The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1908-12-09
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT.

AS far as concerns those VINO have
been worn out, l call your attention to
the fact that definite steps toward pro-
viding old age pensions have been
taken in many Of our private indus
tries.
Pending a thoroushgoing investiga-
tion and action there is certain legis-
lat1On which should be enacted at
once. The law passed at the last ses-
sion Of the congress granting com
pensation to certain classes Of en-
ployees Of the government should be
extended to include all employees of
the government and should be made
more liberal in its terms. In this re-
spect the generosity Of the United
States toward it's employees compares
most unfavorably with that Of every
country in Europe-even the poorest.
The terms of the act are also
hardship in prohibiting payment in
cases where the accident is in any
way due to the negligence Of the en-
ployce. 1t IS inevitable that daily IA
miliarity with danger will lead men to
take chances that can be construed
into negligence.
l renew my recommendation made
In previous message that half holi-
days be granted during the summer to
all wageworkers in government EN-
ploy.
l also renew my recommendation
that the principle Of the eight hour
day should as rapidly and as far as
practicable he extended to the entire
work being carried on by the govern
ment.
The Courts.
most earnestly urge upon the con-
gress the duty Of increasing the totally
Inadequate salaries now given to our
judges. On the whole, there is no
body Of public servants who do as
valuable work nor whose moneyed
reward is so Inadequate compared to
their work. Beginning With the su-
premc court the judges should have
their salaries doubled
1t is earnestly to be desired that
some method should be devised for do.
ing away with the long delays which
now obtain in the administration of
justice and which operate with pecul.
lar severity against persons Of small
means and favor only the very crimi-
nails whom it is most desirable to pun
ish.
At the last election certain leaders
Of organized labor made a violent and
sweeping attack upon the entire ju-
dietary Of the country, an attack
cOuched In such terms as to include
the most upright, honest and broad
minded judges no less than those Of
narrower mind and more restricted
outlook. Last year before the house
committee on the judiciary these same
labor leaders formulated their de-
mands, specifying the bill that con-
tanned them, refusing all compromise,
stating they wished the principle Of
that bill or nothing. They insisted on
a provision that in a labor dispute no
injunction should issue except to pro-
tect property right end specifically
provided that the right to carry on
business should not be construed as a
property right, and in a second pro-
vision their bill made legal in labor
dispute any act or agreement by or
between two or more persons that
would not have been unlawful II done
by single person. In other words,
this bill legalized blacklisting and boy
cotting in every form. The demand
was made that there should be trial
by jury in contempt cases, thereby
most seriously impairing the authority
Of the courts. All this represented
course Of policy which, If carried out,
would mean the enforcement Of class