Omaha daily bee., 1910-09-06
Mr.. TAFT TALKS TO LABOR
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VI W. III nj II ~ " LhUVh
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farmer. He is the one who, by the manip-
ulation of the soil, it's proper treatment,
J its drainage or irrigation, its fertilization,
is to make it yield the largest crops under
! conditions that will preserve 1t hest for
future years OF usefulness. Proper farming,
| according to modern ideas involves
| knowledge and understanding Of the chem
! ical qualities of the soil and the scientific
methods Of its treatment, so that instead Of
being a mere manual vocation as it was
years ago, 1t now has become a scientific
and practical profession. This has been
recognized by the general government in
the establishment of Department of Ag-
riculture where, in its bureau of research
| the secrets of nature have been revealed in
| the possible development Of modern farms
and proper publicity has been given, so that
those who till the soil may take advantage
of the new discoveries. Experiment stations
have been established the country over
lectures have been given at the ex-
pense of the government for the benefit
of farming communities; contributions have
been made to agricultural colleges. and
everything that wise craftsmanship could
suggest has been afforded by the general
government within its Jurisdiction for the
production of greater and better crops. All
this legislation has been in the interest of
the farmers and might be characterized as
class legislation; but so great is the general
public interest in the promotion Of agri-
culture that 1t cannot be termed H1duly
privileged or Objectionable.
Federal Labor Laws.
80, on the other hand, take the work.
ingman. The government has created a
bureau of labor in which statistics are
gathered and investigations are had into
the conditions prevailing in respect to all
classes of labor, including child labor with
a view of making clear the remedies needed,
whether by state natioHAl legislation.
The head of the Bureau Of Labor and the
chairman of the Interstate Commerce COM
mission, under what is known as the Erd-
man act intervene officially in every dis
pute between interstate commerce rail-
way companies and their employees; and
the amount of good in the settlement OF
controversies and the stopping of disastrous
, strikes that has been done by Commissioner
NELL and Chairman Knapp cannot be over
stated.
Again, with respect to the employees OF
interstate commerce railways, a law has
been passed by congress making 1t easier
for the employees who have been injured
} through the negligence OF the company or
some other employee of the company to re-
; cover compensation for their injuries. The
old common law upon this subject was
, unjust to the employees and seemed to have
been in the interest OF the employer. More
[ over, congress has empowered the Inter
/ state Commerce commission TO require all
? interstate railroad companies to adopt every
l reasonable safety appliance In order 10
| reduce the deplorsble loss of life and limb
! among the railway employees engaged in
l and about the running OF trains.
, Again, the alien contract labor law
has been passed and strictly enforced with
view to prevent the bringing from other
countries to compete with the settled and
: established labor of this country pauper
, labor under contract to serve at wages far
r lower than the prevailing wage in the
United States
/, Then there are the laws limiting the
hours OF labor of government employees and
employers on government work to eigh
hours and the sixteen hour law for the
/ prevention OF long and continuous service
{ on railways by trainmen.
Finally bureau of mines has just beer
: established in order that by investigation
and research and close observation of the
practical working mines, the best appliances
for preventing the enormous destruction o.
life that occurs from the explosion OF
gases and fire in coal and other mines
may be devised and adopted.
This legislation is in the interest anC
for the benefit of q class-the workingmen-
but they are so large a class. and theii
welfare is so important to the public a
large, that while It might be characterized
" as class legislation. II is greatly for tn,
purpose of veal and cannot be denomlnateC
privileged OF obJecuonal. We need, and
hope we shall secure more OF such legis
latlon.
No CInss Legislation.
But there is kind of legislation I,
! which l would refer that does come unde
the head OF vicious class legislation and
= hope l can make the distinction clear be
tween this and what have been describ
n ing A number Of statutes have beei
9 passed in the states against combination
!. or conspiracies to restrain trade, to sup
IS press competition or TO maintain prices
and there has been sometimes an attemp
/ in insert in such statutes a proviso o
Il section exempung farmers or othe
: classes from the operation Of tn
i statue so as to enable the exemI
classes TO corner products and raise price
:. while no other class in the community ca
/ do so. The supreme court OF the Unite
= states has said that such a law giving a
/ undue privilege to a particular class in n
J. community creates an unjust exemptlo
: from the operation OF a useful law, deni,
d the equal protection OF the laws, violate
n the constitution and Is invalid
II Again the federal antitrust law he
been held by the supreme court to denounc
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