The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1910-03-21

IL ls4SS9 1t ADf gL2EsAte - 4sAsA~eAy -
adequate and altogsater uzsatisfse-
toTg To the empires and employers.
NJ. lanes G. Davis, general solicitor
for The So-1hx sster1 RAILWAY csU1-
psuy sor the stzte Of Iowa il delfv-
eY4ng N address, before students q
tae University r. rsas eitF proposed
sEsas Ezny radical reforms 5s made.
9sr. DeTzs care his iseture ss re
first u series waseh T-ill t.e giFsn
wider NE auspices Of TIE depa-T-
mert u eco5on5cs aDd social scsezesE
during TIE coming few weeks. Nj
Mr Darts spike Il foliows:
Tire toll which eoesetE ezac1s roz
laose engaged II manufacturing and
commercial enterprises involving
risks incident 10 transportation By
steam and eiseiE5citys N The operation
Of manufacturing plants mines.
structural 5u5sd4ng. and -As Ike, L
ENORMOUS and is u controlling t1ssr-
est sron rhe kun1zi1zrzzu v3eE, a.
vel az that ~ tas sngloye- E1o
counts the cost II dollars and csatss
Or from legal stzndp cEns- stlE1
considers propositions tnat hare 5eez
evolved By Inc courts AID p-sscrIt'sd
by legislatures II determining the r.
aatfons thai exist bstvss1 tas sLz-
pioYsr and hiS engio9ss. TIE rapid
increase II population, Inc trench
deus growth Of commercial enterprise
makes tbs relation bstveen the En-
pIoYer and the empiogs, or. zs Ire
lax books term il, master ard ser
want. 30 far as liability Of the master
on employer for personal injuries Of
hig servant or employe. received
while in the course OF his empioy-
ment. subject Of increasing interest
and importance
The extension Of our Industrial
pursuits; the concentFa ton Of capital
into large corporations engaged IN
manufacturing, mining, and transDor-
tation; the multiplied use Of com
pIicatsd machinery, propelled by
steam and ei,sctricfty. and the vast
and constantly Increasing ARM Of
men and women. and TO some degree
engaged in what are des-
ignated az dangerous trades, makes
the subject one OF general interest,
not only Of vital moment 70 those
engaged az employer and employes
but society al large. The state and
nation ig, therefore, concerned In the
general welfare Of those VINO may be-
come dependent because OF perma-
nent injury or the death of the head
Of the family, and The employer So
ciety, and the state also have q high
or interest In desiring that human
life and limb may be preserved and
protected.
AS compared with many Of the
European nations, human life in this
country, when measured By the pro-
lection it receives, and the frequency
OF accidents. ig in many instances in
adequately cared for, and, under
many circumstances. when viewed
from the protective standpoint, is
considered cheap On the other hand
measured By the compensation return
ed BIZ .juries and sanctioned by the
courts. the punishment to those who
are unfortunate enough TO be held
ciyilly liable for death or injury IL
unusually severe.
This want Of protection in prevent
ing accidents on the one hand, ant
the disposition TO severe punishment
when they do occur on the other ex
! list largely BY reason Of the want 0
i proper and systematic regulation 0
/ the conduct Of many branches o
business, and also by reason Of tn
failure on the part Of the government
to take comprehensive view of tn
nature and extent of liability whel
an accident does occur. These con
/ fused or chaotic conditions grew GU
OF the tremendous advance and tn
great expansion Of our country an
its industries in comparatively lin
tied time; the entire lack OF any sor
of comprehensive. logical or scientifi
legislation on the subject, and tn
failure in many instances on the par
of the national and state govern
ments TO adequately supervise tn
management Of business that Is CON
prised in what are termed dangerou
occupations. Until very recent years
80 far as government control liz cor
cerned, this entire subject has bee
left to the individual company or II
dnstry, and too often human life an
safety have been sacrificed TO a mis-
taken idea Of economy. or to an er
tire want Of appreciation Of thei
true responsibility upon the part 6
those who engage and employ tn
services OF their fellow men.
Employers, especially in what ma
, be termed the lines Of private bus
ness, have carried on their occup;
tons very much as they pleased
| States and communities, anxious tina
: all sorts Of Industries should multipl
; and prosper have placed few restri
tions upon the operation OF manufa,
, turing plants. and while permittip
the employer TO conduct his bushes
3 practically as he desired. there hay
been, on the other hand, no limit
. tions, except the discretion Of tn