Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1901-12-07


lie, the government Aouid have the
right to inspect and canine he work
lngs of the great corprationAengaged
in interstate business
The large corporations, commonly
called trusts, thoughorgan,zed in one
state, always do buiness in many
states, often doing way little business
in the state where tey are incorpor-
ated. There is utter LEX of I'm formity
in the state laws abou them; and as no
state has any exclusfe interest in or
power over their act it has in prac-
tice proved impossible to get adequate
regulation through site actipR13There-
fore, in the interest of the Wide peo-
pie. the nation should, withoutinter-
fering with the power of the staes in
the matter itself, also assume lower
of supervision and regulation ovU ali
corporations dong an interstate bust
ness. This is especially true where
the corporation derives portion o, its
wealth from the existence of some no
nopolistic element or tendency in it's
business.
| believe that law can be Framed
which will enable the national govern.
ment to exercise control along the lin,s
above indicated; profiting by the en-
perience gained through the passage
and administration of the interstate
commerce act. If, however, the iudg-
ment of the congress is that it lacks
the constitutional power to pass such
an act, then a 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
or the congress. 1t should be his prov
ince to deal with commerce in it's 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 Wngeworkers.
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 wageworkers. If
The farmer and the wage-worker are
we'll off, it is absolutely certain that all
others will he we'll off too It is there
fore matter for hearty congratula-
tion 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 standard of living so de-
pressed that they can undersell our
men in the labor market and drag
nl4em to a lower geveA 1 regard it as
necessary, with this end in view. to re-
enact Immediately the law excluding
Chinese laborers' and to strengthen it
Wherever Necessary in order tc make it's
enforcement entirely effective.
line national government should de-
mand the highest quality of service
from Its employees; and in return it
should he a good employer. If posi-
bic legislation should be passed, in con-
nectlon with the interstate commerce
law, which will render effective the eff
forts or 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
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 la
DOT, 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 a high standard should uphold
1t by proper inspection, extending if |
necessary to the subcontractors. The
government should forbid all night
work Tor women and children, as well
as excessive overtime. For the Dis
trlct OF Columbia a good factory law
should be passed; and, as a powerful
indirect aid to such laws, provision
should be made to turn the inhabited
alleys, the existence of which Is a re-
proach 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 as we'll as their hands.
Moreover, they take a keen pride in
what they are doing; so that, independ-
ent of the reward, they wish to turn out
a perfect job. This is the great secret
OF our success in competition with the
j aAAl Of l..