The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-12-06
.onform to particular specifications or

conform to particular specifications or
not"
l recommend that instead Of enacting
the proposed bill. the meaning Of
which is not clear and definite and
might be given a construction embar-
RAISING to the public interest. the pres
ent act be enlarged by providing that
public works shall be construed to in
clude not only buildings and work
upon public ground, but also ships.
armor and large guns when manufac-
tured in private yards or factories.
One of the great difficulties in en-
forcing this eight hour law is that its
application under certain emergencies
becomes exceedingly oppressive and
there Is a great temptation to subor-
dinate officials to evade it.
l think that it would be wiser to
allow the president by executive order
TO declare an emergency In special In
stances in which the Limitation might
not apply and in such cases TO permit
the payment by the government of
extra compensation for the time work
ed each day in excess of eight hours.
l may add that my suggestions in re-
spect to this legislation have the full
concurrence of the commissioner OF
labor.
Workmen's Compe nsation.
In view of the keen, widespread in
terest now felt in the United States
in a system of compensation for in
dustrial accidents to supplant our pres
ent thoroughly unsatisfactory system
of employers liability "a subject the
Importance Of which congress has al
ready recognized by the appointment
of a commission). I recommend that
the international congress on indus
trial insurance be invited to hold its
meeting in 1918 in Washington and
that an appropriation of $1,000 be
made TO cover the necessary expenses
of organizing and carrying on the
meeting
Bureau Of immigration.
The immigration into this country is
increasing each year. A large part of
it comes through the immigrant sta.
ton at Ellis island, in the city of New
York. An examination Of the station
and the methods pursued satisfies me
that difficult task Is there performed
by the commissioner and his force with
common sense, the strictest fairness
and with the most earnest desire to en-
force the law equitably and mercifully.
1t has been proposed to enlarge the
N1nt; oil
Of the immigrants to come by that
port. l do not think 1t wise policy to
do this. I have no objection tom
the contrary, l recommend-the con-
struction Of additional buildings for
the purpose Of facilitating closer and
more careful examination Of each i'm.
migrant as he comes in, but deprecate
the enlargement Of the buildings and
Of the force for the purpose Of permit
ting the examination Of more immi
grants per day than are now examined
If it Is understood that no more i'm
| migrants can be taken in at New York
than are now taken In and the steam
ship companies thus are given rea
son and a motive for transferring i'm
migrants to other ports we can be con
| fident that they will be better distrib
| uted through the country and thai
there will not be that congestion in the
city of New York which does not make
for the better condition Of the immi
grant or increase his usefulness as q
new member Of this community. Ev
erything which tends to send the i'm
migrants west and south into rural life
helps the country.
I concur with the secretary in his
recommendations as to the amend
| ments to the immigration law in In
creasing the fine against the compa
| MES for violation of the regulations
and in giving greater power to the
commissioner to enforce more care or
the part of the steamship companies
in accepting immigrants. The recon-
mendation Of the secretary In which
he urges that the law may be amend
ed so as to discourage the separation
Of families is, think, a good one.