Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-07-11
N[NNERg|RUk'S WORK
New Labor Commissioner Making an
Honest Effort to Increase
Omce's Efficiency.
Reports from Employers Are Very
Satisfactory and Statistics
Will Be Valuable.
Sanitary Regulations to Be Enforced
in Factories-Chatrman Weaver
at Des Moines.

at Des Moines.
Special to Times-Republican
| Des Moines, July 11.-Labor Commis-
ljsioner Wennerstrum has gone to Mill |
waukee to attend the national conven-
tion of the chiefs of labor bureaus IN
the United States. The meeting is III |
session most of the week. This is the
| first time Iowa has been represented
in this organization. 1t is another in
stance Of the honest effort that Mr..
Wennerstrum is making to increase the
deficiency of the Office. His efforts thus
far have been crowned with: success.
The reports he is receiving from ems
4 ployers are highly satisfactory. They
are coming in in great numbers and
4 the Information asked for is being
given quite fully They show tremen-
/ dous Improvement in business over the
4 state and also in the conditions pre-
vailing among the working classes.
More labor is being employed and bet
ter wages are being paid In many in
5I.stances voluntary increases in wages
have been made by employers. A few
A strikes have occurred. in which the em-
I ployes secured nearly everything they
4 asked for without serious trouble. No
A damage to property resulted from any
Il of the strikes. As soon as the lists
3 have been checked up and the delin-
4 I3quents given a chance to report the
4 factory inspection will begin. 1t will
II be impossible to visit every town or
II city, because the appropriation for ex-
q Ipenses is only $500 year. The import
ant labor centers will be visited and
factories Inspected. One of the chief
II difficulties the commissioner will have
tsjto contend with is the sanitary regula-
sistion. In this respect the Iowa factories
are not quite up to the standard they
should maintain. They have not had
!, time to have the Importance of this i,n-
:. pressed upon them. as it will be By
!, Commissioner Wennerstrum. Some of
! the employers in sending in their re-
ports have gone to the trouble and ex-
pense of putting on revenue stamps in
addition to having them sworn to be-
!. fore notary. The Law requires the re-
i tiports to be sworn to. but the revenue
/ stamp is unnecessary.
FL Deputy Dairy Commissioner Bouska
u began his work in Blackhawk county
/ and is finding plenty to do and is being
i well received. Mr.. Bouska's appoint
ment was very gratifying to the peo-
i /. pie of Howard county, where he lives.
g He is the son of wealthy Bohemian
: farmer near Cresco and is known
i there as capable. industrious and
: modest young man.
!,
: s
: died very suddenly Monday morning
i during the absence of his wife in Eu-
e rope. was for many years one of the
: most influential men in northwestern
= Iowa He was one of the earliest mer-
s chants in the town and for fifteen or
: twenty years was its most prominent
I tbusfness man He was postmaster of
g the town for sixteen years and has al
: ways been one of the most energetic
7 and uncompromising republicans in
the county. He served on the republi-
lean state committee from the Tenth
district and during his active connec-
: ton with politics he was always con-
i suited about what should be done by
y the republican party in the district and
K state. Many man owes his success
e in politics TO the assistance of b. H
/. Hardness.
r The republican convention in Clayton
It county. which instructed for Chancel-
z lor McClain for supreme judge. refused
II to adopt a resolution instructing fol
c Senator Gibertson. Strangely enough
+ the Gilbertson fight was led by sex- Con-
gresham Updegraff. While Mr. Nor
d rows interests We're looked after BY
= one of Mr. Updegraff's appointees