The Saint Paul globe., 1900-05-18
MADE ITS FIRST REPORT
INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION Is NOT
READY TO MAKE RECON-
MENDATIONS
TELLS WHAT IT HAS LEARNED
Subject of transportation Is Basis
Of Preliminary RetUrn-Facts
as to Ownership of EIe-
vatOrs Developed.

WASHINGTON May 1.-THE indus
trial commission today made a prelimi-
nary report to congress on the subject
of transportation. The commission states
that owing to the :ncompleteness of its
inquiry the commission Is not prepared
at present to make recommendations to
congress or to the state legislatures, but
contemplate the making of such recon-
mendations hereafter"
The report made today covers S31 pages
Of printed matter, the larger part OF
which is the testimony that has been
taken on the subject Of transportation
In a review of the evidence the commits
son says:
while detailed and specific statement
as to the conditions of labor and traffic
have not usually been sought, many gen
eral statements as to these conditions
have been obtained, and although there
is, of course, not little difference OF
opinion, conclusions as to facts emerge
with clearness from the testimony. Nat
uralIy there Is even greater difference
of judgment as to needed legislation; but
here again it is possible to gather some
fair conclusions concerning the prepon-
derance of opinion among those most In
terested as to some or the important
problems now before the people
On the question of determinations be-
tween individuals, the report says that
the general consensus of opinion among
witnesses is that the railways still make
them. They also say that the evidence
Is clear that the terminal elevators In
Chicago, and to a less extent in other
grain markets. are owned by compara-
lively few persons; that the owners OF
the public elevators also control great
private elevators; that they themselves
lake a large proportion of the gra n that
rome into elevators, and the business OF
handling grain on commission has been
greatly reduced by this practice. 1t is
also claimed that these men own most
Of the country elevators.
CANTEEN LAW CONTROVERSY.
The reports of Secretary Root, Gen. Cor
bin and other officers on the army can
teen sent to the military committee yes
ferday today called forth a reply from
Rev. Henry Colburn and Mrs. Dye Ellis,
the legislative superintendent of the w.
c. T. u. 1t says in part:
1.-The administration yesterday for the
first time came out openly for army
liquor selling on its merits. Hitherto the
plea has been that the administration
could not suppress the canteens because
the law of congress was ambiguous Both
President Mckinley and Secretary Root
said recently that If congress would
speak in plain terms, they would enforce
the law. This attitude has now been
abandoned, and the secretary of war;
whose words are to be taken as those
of the president, has come out squarely
In favor of the canteen. Secretary Root,
pointing to the army canteen develop
Inents in the British and French armies,
said Yesterday in an official communica-
tion to congress:
"T think the enactment Of this bill
would be injurious to the temperance,
morals and discipline of the enlisted men
of the army.
secretary Root, in saying that abstin-
snce cannot be secured in the army, for
wets the success of railways in securing
abstinence, and his reference to the
Philippines is unfortunate on account Oh
the unparalleled record Of drunkenness
among our soldiers there. We are at d
loss to find an excuse for Gen. Corpln
nlaim that the liquor trade and temper
Rnce people are working together in op--
position to the canteen, in the face OF
The fact that the liquor papers are op-
posing the anti-canteen law.
OLEOMARGARINE MEN HEARD.
Representatives of the large oleo-
margarine dllO DulISih SOlSC1llS VI SAh-
cago, Kansas City and other points were
before the house committee on agricul-
ture today in general defense of their
industry and in opposition to the pro-
posed additional restrictions Manager
lowering, Of the firm of Swift & Co., de-
tailed the extent of the business, and the
widespread use of oleomargarine among
laborlng people. He said the effect of the
proposed legislation would be to drive
honest dealers out Of business and give
further incentive to dishonest dealers.
WORKINGS OF CURRENCY LAW.
TIE report Of the comptroller Of the
currency shows that from March IA, the
date the new currency bill went into eff,
feet, to May u, applications had been
received from 2z9 parties for authority to
conduct national banks with a capital of
less than $50, 600 each, or a total capital of
IS, ,095, ,0OO. Applications over $4,000 with
a total capital of $2,950,000 had been re-
celved. Since March II, fifty-nine banks
have been organized with less than $4,000
capital and twenty-eight have been or
ganized with $4,000 capital or over.
5chese eighty-seven banks have deposited
bonds to secure circulation aggregating
n,5S6 600.
FREE HOMES BILL SIGNED.
President Mckinley signed the free
homes bill at 3:22 o'clock this afternoon.
There. were present Delegate Flynn, of
Oklahoma, and Representative Gamble,
of South Dakota, both of whom made
brief speeches in support of the measure.
"A number of others interested in the fate
of the bill also were present, so that the
attendance assumed unusual proportions
for an occasion of that sort The presi,
dent said his opinions would be put in
writing at the foot of the bill and then
affixed his signature.
REVENUE RULING.
Commissioner Wilson, of the Internal
revenue bureau, has held that building
and loan associations making loans on
collaterals to their own members only and
pending Withdrawals of small amounts on
demand upon receipts of their own mem
bers from whom they receive such dep
osts Of money are not liable to tax as
bankers.