Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-02-11
Politicians Keen to See Where
They Come In OIL Present
Situation
GOSSIP
DISCUSSION
Supporters of cummins Believe That
When the People Are Aroused is a
Good Time for Them, But Biennial
Election Amendment Cuts Out All
Opportunity.

Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines, Feb. 11.-Gossip at the
state house and among politicians Is
more devoted at this time to the pres
ent state of the public mind In its IN
terest over the freight rate question
than to anything else There is little
expectation among the Cummins men
that the biennial election law will be
defeated it is believed that 1T will
stand all the tests. The discussion is
as to the possibility of the present
sentiment on rate question lasting I'll
next year. 1t is believed i'm political
centers that the president will not call
an extra session this summer to con-
slider the tariff question as he cannot
be sure as to the outcome of such
session. But if congress fails to pass
bill giving relief along the lines OF
freight rates it is believed he will call
the extra session to consider that
question. Then If congress passes
reasonably sufficient bill there is
strong belief that the agitation for
tariff revision will follow closely on the
heels of the rate question and will be
as potent factor next year as the
ate question is at this time. 1t is be-
lieved furthermore that the sentiment
will be decidedly to the advantage of
the supporters of Governor Cummins
The trend of belief seems to be at
this time that the public is not often
aroused as it is at this time and when
ii is so aroused it sweeps the platter
clean.
There are a great many business
men in Des Moines who believe that
while the railroads are being given
the credit for opposing the congress
sional freight rate legislation they are
really In favor of it. 1t argued that the
railroads were opposed to the legisla-
ton In Iowa but that after that legis-
lation was passed the railroads made
more money and one concern which
had made money before that legisla-
ton went in to effect, namely, the Baker
Barb Wire Company, lost $4,000 the
first year and was forced to sell out to
the trusts. 1t Is argued that the rail-
roads are now in favor of the move
to regulate freight rates, and are back
opinion along that line. However, it is
being argued that at this time Des
Moines concerns are able to live only
because they get rebates. Where the
business is confined to the state such
as the shipment of implements which
is a large business here the rates are
satisfactory because of the Iowa laws
but where the concerns do business
Tn ics a,
the rates on their face would mean
ruin but the concerns are not SEEM
ingly worried over the rates and when
the Commercial Club some months ago
appointed a committee to investigate
the matter for their benefit they held
back the information as to how much
they paid.
Joseph Mates of Odebolt, represen-
tative from Sac county has been In the
city attending the hardware dealers
convention. Mr.. Mates says the peo-
pie out In his county are talking the
freight rate question more than they
have talked any question for long
time and he sees no sign OF let up
unless the senate passes the Town
send-Esch bill Mr.. Mates believes
this would satisfy the public for
time till the bill was tested but Is
himself in favor of the Cooper Quar-
les bill AS to the biennial election
law, Mr.. Mates says 1T is not being
given a great deal of attention out in
his county as there seems to be no fear
as to the fate of the law.
Henry c. Metcalf, professor of Tufts
College in Massachusetts, has written
to Labor Commissioner e. D. Brigham
to inquire as to the results of an In
vestigation of the welfare institutions
maintained by the factories of Iowa
for the benefit of the employees. He
also asks for Mr.. Brigham's opinion as
to the value of such institutions and
wishes the privilege of publishing what
he may say in a report which he will
prepare. Mr.. Metcalf has visited
great many of the large cities of the
country in an investigation of the sub
ject. In his reply to the inquiry Mr..
Brigham states that he thinks it would
be far better for the factories Of the
country to put the money they spend
for pianos, bowling alleys and billiard
and reading rooms for the benefit of
their employees into the wages of their
men and thus assist the men to make
better and more attractive homes. He
does not favor building up pleasant
surroundings about the factory to the
detriment of the home which produces
the citizenship.
Tn this letter Mr.. Brigham says, the
efforts in this state have so far been
directed to factory inspection and the
enforcement of the factory laws and
continuing says:
"The legislature of 1904 provided for
one factory inspector and one office
clerk in addition to the commissioner
and deputy commissioner, this en-
abling men to put two men in the field
to look after factory inspection, and
gather statistics that could not De
gathered satisfactorily by mail Since
June 1, 1904, the state has been covered
by our inspectors and a very substan-
tial Improvement of conditions has
been brought about, in which the en-
ployers very cheerfully co-operated,
ard in over 1000 orders and recon-
mendations, only one action was
brought to enforce compliance.
'But no special effort such as you
mention has been made to set forth the
progress toward better conditions. for
the reason that majority of or es-
tablishments are small as compared
with eastern plants, and have been in
operation only a few years, where your