Kootenai County Republican. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1899-1903, 1901-12-06

lie the government should have the
right TO inspect and examine the work
lngs of the great OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
in interstate business.
The large corporations, commonly
called trusts, though organ zed 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 IN formlty
in the state laws about them; and as no
state has any exclusive interest IN or
power over their acts, it has in prac-
tice proved impossible to get adequate
regulation through state action. Ihere-
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 Dus-
ness. This is especially true where
the corporation derives a portion or It's
wealth from the existence OF some mo-
nopolistic element or tendency IN us
business.
| believe that law can be framed
which will enable the national govern
ment to exercise control along the lines
above indicated; profiting by the eX-
perience gained through the passage
and administration of the interstate
commerce act. IT, however, the judg-
ment Of the congress is that 1t lacks
the constitutional power to pass such
an act, then constitutional amend
ment should be submitted to confer the
powe:.
There should be created 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 WngewOrl5ers.
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 off, it is absolutely certain that all
others will be we'll off too. 1t is there
fore a matter for hearty congratula
tion that on the whole wages are high
err 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 it's 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, ye
represent standard OF living so de
pressed that they can undersell ou1
men in the labor market and dra,
them to a lower level. regard it al
necessary, with this end in view, to re
enact Immediately the law excludin,
| Chinese laborers and to strengthen i
wherever necessary in order tc make it
| enforcement entirely effective.
The national government should dc
mand the highest quality of servic
from it's employees; and in return
should he a good employer If poss
BILE legislation should be passed, in cor
nectlon with the interstate commerce
law, which will render effective the e
forts OF different states to do away wit
the competition of convict contract Il
Dor in the open labor market. So ia
as practicable under the conditions c
government work, provision should b
made to render the enforcement Of tn
eight-hour law easy and certain.
all industries carried on directly or il
directly for the United States govern
ment women and children should /
protected from excessive hours of Ii
Dor, from night work. and from wor
under unsanitary conditions. The go
eminent should provide in its contract
that all work should be done undo
fair conditions. and in addition
setting a high standard should uphol
1t by proper inspection, extending
necessary to the subcontractors. RI
government should forbid all nigl
work for women and children, as we
as excessive overtime. For the III
trict of Columbia a good factory la
should be passed: and. as a powerf,
indirect aid to such laws, provisic
should be made to turn the inhabite
alleys. the existence of which Is a r
proach to our capital city, into min,
streets, where the inhabitants can liz
under conditions favorable to heal
and morals
American wage-workers work Wi
their heads as we'll as their hand
Moreover, they take keen pride
what they are doing; so that, indepen
ent Of the reward. they wish to turn o
perfect job. This is the great seer
of our success in competition with t.
labor of foreign countries.
Social Conditions,