The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-05-23

Unenlightened Legislation.
The legislature of Rhode Island rot
long ago appointed a joint committee to
investigate the depression i'm the cotton
manufacturing industry, report the cause
and suggest remedies. The committee has
made its report. 1t finds, to condense the
report, that the cause is the production Of
more manufactured goods than are wanted
and thot the productive capacity of the
country has outrun the consumptive ca
pacity. II says there are two remedies. one
of which might be applied to the situation.
namely reduce the output, or increase the
consumption. The output might be cur
tailed by enacting laws to still further
reduce the hours of labor, but the commit
tee does not think it well to recommend
the passage of laws of the kind in view
of the fact that the South is now com
petitor of Rhode Island and the North in
cotton manufacturing. The consumption
might be increased by a revision Of the
tariff and a lowering of rates, so that
a foreign market might be had but the
committee does not think it would be
good policy to agitate or advocate stirl
another overhauling of the tariff so soon
after a general revision.
Running along IN this manner the com
mittee touches upon all of the facts
brought to its attention ana all of the re-
concentrations suggested to il, without
committing Itself to any declaration ex-
cept that the people who are interested
in the manufacturing of cotton ought to be
left to work out the problem for themselves
without being hampered by all sorts of
legislation. They should not be tied up
with too much law. And then the com
mittee sums up in these words: in con-
clusion your committee report that while
they are unable TO definitely state the
cause or causes of the existing depress-
ion in the cotton industry, they are Of the
opinion that the rapid increase of the pro-
ducdve capacity of the country exercises
an important influence, and that the dis
covery and application of efficient rene
dies should properly be left to those en-
gagged In the industry. They further report
that the evidence shows that the absen &c
of enlightened legislation respecting labor
in the Southern states places the manu-
facturer of this state at considerable dis
advantage"
Judging from the trend of the report, the
committee is evidently of the opinion that
the state of Rhode Island has altogether
too much enlightened legislation" res
pecting labor. Theoretically. the "absence
of enlightened legislation" of the sort
in the South is very regrettable, if not
indeed reprehensble; at the same time the
legislative committee would be very much
pleased if it could recommend a similar
lack in Rhode Island, in order that the
manufacturers there might be able to COM
pete with the manufacturers Of the South
-s-S-s-
The Cuban annexation snake is beginning
to raise its head. This is our war, not
Cuba s." says the Chicago Inter Ocean;
eve are 20 take all of the risks, bear all
of the burdens and do all of the fighting
If we do this we must reap the benefits
As a result of the war, Cuba must come
under American control, and under condi-
ton that will make our control lasting
Whatever the local form of government
may be, the island must be ours" There
is a certain attractiveness about the style
Of argument which viii probably gain
many adherents. There are persons who
viii insist that we ought TO have something
! tangible to show for our sacrifices and ex-
| penditures. They will not be apI 10 take
into considerau ton the assurance the coun-
! try has given that it does not mean to an
mex Cuba as an outcome of the war; nor
will they give a great deal of thought to
! the radical departure in our governmental
| policy that would be involved in bringing
| Cuba under American domination. The
| Chicago Inter Ocean is a Republican pa
per- The Republican administration has
pledged its word to the world that to seiz,
Cuba is no part of its policy. Does the
Inter Ocean hope to induce the admins
l tration 10 stultify itself?