The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1908-02-05
PRESIDENT URGES
NEW LEG|S| ALTON
IN HOT MESSAGE
BIG CORPORATIONS SCORED BE.
CAUSE OF ATTITUDE TO-
WARD GOVERNMENT.
EMPLOYERS LIABILITY LAW
Chief Executive Declares Act Needs
Immediate Revision-Rishtins
of Injunction Abuses Is
Urged.

tional because it's terms apply TO EN-
ploNes engaged wholly in intrastate com
interstate commerce. BY substantial
majority the court holds that the con-
gress has power to deal with the aues-
is concerned.
As regards the employers liability law.
! advocate it's immediate reenactment
Hmltlng IT'S scope SO that it shall apply
only to the class of cases as to which the
court says 1t can constitutionaly apply,
put put strengthening it's provisions within
thus thus covered by an adequate national
law, the field Of intrastate employment
W stats be left ,t to the action of the several
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
Hurt in Government Service
I also Very urgently advise that 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 of the accident falls on the help
less man. his wife. and his young chill
dren. This Is an outrage. 1t is a matter
should not he on statute books pro-
vision to meet and partially to atone for
cruel misfortune when it comes upon
faithfully serving the public. In no 9TH
er prominent industrial country in the
world could such gross injustice occur;
acted legislation embodying the complete
recognition of the principle which places
the entire trade risk for industrial acct
due to wiltu misconduct by the EN-
ployel. ON the industry as represented
by the employer which in this case is
In oil al hoe a..
the principle applies to the government
just as much as to the private employer.
Under no circumstances should the in
jured e,nploye or his surviving depend
ents he required to bring suit against the
government. nor should there be the re-
quirement that in order to insure re-
coNery negligence i'll some form the
part of the government should be shown.
Our proposition is not TO confer right
Of action tn upon the he, government employe.
against injuries received in the course
of his employment. The burden of the
trade risk should be placed upon the
is entitled To his wages. he should be
entitled to indemnity for the injuries sus-
tai tanned in the natural course of his labor.
The rates of compensation and the regu-
latlons for Its payment should be speci-
fed in the law, and the machinery for
determining the amount to be paid should
that the employee is properly represented
without expense to him. In other, words,
matcally. 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 laborers me-
the government of the United States,
including those in the service of the
Panama canal commission and of the in
sular governments.
.h The same snm,v broad principle which e.,
cal ll Ia a ari % to NIL
the nation has the power it 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 employers liability law does not
really mean mnlcting employers in dam
ages. r. meraly throws upon the en-
against injuries which are. sure to occur.
1t requires him either to bear or to dis
tribute through insurance the loss which
can readily he borne when distributed,
but which. If undistributed, bears with
frghtful hardship upon the unfortunate
victim Of accident. In theory. if wages
were 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 mon
against the risk of loss. In theory, if
employees were 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 i
is not pfaclcal 10 expect that inns Wlll
be done by the great body of employees.
An employers liability law makes it
certain that it will be done. in effect,
by the employer, and it Will ultimately
impose no real additional burden upon
him.
There is special bill to which | call
your attention. Secretary Taft has ur-
gently recommended the immediate pas
sage of law providing for compensation
TO employees of the government injured
in the work of the lsthlnian canal, and
that 100000 be appropriated for this pur-
pose each year | earnestly hope this will
be done; and that a special bill be passed
covering the case of Yardmaster Banton.
who was injured nearly two years ago
while doing his duty. He is now help
less to support his wife and his three
little boys.
action Urged to Right
Abuses of the injunction
again call your attention to the need
of some action in connection with the
abuse of iniunctions in labor cases AS
regards the rights and wrongs of labor
and capital. from blaclSlisting to boycott
mirable fashion by the report of the
Anthracite Coal Strike commission,
which report should serve as a chart for
9he guidance of both legislative and exec
can do little but repeat what ! have said
In my last message to the congress. Even
though it We're possible. ! should con
slider it most unwise to abolish the use
sary in order that the courts may main
tain their own dignity and in order that
they may in effective manner check
disorder and violence. me JUDGE VINO
who when the need arises, uses IT FEAR
tassly. confers the greatest service upon
our people and his preenlinent usetui-
ness as a public servant should be hearti-
Il INT IIEr