The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-03-11

fetal both to the business interests and
to the control by the people of the
abuses that grow out of illegal COM
binations.
tOne of the disgraces of our civil
ization in the past has been the loss
of life and limb among the employees
OF our railroads. The statistics of such
with similar statistics of foreign coun-
tries were so shocking as to bring the
blush of shame to every American
Little by little through legislation
IN president HarriSOn'S day, renewed
and added to ia President RooseveIt's
time, and in the current administra-
ton, the railroads have been compelI-
ed to put in many safety appliances
that have greatly reduced the losses.
More than this, the contract of en-
ployment handed down from the COM
mon law contained terms which, in the
modern view, was not adapted to our
present condition of society, and was
unjust to the employee. 1t offered de
lenses of various kinds to the employer.
which, fought out before a jury i'll
courts, frequently resulted in denying
relief to those who were most injured.
and in giving unjust verdicts to those
who were least deserving, but most
cunning and unprincipled in the prepar-
alton of their cases, and which re-
suited generally when a verdict was
recovered against the employer in a too
large compensation to the lawyers
for the injured person.
IAN employers liabilities act was
therefore passed to change the law,
which eliminated certain unfair de-
lenses of the company in such suits.
The law was held to be unconstitu-
tional by the supreme court, because it
was not confined to strictly federal
jurisdiction. 1t was amended, and so
amended has been sustained by the
supreme court.
Insured Against Injury.
But more important than this is a
bill prepared by a congressional COM
mission created by the last congress
in which there were two members OF
the house, two members of the SEN
ate, and two members appointed by the
president which has now been trans
mitted to congress, and we look with
great hope to its passage at the pres
ent session.
by the bill the employees of the
railroad company and their families
are insured against possible injury to
the employee from any injury sustain
ed by him in the employment of the
railroad company that does not arise
from his Wilfullness.
THE compensation is to be rendered
in the form of annual payments for d
certain number of years, or for life;
and it is to be regulated according To
wages of the man injured or killed
1t is to be adjusted by an executive
adjustor, ana is only to go into court |
IN case of nonagreement.
Il cannot exaggerate the benefit or |
of this act which anchor |
ates greatly the danger of hostility be- |
-Ween the railroad employees and rail- |
-oad employers, which imposes a |
stronger motive than ever before upon |
he railroad management to provide all |
sorts of appliances to insure the safety |
If employees and of the transportation |
If goods and passengers, and which |
eliminates from the consideration of the |
court that branch of litigation which |
las grown to be greater than all the |
est and to be less satisfactory than
my other in it's results.
Gives Plan for Conservation.
Another progressive measure adopt
ID in this present administration and
out the policy of the previous
administration, is legislation to con-
erve as fulIy'as possible all the natural
esources that still belong to the gov
and to allow their use in pri-
ate enterprises, and under private in
-eStment, upon such terms as will Sc
ure reasonable profit to private in
and at the same time reserve
ontrol to the government in such a
way as to prevent the abuse of monop- |
ly and to secure proper legislative reg
lation.
Speaks of Recall.
I'm the course of the discussion as to
progressive legislation in state and ma
ion, the suggestion has been made that
ourts have obstructed such legislation
v declaring it unconstitutional, and
hat in order to secure for the people
THAT is theirs. and in order to give to
hem the opportunity to make the pro-
ress that they ought to make, the
Of he n
Their, to declare laws unconstitutional
hou1d be moderated or taken away.
$50 we have had proposals of two
inds: one to recall the judges and the
Their to recall decisions of courts on
institutional questions.
Il do not know that in the discussion
national issues this would be ordi-
arily relevant, but it has been made !
D by the criticism by my action in the
etc of the Arizona constitution, sub I
lifted to congress and to me as part of {
he legislative power, for approval, as !
lie fundamental law of a new state.
why He Vetoed Bill
81 vetoed the bill because it provided !
1r recall of the judges. It provided
lat when 25 per cent of the electorate !
nould submit a petition for the re- !
loval or recall of a judge, he question +
thirty days should be submitted to '
lie people in the form of a. election ! +
which other candidates were to be :
ermitted to run, and as a result of \
hich the incumbent judge, if he did /
Of obtain a plurality of votes, was to
and removed.
Those who opposed the judge were
srmitted in 200 words to say why he 4
lght to be removed, and he was per-
tilted in 200 words upon the official
lllot to say why he ought not to be I
moved. 1t seemed to me then-and I /
i've not changed my mind in the I
ightest-that no system could be de- h
sed better calculated to make a timid
'wardly judiciary than this one The s