Denver labor bulletin., 1916-09-02
JUDGE ROTHGERBER'S
GOOD LABOR RECORD
Bulletin Prints a Few Instances in
Which His Fairness on Bench Has
Brought Benefit to Workers

Judge Rothgerber has been called upon
to determine the validity OF two ordi-
nances enacted by the City and County
OF Denver which are of interest to the
laboring people. The first one involved
the question of the constitutionality OF
the ordinance providing a minimum
wage for laborers engaged on any work
for the city. The second case involved
the constitutionality of the ordinance
regulating employment agencies and pro.
viding for a minimum fec to be charged
by the employment agencies for procur-
ing labor. Judge Rothgerber upheld the
constitutionality of this ordinance and
decided in that case that no matter what
kind of an employment agency was con-
cerned, it came under the provisions of
the act, and that no employment agency
could charge more than the amounts pro-
vided for in the ordinance The question
of the constitutionality of such acts as
these was raised for the first time in
the state before Judge Rothgerber, and
his decision necessarily means much to
laboring classes generally
Another matter that should interest
labor people and which should cause
them to at least give Judge Rothgerber's
candidacy for reelection great consider.
alton, is the action that he has taken
where men have been killed and their
| widows in administering their estates
| seek to settle the claims against employ
ers without having had advice from their
| own attorneys. Whenever there are mi
nor children, who are heirs. Judge Roth.
gerber has refused to permit any settle
ment without first on his own motion ap.
pointing some able attorney to act as
friend Of the court to advise him whether
or not the settlement is n proper one
for the children, and to advise with the
widow. He has done this in several in.
stances. In the case of person under
the age of twenty-onc, who had been in.
jured while working the mother as guar
dian applied to Judge Rothgerber for
leave to settle the claim against the en-
plOyer, in that case a railroad company
for one hundred dollars Judge Roth.
gerber inquired if she had been advised
by her own attorney, and when told she
had not been, he appointed one Of the
ablest attorneys in Denver to investi-
gate and report to him. Upon investi-
CATION the attorney advised Judge Roth.
gerber that he believed the company wa.
absolutely negligent, and the settlement
should not be permitted, and Judge Roth.
gerber refused to permit the settlement
By this action. Judge Rothgerber enables
the employe, when he becomes of age,
to use his own judgment in seeking to
recover damages for the loss of his eye.
Judge Rothgerber was asked about r,,.
mors relating to his decision in liquor
cases, and stated that he himself has
never tried any of the liquor cases. He
is too busy attending to the probate
matters in the court to possibly attend
to the liquor cases, and has always called
to his assistance judges from other coun.
ties who have tried all the liquor cases
| that have arisen in his court. These
cases were tried by Judge Ingram of
Boulder county and Judge Baker of
Weld county.
, Judge Rothgerber believes that the
present workmen's industrial law is
totally inadequate and that it should, in
his opinion, either be repealed entirely,
or that it should be so amended that il
will at least give to the employees as
much advantage as IL gives to the en-
ployers, which the present law certainly
fails to do, the benefits portion of the
law being vastly in favor Of the en-
ployers.
| Beats them all La Belle &c cipnr.