Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-24
Industrial Commissioner Kennedy
Discusses His Recent Trip.
MANY EVIDENCES OF PROSPERITY
Silver Republicans With the Presi-
dent on the Philippines.
EIGHT HOUR MINING LAW

Mr.. ]. L. Kennedy. member of the in
dustrial commission, while recently in the
west as member of a subcommission to
take testimony on mining conditions, was
particularly impressed with the evidences
of prosperity which he observed every
where he went.
Not only were there evidences of great
prosperity in every branch of industry"
SAID Mr. Kennedy today, but l am salts
fled that this is recognized as fact by
such large majority of the people that
so-called Imperialism or anything else will
not lessen the administration support by
the country at large in the next presi-
Dental campaign.
while in Ctah the subcommissioD had
testimony that showed that the mining in
dustry was thoroughly prosperous Mr..
HaEauer of the fianauer smelling works.
and d very extensive silver miner. testified
that there is today more of profit in silver
mining at the pres mt price of sixty cents
an ounce than there was when that metal
was worth ninety cents an ounce. Ores of
the silver mines carry other metals OF
value in conjunction with silver. These
byc-products are more carefully handled
now than ever. Machinery, tools, powder
and other supplies have been greatly re-
duced in price during the last few years.
Powder that has worth eighty cents can
now be purchas at from ten to twelve
cents pound. The methods of treating
tic oISS nave Detu lIIipTONcu
Eieht-HOur Law for Miners.
while in Utah the subcommssion in
vestigated the operation of the eight-hour
law in that state, which is the only one in
the Union where there is an eight-hour
law applying to miners. We found that
the law was giving great satisfaction both
to the iaborers and to their employers The
testimony of the operators was to the eff
feet that the men did as much in eight
hours as they formerly did in ten hours.
Men who mined coal by the ton got out
as many tons in eight hours as they for
merly did in ten. The men who work in
the metaliferous mines work by the day,
and they get out as much in eight hours
as they formerly did in ten. The managers
of the mines said the men came to work
with more vigor after their longer hours
of rest. and tnat they now work with an
elght-hour stroke. The men appreciate
their exceptional conditions in regard to
hours of labor. The testimony showed
that their moral and Intellectual, as well
as physical condition, was Improved by the
shorter hours. There is less drunkenness
than under the ten-hour system.
Silver Republicans for Expansion.
II found while in Montana that the sill
yer republicans are almost unanimous in
favor of expansion, and it is believed in
political circles in these states that the
great bulk of them will be in the republi-
Cali party on tnaC issue alone next year.
They believe that expansion is good thing
for the west, and that it will increase its
trade generally, and will build up the Pa
cihc coast and Puget sound cities. While
in Utah Gov. Wells. a republican and Nor
mon, delivered a speech in which he said
that there could be no issue so important
or paramount as to take away his al
legiance from the republican party next
year. Mr.. Wells was elected as a repubi-
can in 1895, and in 1896 he voted for Will
liam Jennings Bryan for President. Former
Senator Lee Mantle. by the way, is sup
porting President Mckinley in his paper,
the Inter Mountain News, published in
Butte, Montana
Mr.. Kennedy was formerly president of
Columbia Typographical Union of this city,
and while west made visit to the ChldS-
DreXel Home for Printers, near Colorado
Springs, where there number of print
ers formerly of this city. The home is two
miles from Colorado Springs and provides
for over eighty printers five or six of whom
are from this city. He found them well
provided for and that the home was main
tained in condition of scrupuious cleanli-
ness. They were we'll satisfied with the
treatment accorded them there, their only
complaint being of the terrible monotony
of their lives. Since 1882 SiXty-one printers
have died at the home, and their graves are
better cared for than any others in the
cemetery,