The chronicle=news., 1915-01-08

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Old system resulted in delaying work
until toward the close of the session
when, in the rush which necessarily
followed, many meritorious measures
were lost or passed in such form as
to make them worse than useless.
The new provision intends that the
general assembly shall push its work
from the beginning and take all
necessary time to complete it in the
best form. In tine interest of good
legislation and to the benefit of the
legislators themselves. l hope that all
important matters shall be disposed
of before the hour of the final ad-
journment is fixed.
! The law classifying appropriations
should be repealed So long as 1t is
in force there will be danger of over
appropriation. If all appropriations
shall be placed upon an equal foot
ing every one concerned will use his
best endeavor to prevent the allot-
ment of more money than will be
available. Under the present system
the first and second classes are sure
of their money. The other classes
are on the doubtful line. and often 1t
is not known for months or perhaps
u year after the bills become effective
whether the appropriation will be
available or not. In consequence
there cannot be that planning or con-
! tinuity of work necessary to produce
the best results.
A more conpresensive and business
like method for the investment OF
our public trust funds is recommend
ed. Until the ordinary expenses of
the government can be placed upon a
cash basis it is necessary to employ
portion of these monies to buy war;
, rants and keep them at par It is
Just as important to protect state
bonds. The purchase of these secur-
tiles would not only make good the
credit of the state. but would bring
to the income funds Il larger rate Of
interest than they have been receiv-
ing and relieve general taxation by
an equal amount. Federal law re-
cures that agricultural college funds
shall be invested at not less than five
PER cent. These monies with other
in farm loans or other real estate Sc
curities at six per cent or employed
In the purchase of mortgage bonds in
the event land mortgage banks shall
he established. The attempt of the
register of the land board to use these
funds in farm loans has been frus-
trated by litigation still pending in
the courts
With no intention of restirrinG the
bitterness of the past butt with most
sincere desire to prevent the recur-
renee of trouble in the future, the I'M
perative necessity of legislation to
control industrial disputes is urgent
" suggested. Through the establish
ment of an industrial commission.
minor difficulties may be adjusted.
and serious situations avoided by
proper handling at their incfpiency.
The constant watchfulness of such
commission. its Investigation of
working conditions. its fairness in
the disposition of complaints and its
anticipation of threatened discord
will very generally enable it to set
tie satisfactorily ordinary difficulties.
Disputes of interstate magnitude. or
whose control is beyond the bounda-
ries of the state in which they occur,
should be regulated by congressional
action. Our state is entirely capa-
bile of handling local disturbances but
it, is lust as much the function and
duty of the federal government to
regulate and control interstate in
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and control interstate commerce.
have been unable TO find any law
now in force which could successfully
cope with a situation such as the re-
cent Colorado strike. Arbitration
was impracticable. The strike was
called to unionize the mines ana
neither side to the controversy would
submit that matter to arbitration ana
agree to abide by the result. Com
pulsory arbitration was impossible
because no law has been devised by
which awards can be enforced. The
strikers were clamoring fer a con-
ference, which could not be secured
because the operators asserted the de-
mand was Il mere subterfuSe to Sc
cure that much recognition for the
organization OF the United Mine
Workers. Had any practical plan
been discovered or suggested it would
have promptly been submitted to the
general assembly.
\ strike or lockout unaccompanied
by violence is easily controlled and
needs no discussion. 1t is the vio-
Ience. therefore. that must be guard
ed against Surely no one will con-
tend that an industrial dispute more
than any other controversy should
be determined by threats, intiinida-
t;on. arson aud bloodshed. II Sc
those capable of the greater violence
are certain to win and whatever is
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