Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1908-02-06
elo CORPORATIONS SCORED BE.
CAUSE or ATTITUDE TO-
WARD GOVERNMENT.
EMPLOYERS LIABILITY LAW
Chief Executive Declares Act Needs
immediate ReVlsion-RishtIns
Of Injunction Abuses 10
Urged.

HftAt NhhEA w NNAAIu 70 NlAe NllNlulNAH
liability act. the experience OF the Inter
state Commerce Commission and OF the
department OF Justice in enforcing the In.
terptate commerce and antitrust laws,
and the Rravely significant attitude
toward the law and its administration
recently adopted by certain heads OF
that there should be additional legisla-
ton as regards certain Of the relations
between labor and capital, and between
the great corporations and the public
The supreme court has decided the en-
ployers' liability law to be unconstitu-
uonal because It's terms apply to en-
ploYes engaged wholly In intrasthte com
inerCe as well as Co employees engaged IN
interstate commerce. by substantial
gress has power to deal with the ques-
tion In so far as interstate commerce
A. regards the employers liability law.
] advocate its immediate reenactment,
limiting its scope ~ that II shall apply
only TO the class Of cases as 10 which the
court says u can constitutionally apply,
but STRENGTHENING It's provisions within
this scope. Interstate employment being
law the field Of intrastate employment
VIII be left to the action OF the several
states. with this clear definition of
responsibility the states will undoubtedly
give to the performance OF their duty
within their field the consideration the
Importance Of the subject demands.
Compensation for Employees
Hurv In Government Service
also very urgently advise that a COM
prehensive act be passed providing for
employees injured In the government ser
vice. Under the present law an injured
workman In the employment Of the gov
eminent has no remedy. and the entire
burden ~ the accident falls on the help
less man. his wife, and his young chill
dren This IL an outrage II IL a matter
OF humiliation TO the nation that there
should not be on our statute books n pro-
vision TO meet and partially to atone for
man through no fault OF his own while
faithfully serving the public In no 9TH
or prominent industrial country in the
world could such gross injustice occur.
for almost all civilized nations have en-
acted legislation embodyinE the complete
recognition OF the principle which places
dents Excluding OF course, accidents
due TO wiliful misconduct by the en-
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 employer.
Under no circumstances should the in
Jured employe or his surviving depend
ents be required TO bring suit against the
quirement that In order TO insure re-
covery negligence In some form on the
part OF the government should be shown.
Our proposition II nos TO confer a right
OF action upon the gov "rnment employe,
but 20 secure him suitable provision
against injuries received in the course
OF his employment. The burden OF the
trade risk should be placed upon the
government. Exactly as the workingmnn
entitled TO indemnity for the injuries Rus-
tained In the natural course OF his labor.
The rates OF compensation and the regu-
lationH for Its payment should be speci-
ned In the law. and the machinery for
determining the amount TO be paid should
IN each case be provided In such manner
that the employe II properly represented
without expense to him. In other words.
the compensation should be paid auto
NnatiCNllN while tha nnpitgntiOn M
law In the first instance should be vested
in the department of commerce and labor
chRnics, and other civilian employees OF
the government OF the United States
including those In the service OF the
Panama canal commission and OF the in.
sular governments.
The same broad .grIneIple which
should apply to the government
cable TO all private employers. wher,
the nation has the power Il should
states alone have the power they SHOULD
enact the laws. IL r. 90 be observed
that an employers liability law does no
really mean mulctlng employers In dam
ages. II merely throws upon the EN-
ployer the burden OF accident iHsuranc,
against injuries which are sure 20 occur
IL requires him either to bear or to dis
tribute through insurance the loss which
can readily be borne when distributed
but which. n undistributcd. bears will
frightful hardship upon tho unfortunat
victim OF accident. In theory. " wage
were always freely and fairly adjusted
they would always include an allowance
as against the risk OF injury, Just a
certainly as the rate OF Interest for mon
ey includes an allowance for insnranc
against the risk OF loss. In theory.
employees were all experienced bushes
men. they would employ that part @
the risk OF injury 70 secure acciden
Insurance. But as n matter OF fact,
Is not practical TO expect that this wi
%n 'e Smp S S' nsitS S0' law % maRsS
certain that Il will be done. IN effecl
by the employer, and " VIII nltimatel
There 10 a special bin to which ca
your attention. Secretary TAFT has M
GENTLY recommended the Immediate pas
sage Of a law providing for compensate
90 employees OF the government injure
IN the work OF the lathmian canal, an
that $4,000 be appropriated for this pun
pose each year; ] earnestly hope this vi
be done; and that q special bill be paase
who was injured nearly two years as
while doing his duty. He 10 now he'll
less 20 support hts wife and his thre
little boys.
Action Urged TO Right
Abuses Of the lnIunetIo
again call your attention 20 the nee
abuse Of injuneiions 80 labor cases. 4
regards the rights and wrongs OF labs
and capital, from blacSliating 70 boyco
snirsbIs fashion BY the report OF q
Anthracite Coal strike commission
which report should serve as chart II
re guidanee Of both legislative and exc.
sflIve Officers AZ regards inJunctions.
can do little hut repeat what have sal
ii my last message 20 the congress. Eve
9houeh tt were possible. ] should cor
oder Il most unWiss 20 abolish the "a
of the process Of Injunction, IL u necel
aary IN order that the courts may mall
9ain their own dignity and In order tia
they may In effective manner chez
HlaordeT and violence, The JndEF WI
$3.50 M ,,aa,fio,,sly and connorvaIivelN, b.
cvho when the need arises. uses u feal
ieeriv cOnfers tho erenfeot service upo
or r,eopie. and his proeufinenf peefu
49,. ~ Il Dublic nsrvnFit should be heart
" rscownfssa Buf there u no aeesuo