The Monmouth inquirer. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1865-1933, 1923-01-18

Will MAKE Shcu QeF6lOpueA6 - az
tractive as possible. In these en-
lightened days. we cannot drift along
and permit ugliress to predominant.
The ultimate growth in this section
will bring with it q most desirable
population, and the increased ratables
will add greatly to the prosperity OF
the entire State.
Labor
1 Conditions in this country are rap
idly changing and this is particularly
true in our Eastern States. Large in
dustrial communities have been estab-
nshed and the problem Of caring for
and protecting those who labor in the
mills and factories is becoming every
day more and more complex.
The lives which the people in these
communities lead are not conducive
either to health or happiness. Most OF
them came to this land seeking free
dom and contentment and 1t is the
function and duty of the State to so
regulate the conditions under which
they live and work that they may be
given an equal opportunity with those
of us who are better situated. II our
country is to continue in greatness
the health and happiness of all of its
people must be cared for. The cares
and burdens Of hard working men
and tired women as well as helpless
children are our responsibility and
the State is not doing its duty to Its
citizens If these things are neglected
and If the helpless ones, men, wom-
en- and children, aresleft alone to help
themselves.
Our thoughtlessness, selishness and
neglect will affect not only the pres
emit but future generations.
II the children of industrial work.
ers are to become happy, contented
and useful citizens, their fathers and
mothers must lead happy lives and
their home surroundings and the con-
ditions under which they labor must
be bettered.
Chief among the present day ills
of industrial workers is night work
for women in our mills and factoriess
particularly young married women
who are either mothers or are about
to become mothers, Such things
should not be either possible or nec-
essary in this enlightened day and
generation. If the man or men OF
the family are not paid a sufficient
wage to enable them to support the
family with some degree Of comfort
at least, then that condition must be
changed and changed Immediately.
Pregnant mothers, working at
night, gaunt and weary with toll,
standing eight or nine hours at ma
chine, running noisily and ceaselessly,
and then returning to cold and
cherries home in the early hours,
greeted by crying and hungry babies,
Is not pleasant picture to behold and
should never exist in this free land
of ours. Conditions in these. homes
are appalling The mother obtains
little or no rest, for her days are
spent in caring for her children and
attending to other arduous household
duties and her nights are spent toiling
in the MILL Both for humanitarian
reasons and for the good of the State
these things must not be.
will again urge upon the legis.
lature the passage of laws regulating
night work for women. Reasonable
opportunity should be given to adj
just operations so that conditions
may be changed without disturbing
more than may be necessary the proc.
esses of manufacture and the steady
employment of labor.
The time has also arrived to change
the schedules for the compensation
of those injured while engaged In
the performance of their work, giving
an increase which shall be common.
surate with the higher cost of living.
Having had the honor of participate
ing in the preparation and enact.
ment of the original Compensation
Law, it is gratifying to me to be in a
position to urge Improvements to this
most humane statute.
Utilities
In reviewing the question of Pub.
lie Utilities, 1t is helpful to examine
the HISTORICAL background.
In the beginning franchises were
granted to street railway companies
by municipalities, under legislative
permission, in nearly $50 municipali.
ties, upon terms agreed upon between
the companies and the municipalities,
and almost invariably upon copdi.
ton that five cent fare only be
charged.
The companies operated under
them, with apparent success. But
in the operation of these franchises
abuses grew. Then public opinion de.
manded that these companies, the
creatures Of the State, be regulated
and controlled. This resulted in the
passage of the Public Utility Act in
1911. creating the Public Utility Com
mission.
In course OF Gatne almost all units
formerly operating separately, were
combined, first into combinations Of
two or three and finally into a COM
bination of nearly all, under the name
re he Duh1io Coruioo Do Noxr1-