Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1915-08-26
Industrial Commissions Revelations Astounding
MOST IMPORTANT DOCUMENT SINCE
DECLARATION Of INDEPENDENCE

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We have prepared for the conven
fence of our readers the following
summar yof recommendations contain
ed in the first section Of this Report
by the Commission:)
Unjust Distribution Of Wealth.
The enactment of an inheritance ta1
SO graded that while making gener-
GUS provision for the support of de-
pendents and the education of minor
children, it shall leave no large &C
cumulation of wealth to pass into
hands which had no share in its pro-
duction. The revenue from this tax
to be reserved by the Federal Govern
ment for three principal purposes:
1. The extension of education.
2. TIL development Of other i'm
portant social services which should
properly be performed by the nation
which are discussed in detail else
where.
8. Development in cooperation with
states and municipalities Of great
constructive works, such as road
building, irrigation and reforestation,
which would materially increase the
efficiency and welfare of the entire
nation.
Iaere is no legislation which could
,e passed by Congress, the immediate
and ultimate effects Of which would
be more saiutary or would more great
" assist in tempering the existing
spirit Of unrest. -
Unemployment and Denial Of oppor-
tunity to Earn a Living.
Certain measures for dealing with
these conditions which, are discussed
elsewhere in the report need to be
pushed forward with all possible
vigor, but it may be confidently pre-
dicted that the unemployment situa-
ton will not be appreciably relieved
until great advances have been made
in the removal of the two prime
causes-unjust distribution Of walth
and monopolization of land and ma
tural resources.
The most direct methods of dealing
with the inequality of wealth have al
ready been briefly discussed and wilt
be considered elsewhere in the report.
With respect to the land question:
however, the following basic sugges-
lions are submitted:
1. Vigorous and unrelenting prose
cution to regain all land, water pow
er and mineral rights secured from
the Government by fraud.
2. A general revision Of our land
laws. so as to apply to all future land
grants the doctrine Of superior use,
as in the case of water lights IN Cali
fornia, and provision for forfeiture IN
case of actual non-use. In its simplest
form the doctrine Of superior use
implies merely that at the time OF
making the lease the purpose Tor
which the land will be used must be
taken into consideration, and the use
which is Of greatest social value shall
be given preference.
8. The forcing of all unused land
into use by making the tax on non
productive the same as on productive
land Of the same kind, and exempti1g
all improvements.
The unemployed have aptly been
called "the shifting sands beneath the
State" Surely there is no condition
which more Immediately demands the
attention of Congress than that OF un-
employment, which is annually driv-
ing hundreds of thousands Of other
wise productive citizens into poverty
and bitter despair, sapping the very
basi of our national efficiency, and
Herinating the seeds of revolution.
Denial Of Justice.
With full recognition OF the gray
ity of the suggestions it seems neces-
sary to urge the Commission to make
the following recommendations
l.. That Congress should forthwith
initiate an aendment to the Constltu-
ton providing in specific terms for
the protection of the personal rights
Of every person in the United States
from encroachment by the Federal
and State governments and by priv
ate individuals, associations and cor
porations. The principal rights which
should be thus specifically perfected
by the power of the Federal Govern
ment are the privilege of the writ OF
habas corpus, the right to jury trial,
free speech, peaceful assemblage, 70
keen and bear arms, to be free from
unreasonable searches and seizures, TO
speedy public trial, to freedom from
excessive bail, and from cruel and
unusual punishments.
3. That Congress Immediately en-
act by statute or, if deemed necessary,
initiate a constitutional amendment
specifically prohibiting the courts
from declaring legislative acts uncon-
stitutional
8. That Congress enact that in all
Federal cases where the trial is by
Jury, all qualified voters in the district
shall be included in the list from
which Jurors are seected and that
they shall be drawn by the use Of q
vince or other device designed to pro
mote absolute impartfa1ity.
& That Congress should drastical
| IL regulate or prohibit private detec
| tive agencies and private employment
agencies doing business IN more thar
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