The Monte Vista journal., 1908-12-12

that they shall serve all people with
equal justice. Corporate finances must
be supervised SO as to make IT far safer
than at present for the man Of small
means to invest his money in stocks.
There must be prohibition Of child la
Dor. ammunition of women labor, short
ening OF hours of all mechanical labor;
stock watering should be prohibited,
and stock gambling so far as is posi-
bic discouraged. There should he
progressive inheritance tax on large
fortunes. Industrial education should
be encouraged. AS far as possible we
should tighten the burden of taxation
on the small man. There should no
longer be any paltering with the
question of taking care OF the
ent industrial system, become killed,
crippled, or worn out part OF the
regular incidents OF given bust
ness. AZ far as concerns those
whS have been worn out call
steps toward providing old-age pen
sions have been taken in many OF our
private industries. These may be in
definitely extended through voluntary
association and contributory schemes.
or through the agency of savings
banks, under the Massac husetts
plan.
Urgent Need Of Reform.
~
TEN, works dreadful wrong, and is of
benefit to only one class of people-the
lawyers. When a workman Is injured
what he needs is not an expensive and
doubtful lawsuit. but the certainty of
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
l renew my recommendation that
the principle of the eight-hour day
should as rapidly and as far as 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.
renew my recommended ton made in
previous message that hnlf-holidays
be granted during summer to all wage
workers in government employ
Judges Too Poorly Paid.
Coupled with eulogy OF the ju-
dietary OF the nation the president
urges that, beginning with the SUI
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
effective al core, the president says:
There are certain decisions by various
courts which have been exceedingly d.t-
rimental TO tho rights Of wage workers
This is true Of all decisions that decide
that men are. by the constitution. guar
antccd tEeir liberty to contract to enter
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
cannot be forbidden 10 work what the
legislature decides ~ an excessive num-
Der OF hours, or to carry on the work
under conditions which the legislature
decides TO be unhealthy.
There is also. ! think. ground for the
belief that substantial injustice IL 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. as matter OF fact.
they have no knowledge OF any proceed
ings. Organized labor Is chatting
under the unjust restraint which
comes from repeated resort 10 this
plan Of procedure.
injunction Must Remain.
The power of Injunction Is n great
equitable remedy. which should on no
account be destroyed. But safeguards
should be erected against It's abuse.
In substance, provision should be mad.
that no Injunction or temporary re-
straininR order issue otherwise than on
notice. except where irrcparabic injury
would otherwise result; and in such cas-.
a hearing on the merits OF tho order
should be had within n short nScd Pc
rtod. and. II not then continued after
hearing. IL should forthwith lapse De-
cisions should be rendered Immediately.
and the chance OF delay minimixed In
every way. Moreover. I believe that the
procedure should he sharply defined. and
the Judge required infinitely TO state tho
particulars both OF his action and Of his
reasons therefor. 40 TINT the congress
can IL u desires examine and investigate
the same.
Harm Worked BY Law.
Discussing measures necessary for
the proper control Of giant corpora.
tons 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 he effective only
" Il 10 vested with fun power in an
administrative department.. . branch Of
the federal executive. carrying out Q
federal law: II can never be effective II
. divided responsibility 10 left In both
the states and the nation: Il can never
be effective " left In the hands Of the
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