The Washington herald., 1913-03-23
Labor Conditions and Interstate Commerce

them, or. instead. shall We look to the
National Legislature for proper national
legislation on these subjects? Shall we
fritter away our time in piecemeal ap-
peals to the various State Legislatures
for piecemeal legislation. however model
its character, or. instead. shall We look
to the National Legislature for carefully
thought out and comprehensive legisla-
tion?
The great railways. steamship lines.
and manufacturing and distributing cor
porations all do interstate business. Mil
lions of men and women are engaged
with the railways, the steamship lines.
the steel companies, the wholesale
stores. and the great manufacturing in
dustries of the country. Many of these
employees work twelve hours a day, and
seven days a week. while many other
worthy citizens find it difficult to get
any work at all. so unevenIy is work
distributed. Women and children work
hopelessly long days. and too many of
them, while other women or children
are unable to get any work. because of
this unequal distribution. In many
places. the working conditions are un-
safe and unsanitary, while ain others
they are good.
Is it not plain that all these employers
and these laborers should have some
more uniform and just rule of law to
govern their relations to each other and
to their work? Should IL not be possible
to take all the model laws and from
them frame national act that will cover
the permissible hours and days of labor
for men, women and children, the per-
missible sanitary conditions for them, the
permissible conditions for them as to
safety. and that will prescribe what COM
pensation shall he received by them in
ca nf mi hn
after them in case of their death?
Should 1t not be possible to prepare
legislation definite and clear enough to
enable the injured employe. or his widow
or representative. easily to determine
what their rights are in order that with
out the intervention of an insurance COM
pany or a lawyer. a fair settlement may
be made with the employer? After Civ
ing a reasonable time in which to make
such settlements. and providing that set
Elements brought about by fraud or I'M
fairness shall be void. should not such
legislation provide for a competent ad-
juster in each Federal district, appointed
by the judge, who shall take proof as
to the facts in case of dispute, and re-
port to the court his opinion as to lia-
bility? II a lawyer or a claim agent is
engaged. should not his compensation be
subject to the action of the court, that
fee for merely making a settlement, or
conducting an easy case. shall no longer
be possible? If either party is dissatisfied
with the report of the adjuster upon
filing exceptions to that report. should
the party not have the right to come into
the court and try the case out before
court and jury in the usual manner?
If We had such a statute applying to
all corporations substantially engaged in
IN nj
porations were compelled to file within
a reasonable time their written assent
to its terms of liability or be prohib-
tied from engaging in interstate COM
merce, 1t is not difficult to believe that
an immense amount of injustice and
litigation could be avoided.
Would it not be better to have such
simple legislation, laying stress on sani-
tary conditions and safety. reasonable
hours of work, and reasonable compen-
sation in case of injury or death, than
it would be to have crude State insur-
ance laws that encourage malngering,
enormously increase the expense of
taxpayers for needless officials, and fail
to put premium upon the side of
health and safety?
Doubtless such a statute cannot be
drawn in a day. 1t would require the
mature consideration of labor leaders
and employers Of labor. and the most
experienced and broad-minded counsel
that each can bring to their considera-
ton. There have been objections in
the past. and there will be objections
in the future. to any such legislation,
because Of States rights.
Right or wrong, however, the Consti-
tuition OF the United States, the deci-
sions to which We have called atten-
ton. and the business conditions of to-
day have made il, impossible properly
to settle this broad question by appeal
taK to first one State and then another.