The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1908-12-08

their number, the more we introduce
the principles of cooperation into our
industry. Every increase in the num-
Der of small stockholders in corpora
tions is a good thing, for the same
reasons; and where the employees are
the stockholders the result is particu-
larly good Very much of this move
ment must be outside of anything
that can be accomplished by legisla-
ton: but legislation can do good
deal. Postal savings bank will make
it easy for the poorest to keep their
savings in absolute safety. The regu-
lation of the national highways must
be such that they shall serve all peo-
pie with equal justice. Corporate fin
ances 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 labor, diminution of woman
labor, shortening of hours of all me-
chanical labor; stock watering should
be prohibited and stock gambling SO
far as is possible discouraged. There
should be a progressive inheritance
tax on large fortunes. Industrial edu-
cation should be encouraged. AS far
as possible we should tighten the bur-
den of taxation on the small man.
We should put premium upon thrift
hard work, and business energy; but
these qualities cease to be the main
factors in accommodating a fortune long
before that fortune reaches a point
where it would be seriously affected
by any inheritance tax such as l pro-
pose. 1t is eminently right that the
Nation should fix the terms upon
which the great fortunes are Inherit
ed. They rarely do good and they
often do harm to those who inherit
them in their entirety.
PROTECTION OF WAGEWORKERS.
The above is the merest sketch, hard
" even a sketch in outline, of the re-
forms for which we should work. But
there is one matter with which the
Congress should deal at this session.
There should no longer be any pal
tering with the question of taking care
of the wageworkers who, under our
present industrial system, become
killed, crippled, or worn out as part
of the regular incidents of a given
business. The majority of wagework-
ers must have their rights secured Tor
them by State action; hut the Ma
tional Government should legislate in
acknowledging and far-reaching fash
ion not only for all employees of the
National Government, but for all per-
sons engaged in interstate commerce.
The object sought for could be achleV-
ed to a measurable degree, as far as
those killed or crippled are concern
ed. by proper employers Liability
laws. AS far as concerns those VINO
have been worn out, 1 call your atten-
ton to the fact that definite steps
toward providing old-age pensions
have been taken in many of our pri-
vate industries. These may be indetl-
nitely extended through voluntary as
ISOLATION and contributory schemes,
or through the agency of savings
banks. as under the recent Massachu-
sets plan. To strengthen these prac-
teal measures should be our 1mme-
diate duty; it is not at present neces-
sary to consider the larger and more
general governmental schemes that
most European governments have
found themselves obliged to adopt
Our present system, or rather no
system, works dreadful wrong, and is
of benefit to only one class of people
the lawyers. When workman is in
jured what he needs is not an expen-
siye and doubtful lawsuit, but the GER
tainty of relief through immediate ad-
action. The number OF
accidents which result in the death
or Gripping of wageworkers, in the
Union at large, is simply appalling;
in a very few years it runs up total
far in excess of the aggregate of the
dead and wounded in any modern
war. No academic theory about free
dom of contract" or constitutional
liberty to contract" should be permit
ted to Interfere with this and SINH
lar movements. Progress in civiliza-
ton has everywhere meant limita-
ton and regulation of contract. | call
your especial attention to the bulletin
Of the Bureau of Labor which gives a
statement of the methods of treating
he unemployed in European countries,
rs this is a subject which in Ger
many, for instance, is treated in con-
nection with making provision for
Yorn out and crippled workme...
Pending a thoroughgoing invesuga-
ion and action there is certain legis
lation which should be enacted at
,nce. The law, passed at the last ses-
zion of the Congress, granting COM
)ensation to certain classes of EN-
,loyees of the Government, should be
extended to include all employees Of
he Government and should be made
more liberal in its terms. There is
10 good ground for the distinction |