Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-01-17
DELEGATES FROM MANY socI
ETIEs ASSEMBLE IN WASH
INGToN.
ORGANIZATIONS
AND LABOR REPRESENTED
Uniform Laws on Divorce, Prevention
of Fires, Employment of Women and
Children and Other Live Topics to
be considered-Auto Speeding and
load Building Also Up.

Washington, Jan. IT, With the
opening address by President Taft,
complimenting the organization on the
work it had done in the past and re-
ferring to some important questions of
national moment to which it could yet
lend its aid, the National Civic Fed
Grafton today began conference here.
Other speakers at the opening session
were Judge Alton B. Parker, Nformer
president of the American Bar Associa-
ton, and Governor Wilson, of Ken
lucky.
Present at the opening session, which
was presided over by President Seth
Low. were several state governors here
which will begin tomorrow, and DEL
egates from all parts of the United
States, representing various CONNER
cial, labor and social associations,
among them the American Federation
of Labor, the National Grange, the
Farmers National Congress, the Ma
tional Association of Life Insurance
Presidents and National Association Of
State Board of Arbitration.
Some Reforms Demanded.
The subject of uniform laws occupies
the foremost place on the list of topics
scheduled for consideration. 1t is found
practically impossible to come to any
agreement on a general list of causes
for divorce However, the migra tory
| divorce evil will be attacked and a
measure will be proposed under which
children legitimate in one state will be
legitimate in all states.
| Uniform state laws to- check the
present immense annual loss of prop
erty by fire will be asked. A model act
for the taxation of fire insurance COM
I itpanies and the repeal of all other ex-
listing laws on that subj eet will be pre-
sented. ef.ne time allotted for railway
regulation discussion will be used in
urging that the state laws be made to
conform as nearly as possible to the
federal laws and to the rulings of the
interstate commerce commission.
In regard to labor laws, the con-
ference will be asked to recommend
uniform state legislation regulating the
employment of women and children
and the hours of labor of all employees
in injurious occupations that should
properly come under the police powers
of the state; also uniform laws with
regard to factory and mine inspection,
compensation for accidents and with
respect to convict-made products.
| Among other matters slated for dis
cussion are uniform laws in regard to
the speed and regulation of automo-
biles, pensions, road building, vital
statistics, pure food, public health, the
control of quasi-public utilities, and
determinations against married women
as to the control of their children and
the holding of property.
Taft Criticizes Judiciary.
Seth Low opened the conference and
closed his remarks by introducing Taft,
who was warmly received. The presi-
| dent, discussing the proposition for
uniformity in state laws, said it was
| the outgrowth of demand on the part
of good citizenship to bring about bet
| ter conditions in the social fabric. The
president said there should be uniform
ity in judicial procedure, and declared
with emphasis that if anything in the
!
lay that could be secured by the
wealthy, and he advocated some change
in the form of federal court proceed
ings which could be taken as an ex-
ample by the states. He thought there
is more to be done by the states in
conservation than by the federal gov
ernment. Governor Wilson, of Ken
| lucky spoke briefly and was followed
by Judge Parker.
Absolute Uniformity Impossible.
1t were unwise to think of absolute
uniformity of legislation thruout the
United States, in the opinion of Alton
B. Parker, as expressed today in an
address before the convention on uni
form state laws.
I'VE do not aim at absolute uniform
ity Of law, but a wise and conserva-
tive uniformity" said Judge Parker
There is danger in pressing uniform.
ity to extreme lengths. There are di-
versities of climate, of production, OF
| tradition, of heredity, of population, OF
pursuits among the people of our sew
eral commonwealth which should be
generally respected.
Uniformity should be promoted
along the lines marked out by the com
missioners on uniform laws, and as
much fufther as the diversities tt
which I have referred will reasonably
permit.
"a movement has recently been in.
angurated to make each industry beal
the burden of accident to employees
without regard to the qqestion of negli.
gence, upon the ground that such bur,
den is properly a part Of the cost of tn,
product. It has been accepted a.
founded on sound business principles
and put in operation by some en-
ployers already who recognize tina
otherwise great unfairness often re
suits In casting upon the employe ant
his family the entire burden of acct
dent. Legislation in England and Ger.
many thus provides for the compensa
Etion to be paid to injured employees
The English statute provides for com.
pensation during disability, equal to 81
per cent Of the wage rate. and in cas-,