Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-06-07

mlSSlOnerS that the public hearing OF
disputed questions, the meeting of the
parties and the enlistment of public
sentiment will ordinarily cause Just
and reasonable finding to be accepted.
THE last Of March and the first OF
April subcommittee took testimony
foN two weeks in Chicago, chiefly in
regard to the labor conditions then
and now existing in that city. The
testimony is SO voluminous and withal
SO important and has such bearing
on similar disputes in other cities
that the commission decided to make
a separate volume of it, which is
now in the hands of the public print
er, and it is hoped that it will be sent
to congress about the middle of
June.
Sat present the commission is en-
gagged in investigating the ar-beet
industry, and we find that it is OF
growing Importance in this country.
There are thirty factories at present,
nearly all of them in successful oper-
alton. The state of Michigan has the
largest number OF any state, but
California has the largest factory. 1t
appears that the department of agri-
culture has given very valuable guild
.ance to intending manufacturers and
farmers in reference to the proper
area or latitude of the sugar beet, the
soils and climate best adapted to its
culture and the largest and most im-
proved methods of culture and manu-
facture. So far as the testimony
taken indicates, the future of the in
dustry is assured, if farmers take
kindly to it. The only reason why
they hesitate seems to be that there is
a little more hard work to be done
than those who are accustomed TO
machinery like to come down
to, However, they are finding
people, and especially boys, who are
willing to do that. and altho the indus
try is in its infancy in this country the
implements of culture and the machin-
cry for manufacture already introduce
ed here are far superior to those em-
ployed in the most enlightened coun-
tries of Europe.
THE commission has taken some ties
timony concerning the great textile
manufactures in the south, and also
with reference to agricultural condi-
tons in both the south and the west.
1t intends to proceed to Philadelphia
and New England in June and July to
take evidence in regard to the manu-
facture of textiles generally, especially
with reference to the changes in the
business methods wrought by new ma
chinery and in regard to the efforts
made for securing new markets.
"On the subject of immigration the
commission has not only taken testi-
mony in New York, where it found
that the immigration laws are much
more strictly enforced than they were
a few years ago, but that notwithstan-
ding there is an increasing tide of i'm
migration owing to the general pros
perity of the country. In addition it
has sent a special agent to the Pacific
coast, who has made thoro and eX-
haustiye examination into the immi-
grafton of Chinese and japanese, and
finds that extensive evasions of our
laws have been carried on SO long that
Asiatic labor has now practically sup
planted domestic or native laborers on
thousands of farms and vineyards, on
railroads and other works where COM
mon labor in gangs is required. The
commission has not concluded its in
yestigation of the immigration prob
lem, but will submit recommendations
on the subject as soon as it's data are
complete.
THE commission has authorized
Prof. j. jerks, of Cornell University,
its expert agent on the subject of
trusts and combinations, to investigate
that subject in Europe this summer,
ic f1,,%
comparisons may be made between
combinations in this country and 9TH
ers abroad as result of his inquiries.
1T will be impossible to complete
the work of the commission in any oil
the lines of inquiry entered upon with
IN the time limit of the original act,
which will expire about the middle of
next October. Therefore bill is pend
ing IN congress to extend the time OIL
the commission to Dec. 81, 1901. Those
familiar with the work of the commits
sion believe that it can be well rounded
up within that time. That will bring
II within period nearly two years less
than that allowed the royal commits
sion of Great Britain, which recently
investigated questions of labor and in
dustry, and the work of our commits
sion will be far more extensive and
thoro and better digested than that of
any previous commission in any coun.
try,
The Investigations of the commits
sion do not sustain the theory that
trusts or injurious combinations of
capital will correct themselves thru
competition. Something more must
be done than to let them alone.
Among other cures recommended by
the commission is substantially uni
form system of corporation laws and
The maintenance of public transfer off,
ices open to stockholders, where the
books OF the concerns may be exam
med. In fact, there should be pub
hcity generally concerning the affairs
OF the combinations, especially such
publicity as will enable the stock
holders to understand intelligently
the workings and condition of the
companies in which they are interest
ed. The laws should also be amended
SO as to prevent discrimination in