Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-03-05
WALSH PLEADS FOR
LABORERS' SAFETY
Congressman Sponsor for Bill
Late bob" Bremner intro
duced in House.

Labor safety bill which originated
with the late Congressman Robert G.
Bremner, was started on it's way
through the House late yesterday
afternoon. Representative Allen B.
Walsh, to whom the measure passed
after the death Of his colleague Brem-
ner, took up the bill with enthusiasm
and showed during the debate yester-
day that he was well fortified with
Industrial facts to cement his argu-
nents.
Briefly, the bill calls for the estab-
lishment of a bureau under the direc-
ton of the Secretary of Labor for the
purpose of forwarding the movement
for the betterment OF industrial con-
dition of workers in the factories,
shops, mills and mines. AT the head
of this bureau is to be Commissioner
OF Labor Safety, who shall receive a
salary Of $4,000 year. There is also
to be museum in which will be ex-
hibited various devices for the pro-
lection and safety of workers.
Congressman Walsh, in his address
advocating the measure, spoke in part
as follows:
THE bill which is now before the
House for our consideration, If en-
| acted into law, Is we'll calculated to
promote industrial harmony and pros
perlty by bringing about the foster
ing conditions which Will undoubtedly
increase the percentage of efficiency
among the workers, and thus benefit
| largely the employers. Every legis-
lative effort which tends to promote
| e1V ot, L.
employers is an effort in the right
direction, and every law which will
facilitate, as this one will, the efforts
| OF employers to manifest larger
measure of consideration for their
/ employees will prove widespread
benefit to the country and to the
party under whose guidance 1t was
| enacted. 1t Is a most encouraging
thing to find that there are many
employers of labor In this country
who, without the whip of compulson
by law, have worked steadily to i'm
prove the conditions In their plants
for the greater safety and comfort of
their employees.
Army of Killed and Injured.
Reliable statistics show us that
about 100000 workers are killed or in
capacitated in this country every
but, even admitting the possibility OF
some error or exaggeration in figures
Which cover so wide a field, there yet
remains enough to make the state
ment staggering. Think of II, gentle
men, almost half a million Of our fell
low beings every year either killed
outright or brought face to face with
that dreaded poverty which they are
no longer able to avert.
why, any war which would result
in such a list of casualties as are re-
| ported in our industrial world every
year would go down in history as one
! of unexampled ferocity and horror.
! We cry out in condemnation of the
! atrocities of the war which is now
going on in another land, and yet we
practically stand stolidly by while
this shocking and unnecessary and
ineXcusable carnage goes on steadily
| in our very midst, accompanied by
| horrors unsurpassed in war. In no
other country does the accident rate
reach such colossal proportions as in
these United States. Oh, my dear
friends and members OF this Congress
let me suggest to you that IL is your
! duty and mine to see to 1t through
legislative means within our power
that the mighty hosts who labor are
given an opportunity to reap the ben
stitution which guarantees life, Ib-
erty and the pursuit of happiness to
all law-abiding citizens, and thus put
an end to the deplorable holocaust of
human life and human agony which
is being yearly offered up in the land
on the affairs of industry.
Poverty Of Glass Affected.
at is very important for US to re-
member that we are here deal
ing with q class of people
who, as rule. have few, IL
any, resources to fall back upon in
time of need. Their daily wage
hardly admits of such provision. Null
titudes of them struggle to make a
home for themselves and enjoy It's
comforts, such as they may be, when
the days work is done. That home
depends entirely on their earnings
from week to week. Few Of us would
be willing to change places with any
of them, nevertheless it is their home,
the result Of their toll and their only
| ideal of human happiness in a world
| which for them holds very few of the
Joys and comforts with which we
NAV be familiar. What a tragedy,
then, to take only one instance Of
this annual 100000, where the sole
support of such a home Is either taken
suddenly away by death or rendered
unfit for service by some disabling
accident
1.-THE Democratic administration is
in the limelight of national obserVa-
ton, and If we can satisfy the aspira-
ticns of the people for thoroughly
representative government we Shall
have done much indeed to promote
national peace and unity patriotism
and prosperity, together with respect
for the law and for those who make
1t This bill represents no haphazard
attempt at such legislation, nor is it
anything in the nature of a sop to the
working millions whose eyes are upon
us and whose interests are at stake,
IT is a serious, well thought out and
| determined attempt to place law
upon our statute books which will
prove an incentive to the elimination
of the conditions in the world OF labor
which have been and still are dis
grace to the country, a most fruitful
source of misery and unrest and dis
content, and all the other Ills that
may afflict people or work injury
| to nation.
Grip of Friendship to TOiiers.
"The two great measures already
enacted into law have powerfully
strengthened popular confidence in
our administration. BY suchGa law
as this we reach out our hand as it
were to the hosts of patient toilers
and give them a hearty grip of an
active and effective friendship, while
at the same time speaking encourage
ment to every employer who had the
interests of his employees at heart.
And | believe that through Legislation
such as this the forces of discomfort
| n nd