The Lewiston teller. (Lewiston, Idaho) 1900-1905, 1901-12-05


ings Of the great corporations. engaged
in interstate business.
The large corporations. commonly
called trusts. though organized in one
state, always do business in many
States often doing very little business
in the state where they are incorpor.
ated. There is utter lack of un formity
in the state laws about them: and as NO
state has any exclusive interest in O.
power over their acts. it has in prac.
tice proved impossible to get adequate
regulation through state action. There
fore, In the interest Of the whole peo
pie, the nation should, without inter
fering with the power OF the states in
the matter itself. also assume power
Of supervision and regulation over all
corporations dong an interstate bust.
ness. This Is especially true where
the corporation derives a portion of its
wealth from the existence OF some mo-
nopolistic element or tendency in its
business.
believe that a law can be framed
which will enable the national govern.
ment to exercise control along the lines
above indicated; profiting by the ex.
and administration Of the interstate
commerce act. II. however. the judg
ment Of the congress Is that it lacks
the constitutional power to pass such
an act. then constitutional amend
ment should be submitted to confer the
pOwe:.
There should be created a cabinet
officer, to be known as secretary Of COM
merce and industries, as provided in
the bill introduced at the last session
of the congress. 1t should be his prov
ince to deal with commerce in its BROAD
est sense; including among many other
things whatever concerns labor and all
matters affecting the great business
corporations and our merchant marine.
Welfare Of Waxeworkers.
With the sole exception of the farm
Ing interest, no one matter Is of such
vital moment to our whole people as
the welfare of the wage workers. II
the farmer and the wage-worker are
we'll of. 1t Is absolutely certain that all
others will he we'll of too. 1t is there
fore matter for hearty congratula-
tton that on the whole wages are high
er today In the United States than ever
before in our history. and far higher
than in any other country. The stand
ard Of living is also higher than ever
before. Every effort Of legislator and
administrator should be bent to secure
the permanency of this condition Of
things and Its improvement wherever
possible. Not only must our labor be
protected by the tariff, but it should
also be protected so far as it is possible
from the presence in this country OF
any laborers brought over by contract,
or of those who, coming freely, yet
represent a standard of living so de.
pressed that they can undersell our
men in the labor market and drag
them to a lower level. 1 regard It as
necessary, with this end in view, to re.
enact Immediately the law excluding
Chinese laborers and to strengthen 1t
wherever necessary in order to make its
enforcement entirely effective.
THE national government should de.
mand the highest quality of service
from Its employees: and in return 1t
should fbe a good employer. II posi-.
BILE legislation should be passed, in con.
nectlon with the interstate commerce
law. which will render effective the ef-
forts OF different states to do away with
the competition of convict CONTRACT la
Dor In the open labor market. So far
as practicable under the conditions OF
government work, provision should be
made to render the enforcement Of the
eight-hour law easy and certain. In
all Industries carried on directly or in
directly for the United States govern.
ment women and children should be
protected from excessive hours of Ia
Dor, from night work. and from work
under unsanitary conditions. The gov.
eminent should provide in its contracts
that all work should be done under
fair" conditions, and in addition to
setting high standard should UNFOLD
It by proper inspection, extending II
necessary to the subcontractors. The
government ehould forbid all night
work Tor women and children, as well
as excessive overtime. For the Dis.
trict OF Columbia good factory law
should be passed; and, as q powerful
Indirect aid to such laws, provision
should be made to turn the iuhabited
alleys. the existence Of which is a r..
preach TO our capital city, into minor
streets. where the Inhabitants can live
under conditions favorable to health
and morals.
American wage-workers work with
their heads a. we'll as their hands.
moreover. they take a keen pride An
what they are doing; 90 that. independ-
emit OF the reward, they wish to turn ont
Q perfect Job. THIS 10 the great secret
OF our success In competition with tina