The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-07-24
READY TO INVESTIGATE
Members of the Industrial Com
mission in Butte.
CONDITIONS OF LABOR
And Capital Employed in Mining Will
Be the Subject to Which They
Will Give Their Atten-
ton Here.

A distinguished party of gentlemen
arrived in Butte yesterday, whose visit
to Montana may ultimately have an
important effect on the relations be-
tween capital and labor in connection
with the mining interests of the state.
The gentlemen of the party are Con-
gresham ]. C. Bell of Colorado. NJ. d.
Ratchford of indianapolis and John L.
Kennedy of Washington, D. c., men,
bers of the industrial commission ere
ated by the last congress to investigate
industrial conditions throughout the
country. and it is in pursuance of the
duties imposed upon them as members
of the commission that the gentlemen
are here.
1t may he stated for the benefit of
those not familiar with the purpose of
the visit of the gentlemen, that con-
gress passed an act at the last session
creating an industrial commission to
investigate questions pertaining to i'm
migration, labor, agriculture, manu-
featuring, mining and other lines of
business, and to report to congress,
suggesting such legislation as it may
deem best on these subjects. The COM
mission is composed of five members Of
the United States senate, appointed by
the president Of the senate; five men,
bers of the house, appointed by the
speaker, and nine members appointed
by the president from civil life. The
commission was authorized to appoint
from it's members sub-commissions to
investigate the separate lines of indus
try. One of the sub-commissons is
known as the b-Commission on con-
ditions of labor and capital employed
in mining, and the gentlemen who are
here are members of this suh-commts-
sion. of which ex-senator Lee Mantle
is also a member. There are three
other members of this sub-cOmmission
who are not here. They are Senator
John w. Daniel of Virginia. Congress
man Theobold Often of Wisconsin and
c. ]. Harris of North Carolina. The
congressional portion of the sub-com-
mission here are, therefore, ex-senator
Mantle aud Congressman Bell, and
those from civil life Messrs. Ratchford
and Bell.
The four members now here will pro-
coed to work at once and their pur-
pose will be to ascertain the nature of
the existing legislation of the several
states and of the United States bear
ing upon industrial conditions; the ac-
tual operation of that legislation in its
relation to the workingman. to the
manufacturer and business man, and
to the consumer; the character and
effects of similar legislation in foreign
countries, and how far it is applicable
or desirable in the United States, and
what legislation, if any, along new
lines, is practicable or desira BILE for the
improvement of industrial conditions.
with a view to determining how far
1t is possible to frame uniform indus
trial laws, the adoption of which can
be recommended to congress and to the
legislatures of the several states.
A similar statement will apply to the
work Of the commission so far as it
relates o agriculture, to mining and to
transportation.
may therefore be said to be to study
and compare existing laws bearing up
on industrial conditions here and else
where, to ascertain by competent testi-
mony wherein they are deficient, de-
fective. imperative or oppressive and
to recommend such remedial statutes
as will tend not only to make the con-
ditions of industry more uniform as
between the several states, but to re-
move such existing sources or causes
of discomfort, inequality and injustice
as can be reached and regulated
through legislation.
In conducting it's inquiry the sub
commission is empowered to summon
witnesses and examine them under
oath. A limited number of men who
will fairly represent the labor en-
ployed in mines. and like number of
mine operators Will be summoned and
examined. Their testimony will be
taken in shorthand and transcribed
and after all the mining centers of the
United States have been visited the