The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1908-02-14
Roosevelt Reforms
Ably Urged in Earnest Message.

WAS prompted nrSt OF all Dy Tie dC-
ton of the Supreme Court recently
in denying the legality of the En-
ployers Liability Act. 1t was to the
need of legislation on this subject
that the President called chief at
tention. He urges the re-enactment
of the law, limiting its scope so as
to bring it within the limits Of the
Constitution. In the same connec-
ton he urges the passage of COM
prehensive act providing for the
compensation of employees in the
government service injured in the
line Of duty. Action is also urged
against the abuse of injunctions in
labor cases." Another section calls
attention to the necessity for legis-
lation to give better control over
corporations engaged in interstate
business. A certain measure of
federal control over the physical
operations of the railroads is also
urged. The suggestion is made that
the use of the mails, telegraph and
telephone service might also be deni-
ed to gamblers in stocks and futures
but the President admits that this
is hard matter to handle and will
require careful regulation if regula-
ton at all is possible. Finally he
urges the fullest power for the De-
partment of Justice in dealing with
large corporations.
The President in dealing with the
Employers Liability Act points out
that the Supreme Court admitted
the constitutionality of the law so
far as it dealt with persons engaged
in interstate business, and rejected
it only on account of its application
to intra- state concerns. He says
Il urge the immediate re- enactment
of the law, limiting its scope to the
class of business to which it can
legally apply, but strengthening its
provisions within that scope. With
this clear definition of responsibility
the several states will doubtless give
to the subject with their jurisdiction
the consideration that it's importance
justifies.
AS to the responsibility of the
government, the message says: ),
also urgently advise that a compre.
hensive act be passed providing for
the compensation by the govern
ment of all employees injured in the
government service. Under the
present low a workman injured in
the service of the government has
no remedy and the entire burden of
the accident falls on the helpless
man, his wife and his young child
rem. This is an outrage. It is a
matter of humiliation to this nation
that there should not be on the
statute books provision to meet and
partially atone for cruel misfortune
when it comes to a man through no
fault of his own while faithfully
serving the public. In no other
prominent commercial country of
the world would such gross injustice
occur for almost all, civilized nations
have enacted legislation embcdying
complete recognition of the principle
that places the entire trade risk for
industrial accidents on the industry
as represented by the employer,
which in this case is the govern
ment. y
In pointing out why this is fair
arrangement, the President says
that if the wage system were ideal ,
then the wages would be apportion-
ed to cover these trade risks, and il
all men were wise they would insure
themselves with part of their wages
against these risks. But neither OF
these ideal conditions exist and in
their absence, the only thing to dc
is to make the employer responsible
for the risks necessarily run by the
employees.
Tie Ladies Aid of the Presby yteriar