The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-01-01
KANSAS COMMENT
INDUsTRIAL WASTE.


Statistics just completed show that
more than 10000 persons were killed
and more than 1000, 900 injured In in.
dustrial work in this country last year,
making an appalling list of casualties.
nearly one-half of which, it - contend
ed, might have been avoided. says the
Omaha Bee.
The federal bureau of labor, whoa
makes the report. admits that the cote.
have been difficult to secure and that
smaller than the actual number of
deaths or injuries in such accidents.
The report shows that in five years
over 10000 men have been killed in the
steel industries and the fatal accidents
among the anthracite miners in Penn
sylvania have averaged nearly four to
every 1000 men employed. The death
roll from Industrial accidents for the
year amounts to the equal OF thirty
full regiments of soldiers while the roll
OF the injured is larger than the num-
Der of men engaged in the civil war.
The bureau charges that reckless dis
regard of ordinary safeguards, the vio-
latlOn OF safety appliance laws and the
protective principles of everyday life
have made the laborer's share in this
tremendous sacrifice of human life a
very heavy one. while many of our
industrial accidents" says the report,
may be the result of ignorance, reck-
less Indifference or carelessness (of the
Victim). the fact remains that an i'm
mense amount of human life is
wasted"
Two important problems present
themselves as the result of this show
ing-one relating to the needed reforms
for lessening accidents in Industrial es-
adjustments, the other having to do
with ways and means by which suit
able insurance can be afforded to work
ers in the Industries. President Roose-
welt has urged the general extension OF
the employers liability laws for the
TO-, -.
Venttve laws are also needed. When
industrial establishments are made to
bear the financial loss ensuing from such
accidents, the responsible heads may be
expected to devise measures by which
industrial accidents will be reduced to
a very marked extent.-LeaVenwOrt
Times.
, EQUALIZATION OF PROPERTY
A proposition will come before the
incoming Kansas legislature to au-
thorize the superintendent of public
instruction and the state school fund
commissioners to aid country school
districts which are themselves too poor
to maintain instruction for more than
three or four months in the year. We
do not know, says the Wichita Eagle
definitely, what the plan is, but on
general principles we hope that some
such action will be taken
The biggest thing in any state is the
to school Nothing in the state or
the purpose of the state, can be a sub
ject of more and better attention.
They are the future men and women
of the state, and they will increase it's
fame or diminish it's influence in the
nation, and before the world in pro-
portion as they are formed and fitted
for the duties and obligations of citi-
zenship.
Each generation is responsible for
the succeeding generation, and the
people of this day are obligated to take
care of those who will follow them.
Kansas does not owe CGle of her
children more than she owes to an
other. She can not, in Justice, give one
child a seven months'sschool term and
another a three months term. She
must give them equal opportunity in
all fairness. Where one district is
poorer than another the state should
equalize them from the school fund,
which is now, and has been for years,
teeming with prosperity. This is how
the equality of opportunity ought to
be brought about.
1t is to be hoped that the legislature
will not neglect the matter. Ii is i'm
portant and, above all, it is right
Ottawa Herald.