Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1899-08-30
Commissioner Kennedy Discus
SeS His Recent Trip.
EVIDENCES OF PROSPERITY
Silver Republicans Agree with the
administration on One ThIna,
the AdViSabiIify OF Holding the
Philippines = Investigation OF
fhe Operation OF the Eight
Hour Law.

Washington, Aug. 29.-Mr ]. L.
Kennedy, a member of the industrial
commission, while recently in the west
as a member of a subcommission to
take testimony on mining conditions,
was particularly impressed with the
evidences of prosperity which he OBJ
served everywhere he went
''Not only were there evidences of
great prosperity in every branch of
industry said Mr. Kennedy today,
''but I am satisfied that this is recog-
nized as fact by such a large ma
jority of the people that so-called i'm
perialism or anything else will not
lessen the administration support by
the country at large in the next presi-
Dental campaign
While in Utah the subcommis-
sion had testimony that showed that
the mining industry was thoroughly
prosperous. Mr.. Hanauer of the Han
auer smelling works, and a very ex-
tensive silver miner, testified that
there is today mere of profit in silver
mining at the present 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 by-products are
more carefully handled now than ever.
Machinery, tools, powder and other
supplies have been greatly reduced in
price during the last few years. Pow
der that was worth eighty cents
can now be purchased at from ten to
twelve cents a pound. The methods of
treating the ores have been improved.
''While in Utah the subcommission
investigated the operation of the
eight-hour law in that state, which is
the only one in the union where there
is an eight-hcur law applying to
miners. We found that the law was
giving great satisfaction both to the
laborers and their employees The
testimony of the operators was to the
effect that the men did as much in
eight hours as they formerly did in
ten hours. Men who mined coal by
the ton got cut as many tons in eight
hours as they formerly did in ten. The
men who work in the metaliferous
mines work by the day, and they get
as much n eight hours as they form
erly did in ten. The managers of the
mines sai1 the men came to work
with more vigor after their longer
hours of rest, and that they now work
with an eight-hour stroke. The men
appreciate their exceptional conditions
in regard tC hours of labor. The tes-
timony showed that their moral and
intellectual, as well as physical eondi-
tion, was improved by the shorter
hours. There is less drunkenness than
under the ten-hour system.
Il found willie in Montana that the
silver republicans are almost unani-
nous in favor of expansion, and it is
believed in political circles in these
states that the great bulk of them
will be in the republican party on
that issue alone next year. They be-
ieve that expansion is a good thing
for the west, and that it will increase
its trade generally, and will build up
the Pacific coast and Puget sound
cities While in Utah Governor Wells
a republican and Mormon, delivered a
speech in which he said that there
could be no issue so important or par
amount as to take away his allegiance
from the republican party next year
Mr.. Wells was elected as a republi-
can in 1895, and in 1896 he voted for
William Jennings Bryan for president
Former Senator Lee Mantle, by the
way, is supporting President Nc
I<inley in his paper, the Inter-Moun-
tain ews, published in Butte. Mont"