy in
the wage-earner and person of mod
crate means. 1t is believed that in the
aggregate vast sums OF money would be
brought into circulation through the in
strumentality of the postal savings
banks.
Parcel Post.
The much-dscussed advisability of
the establishment Of parcel post
service is thus dealt with:
In my last annual message L COM
mended the postmaster
mmendation for an extension of the
parcel post on the rural routes. The
establishment of local parcel post on