Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-01-09

labor commissioner.
suggest, therefore, that at the ex-
emption Of the term Of the present com
missioner, the office of labor commits
sioner be abolished and its duties be
transferred to the industrial accident
commission. As labor is directly repre-
sented on the commission, the principles
Of whose operation are based upon co.
operation with, the employe, there would
be no iessening of protection for its in
terests, which most certainly merit and
must have adequate recognition.
The change would save a considerable
amount in office expense and would
make available for other purposes the
$4,000 now collected in fees and used
to meet the costs of inspection, and it
is suggested that the transfer of the in
speetion work be made at once.
With further reference to the gen
erai subject of labor, it seems to me
iminently desirable from the standpoint
of all concerned, that steps be taken to
the end that industrial disputes may
be settled so far as possible through ar
bitration. If commission vested with
official authority, could be created,
which would command the reasonably
united confidence of labor and employ
ers, it might well devise ways and
means which would 90 far toward allie
waiting the losses inherent to industrial
disputs in which the principle of con-
ciliation is ignored
Sterilization.
The prevalence and increase of feeble
mindedness and mental disease is one of
the greatest problems confronting mod
ern society. It is estimated, for in
stance, that probably two per cent of
Oregon children are mentally deficient.
There are hundreds of adults, of course,
who are mentally incompetent and
whose unrestricted propagation simply
means the creation of more human
wrecks. am more and more convinced
that the reproduction of the mentally
unfit is absolutely wrong. Through our
shortsighted inaction we are populating
our state with imbeciles and criminals,
insuring ever-increasing public expense
and opening the way for disease, sorrow
and tragedy for generations yet un-
born.
To mend this situation, I earnestly
urge the passage of sane sterilization
act. It's application should be zealously
safegnarded. The feeble minded, the in
curably insane and the criminally in
sane should be operated upon. Each
case, it seems to me, should be consid-
cred by commission, or jury, composed
of the members of the state board of
health, the superintendents of the two
state hospitals, and the superintendent
Of the feeble-minded institution.
Crippled Children.
| It is especially desirable that the
needs of our INDECENT crippled children
be given consideration. Perhaps they
best can be cared for through county
institutions, In connection with this
increasingly important subject I refer
you to the first report of the Oregon
child welfare commission ,and I recon.
mend that there be established at the
state university child welfare depart
ment in connection with it's extension
activities, so that the important worl
conducted under this head may hereafter
have official recognition. 1t is also
suggested that the state board of health
operate child hygiene division, devot
| ed to the study and improvement of con-
ditions surrounding the children of thu