The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-01-30

fore IN considering measures proposed Tor tho
purpose OF adjusting the differences between
the wage Garner and wage payer we should
avoid extreme and radical legislation, which
too frequently aggrayates the conditions IL is
intended to improve. Employer and employed
have mutual Interests and the aim of the
state should be to cultivate between them a
feeling of confidence and friendliness.
Unfortunately there Is at times DISPOSE
tion TO father the assumption that the en-
ployer is jealously opposed to any regulations
that aim TO secure additional comfort and
convenience 10 the employed. Ny experience
with our business meu and manufacturers
leads me to believe that this suppogition Is
erroneous and generally finds birth In the
ready Imagination of paid agitators. The at
titude Of our manufacturers toward labor
legislation Is strongly influenced by the fear
that they may be hampered in their efforts TO
compete with other communities: hence while
securing to the lnborer all the protection and
privilege righteous law can bring, our en-
deavors should be guided by a care that we do
not place the employers at q disadvantage
with those OF other States and force them 20
seek fields for their capital where restrictions
are less severe.
lam in accord with the endeavors to secure
for labor by the shortening of hours OF toll
larger share of tho advantages arising from
labor saving achnery and improved meth hods
OF production. IL we can maintain protection
against the unfair competition of poorly paid
foreign labor, IL is not impossible that COM
bined action among the manufacturing States
would procure the reduction of the laborlng
day TO eight hours OF less. The greatest bene-
1T we can confer at present upon the working
man is to open up avenues of employment by
the expenditure OF public money In ne cessary
improvements
No more serious local menace 20 our in
| dustrial prosperity can be found than the dis
turbance and deprlvations frequently arising
| from strikes and lockouts, an example of
| which we have experienced during the latter
| part of tho year just closed. The disagreeabe
results from the interrupnng and unsettling
OF business relations were not confined 10 the
| parties prmsrilytinvolved, but were dstrib-
| uted over wide area among individuals and
| interests remotely. If at all, responsible for
| the controversy. Surely II the State has any
obligation TO fulfill towards its citizens ii lies
| in the direction OF the promotion and main
| tenance of Industrial peace. In other words,
| the State should provide an arrangement
| through which either one of the parties In an
industrial dispute could require the interven-
| ton OF an official board OF arbitration 1t may
| be asserted that IL would be impossible to COM
pei obedience 20 the decision of such "a tri-
| bunal. but the experience of communities in
| which this has been tried clearly indicates
that public opinion is the strongest compulsory
| force.
| The seventh annual report of the Commis-
| sioner of Industrial Statistics viii contain
| valuable information. Among the subjects
| reviewed will be the sanitary condition OF the
| textile manufacturing establishments with
| the number employed, home conditions and
| rate of wages Of members of organized trade
| unions and variety of other useful statis-
| tics. IL will be necessary for you to take some
| action towards authorizing preliminary ar
| rangements for the State Census TO be taken
| next year.
| again call your attention to the recommen-
4 - fha
| age under which no child should be employed
| in any factory, workshop or mercantile estab-
| lishment be placed at thirteen. Investigation
| seems to show that the responsibility for the
| violation OF the child labor law may be traced
| more generally TO the parents than 10 the EN-
| ployer. IL l am correctly informed there is a
| steady accession to our State Of families drawn
/ hither by the fact that children can be put to
| work here at an earlier age than in neighbor-
| ing States. IL IL is your wisdom TO enact any
| legislation touo hing this matter IL would seem
| desirable that ~ should embrace the employ
| ment of state truant officers acting under the
| direction of the Board OF Education.
| Labor Day was observed in this state 10 a
| gratifying degree for the the first time last
year and will undoubtedly become a most pop
ular holiday. / see no reason why il should
| not be made a full legal holiday and receive
| that recognition which would result from
/ making notes and commercial papers due on
| that DAY payable the day following. In fact,
believe that il Will be well to apply that rule
10 payments due ON sunday and all other
| legal holidays.
Rhode Island at the Worlds Fair.
/ There will be presented 10 y.u a report from
| the Board of Worlds Fair Managers OF the
part taken by Rhode Island in the magnifi-
cent exposition at chicago. Those who were
| privile Ged 10 enjoy the glories of that unique
display Of the worlds treasures must have
been stirred with qualification and pride at
the representation made by our state. Be
| yond question is the claim that no other Staye
| furnished such varied collection OF interest
ing and important exhibits.
The education and fishery exhibits collected
| by the State were excellent in arrangement
and detail. The former gave a very compre-
| hensive illustration OF our school system and
comprised specimens of the work of pupils of
both the private and public schools. The
latter displayed menhaden, deep water. trap
and scallop fishing. There we're about one
hundred and thirty exhibitors from this State
representing machinery, manufactures of iron
and wood, wooden and cotton textiles aud
jewelry. In fact the representation made by
our manufacturers unsurpassed by those
| of any other state aud fully sustained the
| claim that for variety of industries and s.ze of
plants Rhode Island has no equal on the con :
tinent The work of the women of the State
was also credtably presented in their special
department and the State was honored by the
fact that many of its daughters took an inn
| portant part in the organization and manage
| ment of the exhibition Of women's work. The
registers kept in the Rhode Island House dur
ing the season contain nearly 300 names
| An agreeable and cordial acknowledgment
| of the contribution of this State towards the
| success of the Fair was exhibited in the atten-
| ton and honors shown TO your Representatives
| during the ceremonies in connection with the
| celebration Of Rhode Island Day, October 9Th.
| Among the most conspicuous OF those courte-
| sizes was the presence OF the President and
| members of the Worlds Columbian Commis-
| sion at tho oratorical exercises OF the day.
| This, together with the warm greeting frsm
| representatives of sister States, made the oc-
casion memorable one for those who partici-
pated.
In expending the appropriation voted by the
| General Assembly. endeavored to make the
| celebration which our citizens could view
| with Just satisfaction, and through the hearty
| cooperation Of the Executive Commissioned
and the Worlds Fair Officials from this State
| believe that result was obtained without
| ostentatious display. Tho large attendance OF