Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-02-01
TELLS CONGRESS ADDITIONAL.
LAWS ARE NEEDED TO REGU-
LATE RELATIONS BETWEEN
CAPITAL AND LABOR.
FAVORS EMPLOYERS
LIABILITY LAW
SAYS 1T SHOULD BE !. MEDIATE
LY RE-ENAcTED-WANTs MORE
POWER OVER THE BIG coRPoR-
ATIoNs.

washington, ID. c., Jan. 81 = The
special message of the President to
congress on the subject of the en-
ployers' liability act and injunction
in labor cases was presented to the
senate few minutes after twelve to-
day. The assistant secretary of the
senate Immediately began its read
ing. Printed copies of the message
were delivered to the senators pres
ent and many of them appeared to
, satisfy themselves concerning the ma
printed document so that before the
reading was half finished they very
gradually took up other matters and
only few followed the reading care
fully until its conclusion.
Prefacing the message there is a
brief statement to the effect that the
recent decision Of the supreme court
in regard to the empoyers' liability
act, the experience of the interstate
commerce commission and the depart
ment of justice in enforcing the inter-
state commerce and antitrust laws,
and the gravely significant attitude
toward the law and its admin
istration, adopted by certain
heads of great corporations render it
| desirable that there should be addi-
tional legislation as regards the
curtail of the relations be-
tween capital and labor and between
the great corporations and the peo-
pie
Some Laws Recommended.
The President in his message. which
is given in full on page of this Is
sue, recommends the Following laws
governing capital and labor.
The immediate re-enactment of the
employers liability law, the enact
ment Of law providing for compensa-
ton by the government of employees
injured in it's service.
A special bill reimbursing the gov
ernment employees injured in the Pan
anna canal work.
Some action in connection with the
abuse of the injunction in labor cases.
Laws giving the interstate COM
merce commission more power in reg
ulating the railroads.
Enactments to prevent stock water
ing and over capitalization.
Points Out Three Courses.
The President said that the cor
poration question left the people but
three courses to pursue.
First, the abandonment of all efforts
to oversee and control their actions.
Second, to have the regulation un-
dertaken by the government.
Third, to have the states enact and
enforce laws regulating the corpora
tions.
Of the three courses to be taken the
President strongly advises that the
government should be given sufficient
powers to supervise and regulate all
such concerns engaged in interstate
traffic.
Democratic Doctrine, Says Davis.
Upon the conclusion of the reading
of the message, Senator Davis of Ar
kansas promptly moved that 10000
copies Of the message be printed as
public documents.
Its the best democratic doctrine
ever heard emanating from a re
aaublican source said Davis. The mo
l19ion was agreed to.
~ House Gives Applause.
The reading of the message in. the
house was interrupted by frequen
applause. AT its conclusion the mem
bers. regardless of party, loudly ap
plauded, cheered and thumped theil
desks and gave other evidence of theil
approval of the document.