The Alaska daily empire., 1917-04-12
EMPLOYER AND EMPLOYEE

In considering the physicians bill and all other proposed legislation regulating the operation mines and other industries in Alaska the Legislature should act with the principle in mind always that be regulation unless very good for it can be shown. Mines and other industrial concerns are not public service corporations They monop- olies No one is compelled to dc business with them They do not serve the general public. The act of cepting employment from them is purely voluntary on the part of the employee They private enterpris- es. Generally speaking questions between them and their employees matters that the opera tors and their employees only Before the state steps in to assume authority the burden of proof is upon those who would show the necessity for such action.
 This does not mean, of course, that the govern ment should not assume authority to direct when it is clearly proved that public policy requires that it should do so. But there should be action to the caprice whm of any individual the interest of any special class combination of individuals If the relations between the companies and their employ peaceful agreeable and generally satisfactory and interest of the public is being injured the government should refrain from interfering
 It has been rightfully decided that the public is interested in many of the relations employer and employee that have existed in various sections of the country For instance the public being interested in the citizenship of the future, has very properly stepped in and prevented the employment of children at work which would impair their physical develop ment or prevent them from receiving the educa ton and training The government has properly limit ed the number of hours of employment in many lines of labor in order to give employees opportunity to preserve health and improve themselves mentally and physically. The government has a right to demand that rules of safety against life injury and ade quate sanitary conditions should be observed The ernmen has right to insist that there shall be pensation for who is injured the employ ment of another just it has right to insist upon the payment of just debts.
 However. where the public interest is not involved ehOu ,e matter between the employer and the employee. In principle there difference the relations between printing office and, employee. or store keeper or banker and employee The man who applies for job sizes up the layout" Soand-so the boss soand-so the foreman, soandso the physician, etc Likewise with the rules regulations, equipment, wage or salary other circumstances connected with the proposed relation of employer and employee If he does not like part of the layout he will look employment where the personnel rules and equip ment satisfactory.
 Unionism recognizes this principle. though it be. heves and often insists that there should coopera ton between employer and employee fixing rules and regulations. The reasonableness of this position of labor has been generally recognized that there few employers who do not readily consult with their employees about any of these things and nearly always quick and satisfactory agreement comes from the consultation. Strikes and hard feeling between em- ployers and employees exceptions rule and not the usual thing
 It generally is safe proposition to leave these matters the employers and employees to arrange among themselves. At least the government should not intervene unless the public interest clearly shown